The Story of Magha, the Young Man of Macala Village

After Sakka, Lord of the Devas, has related in prose to the Buddha the story of Deva Gopaka, he further spoke in fifteen stanzas on the same subject. Then in three more stanzas, he sang in praise of the Buddha’s attributes, the Teaching of the Buddha, and the purpose of his visit which was to attain the supramundane magga-phala like that attained by those two Brahmās. He then concluded his last three stanzas with a request that if the Buddha would permit, he would put certain questions (and hear the Buddha’s answers on them).

The last of Sakkas eighteen stanzas is as follows:

Tassa dhammassa pattiyā āgatamhāsi mārisa
Katāvakāsā bhagavatā pañhaṃ pucchemu mārisa.

O, Venerable One, who is free from all forms of dukkha, we have come here for the benefit of gaining the Supramundane dhamma that those two Brahmās gained. O, Venerable One, who is free from all forms of dukkha, if the Bhagavā would, out of compassion, permit us, we would ask some questions.

Then the Buddha reflected: “This Sakka has long been virtuous. Whatever question he might like to ask, it will be of benefit to him. He is not going to ask unbeneficial questions. If I answer to his questions he will understand readily.”

The Story of Magha, The Young Man of Macala Village

The Commentary elaborates the passage: “This Sakka has long been virtuous” by relating the past existence of Sakka, when he had lived a virtuous life as Magha, a young man in the village of Macala, in the province of Magadha. That was at a time before the advent of the Buddha.

Early one morning, Magha went to the open space in the village, where the villagers met to discuss community affairs, to tidy the ground. Another man found the ground inviting and spent his time there. Magha was glad that his effort was useful to others. So he selected a spacious place in the centre of the village, swept it clean, strew it with clean sand and, in the cold season, he collected faggots and made small fires there. The villagers, young and old, gathered there to warm themselves by the fireside.

One day, Magha thought about the ease and comfort enjoyed by the king, his ministers and officials in the city. He also thought about the Moon Deva and the Sun Deva up in the skies. What previous actions had they done so that these great people on earth and the great devas in the sky enjoy such ease and comfort? Surely they must have done pure meritorious deeds that have led to their present state. Reasoning correctly thus, he decided to go on doing pure meritorious deeds in the footsteps of those great persons.

He woke up early in the morning, took his breakfast of rice gruel, and taking the necessary tools and implements, he went to the place where the four main roads met. He removed rocks that stood in the way, cut down trees that were growing too close by the roadside to allow free carriage way, and levelled the roadway. He set up a rest house at the road junction, dug a rectangular pond, built bridges and spent the whole day earning merit and retired only at sunset.

Seeing Magha’s daily routine, a villager asked him: “Friend Magha, you leave the village early in the morning and come back only late in the evening. What have you been doing?”

“Friend,” said Magha, “I am doing pure meritorious deeds, I am paving the way to the deva-world.”

“What do you mean by pure meritorious deeds?”

“Don't you know what is pure meritorious deed?”

“No, I don't.”

“Haven't you seen the glorious state of the king, the king’s ministers and officials when you visit the city?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Well, the king and those great people enjoy their elite status because in the past they had done pure meritorious deeds. I am doing that sort of work that leads to similar state, Have you not heard of the Moon Deva and the Sun Deva?”

“Yes, I have.”

“I am paving the way to the deva-world.”

“Friend Magha, are you doing these works all by yourself?. Are you the only person fit for the sort of work? Could not other people also do it?”

“Friend, there is nothing that forbids anyone to do it.”

“In that case, friend Magha, let me know when you go to the countryside tomorrow.”

The next day Magha had a partner in his good works. In due course he had by his side thirty-three strong youths who volunteered on his projects. This team of Magha and thirtythree youths had a common mind in seeking merit. They went about together mending roads, digging tanks, building rest houses and bridges. They executed their projects with might and main, generally finishing a particular work within the same day.

The Village Chief plans for Magha’s Ruin

The chief of Macala village was a rogue. He found Magha’s social undertakings unacceptable because he himself sold liquor in the village and when there occurred brawls and quarrels, he increased his income through fines collected as penalty. His trade was dwindling when youths did not visit his place for drinks but went out on sheer social projects. Therefore, he used his official position to cause the ruin of Magha and his comrades. He misinformed the King that a band of bad hats had been troubling his village. When asked by the King what lineage those criminals belonged to, the chief of Macala said: “Great King, they come from good families.”

