Jathaka Stories:

Seela Wimansa Jathaka

Retold by Risitha Deelaka WICKMAL SUBASINGHE

There was a famous guru in ancient India, whose name was Disapamok. Children from aristocratic families came to learn various crafts from him.

He had five hundred students and he appointed a talented student among the five hundred students, as the monitor.

When all the five hundred students finished their studies, the time had arrived for them to leave their guru. At the same time, the guru was also looking for an ideal partner for his daughter.

Disapamok summoned all the five hundred and addressed them. "My dear students. Now, the time has come for you to leave my ashram.

"Before that you have to do a favour to your guru."

"What is that Sir? There is nothing that we can't do for our master. Please let us know your requirement so that we would put our best effort to fulfil your need", said the monitor of the class while other students nodded their heads in agreement.

"Dear students, I have a daughter as you all know.

I need to give her in marriage. I do not have enough jewellery to give her as a dowry. If I cannot give her enough jewellery, and when she goes to her husband's house, she would be ridiculed by them. I do not want that to happen to my daughter", said the guru pleadingly.

"Dear master, do not have even a slightest worry over. Let us go home and ask from our parents and relatives and give," said the monitor.

"Dear students. I do not want you to tell your parents or relatives. You have to bring them here without telling them."

"That means master, we have to steal them. Is that what you mean?" a flippant student asked the master.

"Exactly, you have to steal the jewellery from your parents and relatives and bring them here. And also, bear this in mind. I do not want any jewellery to be brought here with the knowledge of its owner. If I come to know that you have requested the owner the jewellery, I would definitely refuse them. Let's see how many of you would obey the master's request." The master strode out of the ashram and raised his voice.

" Hurry up boys. I have already fixed a date for my daughter's wedding in the near future".

The four hundred and ninety nine students left the ashrem in the purpose of stealing the jewellery. Their faces looked pale due to the responsibility and the repercussion of the act of stealing. They had no other option but to listen to the master.

After a couple of days all the four hundred and ninety nine students brought with them stolen jewellery. Then, the master approached the monitor.

"You are the only one who did not obey me. Why is that?", asked the master.

"Master, if you want the jewellery I would ask my parents and give you as much as you want. But I would never commit wrong acts. Stealing is a crime.

Why did you encourage your students to commit to do the wrong acts after teaching them the way of living virtuously? I am sorry Sir, I was unable to steal since my conscious did not allow me to. If you want I would go to my parents and bring as much as you want," the monitor said and apologized.

The master addressed the gathering to announce the person whom his pretty daughter would be given in marriage shortly. Everyone was eager to hear who that lucky person was.

"I found the ideal person to give my daughter in marriage. He is the monitor in this class. The one who refused to steal the jewellery.

Dear students, I actually did not want any jewellery. After my daughter attained age, I decided to look for an ideal person to give her in marriage. I wanted a person among you all. The monitor possesses noblest qualities.

He is exceptional. I invite you all to attend my daughter's wedding. And one important thing. Please go and return the jewellery to the owners".

The Bodhisatva was born as the wise and virtuous student in one of his five hundred and fifty five lives.

Moral of the story: Stealing is a wrongful act.