Khanti-Vannana Jataka (#225)

temple painting of Khanti-Vannana Jataka

The Bodhisatta was once a king. One of his best assistants was sleeping with a woman in the royal harem. When this assistant heard that one of his own servants was sleeping with his wife, he brought the servant to the palace and asked the Bodhisatta to suggest a punishment. The Bodhisatta replied that he also had a misbehaving servant, but because he was so valuable he forgave his indiscretions. The assistant understood these words were about him, and he ceased his fling. And his servant, having been exposed, also stopped.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

When the king learned that one of his assistants had slept with a woman of his harem, he did not say anything because the assistant was very valuable. When the king told the Buddha about this, the Buddha told him this story so he knew that he himself had once done the same thing. And word got around to the assistant that the king knew of his affair, so he ceased.

The Buddha did not identify any earlier births other than his own.

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