Mulasutta Jataka

The Root of All Evil

In the prosperous city of Varanasi, ruled a king known for his immense wealth and his even greater love for adornments. His palace gleamed with gold, his robes were woven with threads of precious gems, and his treasury overflowed. Yet, this king harbored a deep-seated envy towards anyone who possessed something he did not, a flaw that often clouded his judgment.

One day, a delegation of merchants arrived from a distant land, bringing with them exotic silks, rare spices, and magnificent jewels. Among their offerings was a simple, yet exquisitely carved wooden flute. The king, who had seen countless glittering treasures, was captivated by the flute. Its smooth, dark wood and the intricate patterns etched upon it spoke of a craftsmanship that transcended mere material value. He acquired it, and found that when played, it produced the most enchanting melodies he had ever heard.

News of the king's new prized possession reached the ears of a wealthy landowner named Dhana. Dhana was a man of immense fortune, but he was also known for his stinginess and his desire to possess everything beautiful and rare. Upon hearing about the king's flute, a powerful desire to own it consumed him. He believed that such a treasure belonged in his own collection, not with a mere king who, in his eyes, was simply another collector of possessions.

Dhana, driven by his covetousness, devised a plan. He approached the king, feigning admiration for his wisdom and his discerning taste. "Your Majesty," Dhana began, his voice dripping with false sincerity, "I have heard of a magnificent gem, said to possess unparalleled brilliance, hidden deep within the treacherous mountains to the east. It is a gem that would truly complement the splendor of your crown and the magnificence of your palace. I have heard tales of its power to ward off misfortune."

The king, whose mind was easily swayed by the allure of rare objects, became fixated on this mythical gem. His envy, once directed at the flute, now shifted to the imagined treasure. "A gem that wards off misfortune?" he mused aloud. "This is precisely what I need! Dhana, you have brought me news of the greatest importance."

Dhana, seeing the king's eagerness, pressed on. "The journey is perilous, Your Majesty. The mountains are guarded by fierce beasts and treacherous paths. It would require a brave and skilled individual to retrieve it. I myself am too old and frail for such an undertaking."

The king, blinded by his desire, failed to see the deception. He ordered his most trusted royal guards to embark on the quest, promising them great rewards upon their return with the gem. He also instructed them to retrieve the wooden flute from Dhana, whom he now believed had unfairly withheld this knowledge from him earlier, and to bring it back to the palace, intending to keep it safe while he pursued the gem. In his mind, he was securing his possessions.

The guards, loyal but wary, embarked on the journey. Dhana, meanwhile, received the king's flute. His heart swelled with wicked triumph. He had traded a false promise for a genuine treasure. He hid the flute in his heavily guarded vault, gloating over his success.

However, the king's guards faced insurmountable challenges. They were ambushed by wild animals, lost their way in the dense forests, and ultimately, many perished in their attempt to find the non-existent gem. A few survivors, battered and disheartened, returned to the king, reporting the tragic outcome and the futility of their quest.

The king, upon hearing this, was enraged. He had lost valuable soldiers and resources chasing a phantom. His envy and greed had led to disaster. He summoned Dhana, demanding to know why he had sent his men on such a fool's errand. Dhana, ever cunning, denied any wrongdoing, claiming he had only shared the legends he had heard and that the king himself had chosen to send his men.

In his anger and frustration, the king ordered Dhana to be imprisoned. However, the king’s own advisors, seeing the king’s unchecked greed and envy at play, intervened. They pointed out that the king’s own desire for the gem, fueled by Dhana’s deceit, was the root cause of the tragedy. They reminded him of the beautiful flute he had lost, a possession that had brought him joy, now likely tarnished by Dhana's avarice.

The king, in his moments of quiet reflection, realized the truth of their words. His insatiable desire for more, his envy of others, had led him to discard a source of genuine pleasure for a fabricated one. He understood that greed and envy were not just personal flaws, but dangerous forces that could lead to destruction and suffering for himself and others.

He ordered Dhana's release, not out of forgiveness, but because he recognized that Dhana's actions, while deceitful, were a symptom of a deeper problem – the corrupting influence of material desire. The king then turned his attention inwards. He began to practice contentment, to appreciate what he had, and to recognize that true wealth lay not in possessions, but in peace of mind and a virtuous heart.

He established a new decree throughout Varanasi: that envy and greed would be publicly acknowledged and discouraged, and that the pursuit of inner virtue would be celebrated. The king learned that the root of much suffering, like the root of a tree that can spread its influence far and wide, is the unchecked desire for what one does not have.