Buddhist Fables

  1. The Story of Ruru Deer
  2. The Story of Two Swans
  3. The Hare on The Moon
  4. The Story of Chaddanta Elephant
  5. The Story of Great Monkey
  6. The Story of The Two Deer
  7. The Story of a Buffalo
  8. Silava Elephant
  9. The Wise Monkey
  10. The Story of the Golden Swan
  11. The Story of The Great Ape
  12. The Mighty Fish
  13. Story of the Monkey King
  14. Lion and Jackal
  15. Somdatta
  16. The Story of the Crows
  17. The Monkey Brothers
  18. The Story of Nigrodha Deer
  19. Kalbahu
  20. Nandivisala
  21. Coronation of Owl
  22. The Feast of the Dead
  23. The Heart of the Monkey
  24. The Story of a Rooster
  25. The Story of a Tigeress
  26. The Pigeon and The Crow
  27. The Story of Romaka Pigeon
  28. The Story of Khardiya Deer
  29. The Thankless Monkey
  30. Can A Fool Ever Act Good!
  31. The Story of a Tortoise
  32. Jackal –The Arbitrator
  33. The Story of a Snake Charmer
  34. The Leather Garment
  35. The Giant Crab
  36. Mahilaimukha Elephant
  37. The Story of Vinilaka

Buddhist Classics

  1. The Sacrifice of Vessantara
  2. The Wisdom of Vidhura Pandita
  3. Chullabodhi – The Conqueror of Anger
  4. The Story of Kushinagar
  5. The Virtue of Forbearance
  6. Matanga – The World’s First Crusader of Untouchability
  7. The Temptation of Isisanga
  8. The Flight of Sakka
  9. Mahajanaka’s Renunciation
  10. The Wine-Jar
  11. The Sacrifice of Sivi
  12. The Box of the Monster
  13. The Lotus Stalk
  14. Kandari – The Handsome Prince
  15. Ghat: The Virtuous King
  16. Supparaka – The Ancient Mariner
  17. Sankhapala: The Naga King
  18. Champeyya
  19. The Baveru Island
  20. The Great Gambler
  21. The Story of The Dumb Prince
  22. The Naive House-Holder
  23. The Jewelled Serpent
  24. The Mango-Thief
  25. The Foot-Print Reader
  26. The Story of Sutasoma
  27. The Story of Sudasa
  28. The Little Bowman
  29. The Envoy of Belly
  30. Story of a Drummer
  31. The King, Who Knew The Language Of Animals
  32. The Happy Man
  33. Sama: The Good Son

Life and Legends of Buddha

  1. Gotama Buddha
  2. Birth Story of Gotama
  3. Maha Maya’s Dream
  4. Sage Asita’s Visit
  5. The Four Sights
  6. Story of Renunciation
  7. The Buddha’s Victory over Mara
  8. The Personality of the Buddha
  9. Nalgiri Elephant
  10. Story of Kumara Kassapa
  11. Dhamma-Chakka-Pavattana-Katha
  12. The Buddha’s Teaching of Abhidhamma
  13. Buddha's Visit to Rahula Mata
  14. The Savatthi Miracles
  15. The Flying Buddha
  16. Story of Parinibbana
  17. Suddhodana
  18. Sujata
  19. Sariputta
  20. Moggallana
  21. Story of Mara
  22. Bimbisara
  23. Nanda
  24. Janapada Kalyani Nanda
  25. The Spiritual Journey of Janapada Kalyani
  26. Phussa Buddha
  27. Vipassi Buddha
  28. Sikhi Buddha
  29. Vessabhu Buddha
  30. Kakusandha Buddha
  31. Konagamana Buddha
  32. Kassapa Buddha
  33. Metteya

The Illustrated Jataka & Other Stories of the Buddha by C. B. Varma Introduction | Glossary | Bibliography

040 – Chullabodhi – The Conqueror of Anger

The Woman ascetic engrossed
in meditation, Ajanta

Once the Bodhisatta was born in an erudite family and became a scholar of great fame. His name was Chullabodhi. As he remembered his past lives and the fruits of the life of a recluse, therefore, he one day, renounced the worldly life and became an ascetic. His wife, a well accomplished lady, too, resolved to follow him and accompanied him wherever he went despite all discouragements and persuasions. She happily accompanied him even in the cemeteries, desert houses, mountains, the forests infested with wild animals and so on. Thus, several years passed.

Once, in a gorgeous sunny day of spring when the groves and gardens were in their full bloom; the cuckoos were singing; and the soft and silky wind was wafting the aroma of the fully blossomed flowers, Chullabodhi, seated in front of his forest hermitage was sewing his pamsakula (rags of an ascetic) and his elegant semi-clad wife was meditating under a tree. The king of the country then spotted them and stopped there. He was particularly attracted to the chiselled beauty of the woman flashing through her birch garments. He, instantly thought of abducting her. But taking a note of the presence of the male ascetic and remembering some old tales of the supernatural powers of the ascetics he initially exercised restraint. So, to examine the power of the ascetic he asked him as to how would he defend the woman if a thief or a wild animal were to attack her. Chullabodhi answered him coolly “I would not release him”.

The king, who did not bother to comprehend the message hidden in the sentence hastily inferred that the ascetic had no supernatural power. So, he thought that it would be easy for him to take away the woman. He then ordered his guards to take her to his harem.

When the woman heard the king’s order she looked like a doe, which is attacked by a wild animal. Her countenance changed, and her eyes were filled with tears. She wailed and lamented, and in a faltering voice asked the ascetic to use his supernatural powers to save her. Yet, the ascetic remained calm. He did not show even a jot of anger. When she was forcibly pushed to the king’s chariot the king suddenly pondered over the utterances made by the ascetic. Failing to comprehend the exact meaning of his reply, he asked him to explain, who he referred to as “him” in his statement.

The ascetic said, “By ‘him’ I mean ‘Anger’, which is like fire, which by the process of attrition springs from a piece of wood to destroy that very wood. So does the wrath, that breaks out by a false conception, destroys the very person in whom it arises. When the fever of anger bursts forth with fierceness, the man loses all his reputation just like the water lilies, which lose charm with the dissipation of the moon-shine owing to the sun-rise. But when one pays no heed to the insults and remembers that anger alone is his real enemy his reputation shines forth like the bright disc of the moon. Further, an angry person, no matter whether adorned with the best of ornaments would look ugly, because the fire of wrath would destroy the serenity of his beauty. Bewildered by the wrath, a man deviates from the path of happiness; and tread the path of misery just like the moon, which loses its lustre when enters the dark course of the fort-night. So, by ‘him’ I mean the man’s chief enemy – the Anger’, which I did not release to redeem my pledge.”

These marvellous words and the serenity in the face of the ascetic changed the heart of the king. He suddenly grew reverence for him and felt ashamed of his guilt. He then bowed down on his feet and begged for his forgiveness after praising his virtues.

Further, he released the wife of Chullabodhi and proceeded to his kingdom with a purified mind.

Thus, it is said,

He, who wins anger appeases his enemies.
He, who loses anger burns but himself.

Chullabodhi Jataka Jataka Pali No. 443; Chariyapitaka 2.4; jm21