“How come that men of good families turn bad? Why did you keep the bad news till now?”

“Great King, I was afraid that they might turn on me. May Your Majesty pardon me for this!”

The King believed the chief’s words and ordered the arrest of the so called criminals, despatching a contingent of his men with him.

Magha and Party arrested

Magha and party, after returning from their work and having had their evening meal, were discussing the next day’s plan for meritorious deeds in the village centre when the chief surrounded them, placed them “under arrest by the King’s orders” and were taken to the King.

The wives of those youths heard the news of the arrest and said: “That serves them right. These men of ours have been giving lame excuses for shirking their household duties and spending their time in the countryside everyday.”

The Royal Elephant refuses to trample on Magha and Company

When Magha and party were presented to the King, without investigating them, he passed the order that the band be trampled to death by the royal elephant. As they were taken to the place of execution, Magha said to his comrades: “Friends, will you listen to my words?” “Dear Magha, we are in this plight for listening to your words. Nevertheless, we shall continue to do so. What is your advice?”

“Friends, death comes to all wayfarers in this saṃsāra. Now, are you robbers (as alleged by the village chief)?”

“Certainly not,” they replied.

“Friends, asseveration of truth is the only reliance for all people in the world. So, declare the truth like this: ‘If we are robbers (as alleged by the chief) let the elephant trample on us; if we are not robbers let the elephant not trample on us.’ ”

The thirty-three youths made their asseveration as instructed. The royal elephant, far from trampling on them, dared not even come near them but trumpeted in fear and ran away. The mahout goaded the elephant with the spike and other sharp points to come back to the site but to no avail.

When the situation was reported to the King, he ordered: “In that case, conceal the criminals under matting and let the elephant trample over it.” The King’s men did as ordered but this time the royal elephant showed even greater fright, trumpeted in a doubly loud sound and ran away.

The King finds out The Truth and rewards Magha and Company

When the King learned the miraculous news he summoned the chief of Macala village and asked: “Is it true that the royal elephant refused to trample these men?”

“That is true, your Majesty. This is because their leader (Magha) knows a mantra that frightens elephants.”

Thereupon the King sent for Magha and asked: “Is it true that you know a mantra that frightens elephants?”

Magha replied: “Your Majesty, I have no such mantra. What my associates and I did was to make a solemn declaration: ‘If we are robbers and enemies of the King let the elephant tramples on us, if we are not, let the elephant not harm us.’ ”

Then the King asked: “What sort of activities did you engage yourselves in?”

“Your Majesty, we repair roads, build rest-houses for travellers at road junctions, dig tanks and build bridges, or repair old bridges. We go to various places to carry out this kind of undertakings.”

“Why do you think the village chief reported falsely against you?”

“Your Majesty, the chief used to enjoy a good income from selling liquor when the youth of the village were forgetful and wanted to enjoy themselves. But since we engaged ourselves in useful work and are not forgetful as before, the chief loses his usual income. That was the reason for reporting against us.”

Then the King said: “O Magha, the royal elephant, though a mere animal, understands your good qualities whereas I, even though a human being did not understand them. From now, you be the chief of Macala village. I present you with my royal elephant. Let the slanderer, that old chief, be your slave. From now on, do meritorious deeds on my behalf too.” And he lavished the group with rich rewards.

On their happy journey home they rode the elephant by turns. Magha said to his friends: “Friends, meritorious deeds are generally aimed at future existence. But here we are reaping the merit of our good deeds, even at the present, like the brown lily growing in the water. Let us do good deeds with still greater zeal.” Then he said further: “What sort of meritorious work shall we do now?” And all agreed, after discussion, that they would build a big rest-house at the road junction as a permanent shelter for travellers coming that way. “But let us make it a point that our wives have no share whatever in our good deeds. They had been unkind to us. They failed to understand us. Instead of thinking about our release, they even showed delight at our misfortune.”

Magha and Party build A Big Rest-house

The thirty-four youths, headed by Magha, each gave a morsel of rice and a bunch of grass a day to feed the elephant which was sufficient for the animal. As the group cut down trees for timber, the elephant dragged them and placed them on the work site. The group began in earnest, shaping the timber for the construction of a big rest-house.

Magha’s Four Wives

Magha had four wives by the names of Sūjā, