Rohana Jātaka

Rohana Jātaka

In the ancient city of Varanasi, lived a merchant named Dhana. Dhana was a man of great wealth, but his heart was filled with avarice. He possessed a magnificent jewel, a ruby known as Rohana, which shimmered with an unparalleled brilliance. He kept it locked away, fearing that its beauty would attract thieves and envious eyes. He rarely even took it out to admire it himself, so consumed was he by the fear of losing it.

One day, a wise old hermit, who had renounced worldly possessions and lived a life of austerity, visited the city. He heard tales of Dhana's immense wealth and his prized ruby, Rohana. The hermit, with his deep insight, saw the suffering that Dhana's attachment to the jewel was causing him. He decided to visit Dhana's mansion.

Upon arriving, the hermit was greeted by Dhana, who was constantly looking over his shoulder, his face etched with worry. "Welcome, venerable one," Dhana said, forcing a smile. "Though my home is grand, my mind is troubled."

The hermit, with a gentle gaze, asked, "What troubles a man who possesses such riches?"

Dhana sighed, his voice heavy. "Venerable sir, I possess a jewel, the Rohana ruby, of such exquisite beauty that its mere sight can blind. But its very splendor is a curse. I live in constant fear of its theft. I cannot sleep soundly, nor can I enjoy my wealth, for my mind is perpetually consumed by the thought of protecting this one treasure."

The hermit listened patiently. Then, he spoke, his voice soft but firm. "Dhana, you speak of a jewel that blinds. But I tell you, it is not the ruby's brilliance that blinds you, but your attachment to it. True wealth is not in possession, but in detachment. The more you cling to something, the more it enslaves you."

Dhana scoffed. "Detachment? How can I detach myself from something so precious, something that defines my status and my security?"

The hermit smiled. "Let me show you. Tomorrow, bring your Rohana ruby to the riverbank at dawn. I will meet you there."

The next morning, Dhana, clutching the ruby tightly, met the hermit by the river. The hermit was holding a simple clay pot filled with water. "Now, Dhana," the hermit said, "place your ruby into this pot of water."

Dhana hesitated, his hands trembling. "But... but it will be submerged! It might lose its luster!"

"Have faith," the hermit urged. "Do as I say."

Reluctantly, Dhana dropped the precious ruby into the pot. The ruby sank to the bottom, its fiery glow somewhat muted by the water.

The hermit then stirred the water with his finger. As he did, the water swirled, and the ruby's brilliance was reflected and refracted, creating dazzling patterns of light that danced on the surface and on the surrounding sand. The light was scattered, diffused, and in a way, even more beautiful and mesmerizing than the single, concentrated gleam of the ruby itself. It illuminated the entire pot and its surroundings with a soft, ethereal glow.

The hermit looked at Dhana. "See, Dhana? When the ruby was held captive, its light was intense but confined. When you released it into the water, allowing it to be part of something larger, its brilliance spread, illuminating the water and the sand. It did not lose its luster; it transformed it. Its beauty became shared, and in sharing, it became even more magnificent."

He continued, "Your attachment was like the pot, holding the ruby captive. Your fear was the darkness that prevented its true light from spreading. By releasing the ruby into the water, you have released yourself from the prison of your fear and attachment. Its beauty is now diffused, shared, and it brings light not just to itself, but to all it touches."

Dhana, watching the play of light, felt a profound sense of peace wash over him. The fear that had gripped him for so long began to dissipate. He realized that the true value of the ruby was not in its possession, but in the joy and wonder it could inspire, a joy that he had denied himself by hoarding it.

He looked at the hermit with tears in his eyes. "You have shown me a truth far more precious than any jewel. My attachment was indeed my prison. By letting go, I have found freedom."

From that day on, Dhana changed. He no longer hoarded his wealth. He used his riches to help the needy, to support the arts, and to contribute to the well-being of his community. He still possessed the Rohana ruby, but he displayed it openly, allowing its beauty to be admired by all. And in sharing his wealth and his treasures, Dhana found true happiness and peace, a brilliance far greater than that of any single gem.