Honouring 13th Performing Arts Competitions Dramatic performance of Vidhura Jataka

In the 13th Myanma traditional cultural performing arts competitions being held, Vidhura Jataka has been chosen for drama competition. Vidhura is the ninth of the ten penultimate lives of the Buddha. Its main theme is the perfection (virtue) of wisdom (Panna). While residing at the Jetavana Vihara in Savatthi, Lord Buddha narrated Vidhura jataka in 314 gathas (Pali verses).

The synopsis of Vidhura Jataka is as follows:-

There ruled in Indapathanagara Kingdom in Kuru Mahajanapada, King Dhananjaya Korabya. He had a wise minister named Vidhura.

When the King died his son Korabya succeeded him to the throne.

The new King was fond of playing dice. One day as he was keeping sabbath and meditating in the royal park, his friends of previous lives, Sakka Deva, Naga Deva and Garuda Deva visited him. They were also keeping sabbath and meditating. The four friends began arguing as to whose sila (moral precept) was nobler and higher. They agreed to refer the matter to Vidhura, the wise Minister. Vidhura gave his fair judgment that the moral precepts of the four friends were equally noble and high.

The four friends were very happy. Sakka Deva rewarded Vidhura with a white garment, Garuda Deva gave him a gold flower, Varuna the Naga Deva presented him a ruby and King Korabya gave him an elephant and a horse. On return to his Kingdom, Naga Deva was asked by his queen Vimala Devi as to whereabout of the ruby. Naga Deva explained what had happened. His queen desirous of hearing dhamma teaching of Vidhura, told Naga Deva that she was ill because she wanted Vidhura’s heart.

Naga Deva assigned his daughter Irandati to look for her future husband who could bring Vidhura’s heart. The daughter went to the Kata mountain, looking for her future husband. Punnaka, the commander of the Ogre Kingdom met her and he fall in love with her at first sight. The daughter agreed to marry him if he could bring Vidhura’s heart to cure her mother’s illness. The two went to Naga Deva.

Naga Deva promised to marry his daughter to Punnaka if Punnaka could bring him Vidhura’s heart. Punnaka promised he would get Vidhura’s heart for him. Punnaka then went up to the Kingdom of Catumaharajaka to see his uncle Kuvera Deva. Punnaka obtained his uncle’s consent to all his plans. Punnaka went up to Mt Vepulla to take ruby from there and went to King Korabya.

To play dice with King Korabya, Punnaka, the ogre commander assumed himself as a youth named Kaccayana. He and King Korabya began to play dice. The wager was that if Kaccayana lost the game he world give the King the ruby and Manomaya Sindhava flying horse he brought with, and if the King lost the game he would give Kaccayana anything he wanted except his queen and Kingdom.

At the game, the guardian goddess of the White Umbrella who happened to be the mother of the King in the previous existence sided with the King helping him to win. Kaccayana (Punnaka) knowing that the guardian goddess was helping the King cast a stern look at her whereby the guaradian goddess ran away. Therefore in the final round, the King lost the game. Punnaka the winner took away Vidhura as his wager.

To get Vidhura’s heart he must be put to death. Therefore Punnaka let Vidhura hold the tail of the flying horse he was riding and gallopped through forests and mountains. But Vidhura’s moral precepts and virtues protected him from all dangers. When Punnaka was about to hurl him down into a ravine, Vidhura asked Punnaka why he so wanted to kill him. Punnaka explained to him everything. Vidhura told Punnaka to listen to the sadhunara dhamma he would preach before killing him. Sadhunara dhamma has four priniciples—(1) observance of good traditions and precedents of old generations (2) Continuing dana [giving or charity] (3) Abstaining from womanisation and avoidance of involvement in evil consequences and (4) Avoidance of wronging [sin against] one’s true friends. After hearing the Sadhunara dhamma from Vidhura, Punnaka realised his wrongdoings and became repentent. He promised to send Vidhura home safe and sound. But Vidhura requested Punnaka to take him to Naga kingdom.

Vidhura preached Sadhunara dhamma to Naga Deva and his queen who felt peaceful, happy and vowed to observe moral precepts. Then daughter was married to Punnaka. Vidhura was sent home.

On arrival at the court of King Korabya, Vidhura was welcomed by the King whom Vidhura explained what had happened and presented the ruby which Punnaka gave him as a gift. Vidhura lived till his ripe age, preaching dhamma to the court. When he died, he becme a deva in the celestial kingdom of Tavatimsa.

In winding up his narration of Vidhura Jataka Lord Buddha explained who became who in their last lives. Vidhura became Prince Siddhartha, his wife Anoza Devi became Yasodhara. Naga Deva became Maha Thera Sariputta, Garuda Deva became Maha Thera Moggallana, Sakka Deva became Maha Thera Anuruddha. King Korabya became Maha Thera Ananda, Punnaka the ogre commander became Angulimala, Manomaya Sindhava flying horse became Kandaka horse of Prince Siddhartha, Naga queen Vimala Devi became Khema Bhikkhuni, and Irandati the Naga daughter became Kisa Gotami.

Like the remaining nine jatakas of the ten penultimate lives of the Buddha, Vidhura Jataka is not only re-enacted in Myanmar traditional dramatic perfomances but also it is depicted in Myanmar traditional visual arts such as carving, sculpture, painting, moulding, casting, plaster art, lacquer art, etc which adorn religious monuments, temples, and monasteries. Through visual and performing arts Buddha’s teachings and moral instructions are imparted to the people, from highest level to the grassroot.

Author : Dr Khin Maung Nyunt