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

052 – Ghat: The Virtuous King

Ghata-Jataka, Nagarjunakonda

Ghata at the palace door witnessing the misconduct of his minister in the royal harem.

Once the Bodhisatta was born in Varanasi as the son of king Brahmadatta with the name Ghata. Educated in Taxila he acquired the knowledge of arts and the like subjects useful to any ruler. When became the king he ruled his kingdom righteously.

One day, when he entered his harem he saw his minister committing misconduct with the queen. The king punished him by banishing him from his kingdom.

The disgruntled man then went to Savatthi and entered into the service of King Vanka. Soon he won his favour by divulging the military secrets of the Varanasi kingdom and instigated him to attack Varanasi.

The forces of Savatthi invaded Varanasi. And despite the stiff resistance put by the army, King Ghata lost the battle. Then, captured and chained he was dragged and thrown into a prison. When he entered the prison he sat on meditation. At that point of time, the King Vanka felt burning heat in his palace; so, he strolled about the prison. There, he saw Ghata sitting cross-legged in the air and meditating. His face was bright and looked like a fully bloomed lotus. The king was curious to know why Ghata neither looked sad; nor scared though confined in an enemy’s prison. So, he asked him,

When others weep and wail, and stain their face with tears

Ghat! how do you have the smiling face with no fears ?

Ghata replied,

To grieve to change the sorrow of the past is in vain
Vanka! Why should I then complain

As the act of the grief shall have no consequence to the future

So why should I allow it to mature.

Vanka was impressed with the words of the prisoner and restored him his kingdom. But Ghata handed it over to his ministers for the benevolent rule and retired to the Himalayas to lead the life of an asetic.

Ghata Jataka Pali Jataka No. 355

 

Note: Pali Jataka No.454 is also called the Ghata Jataka but that narrates the story of Kanha, resembling the stories of Krishna.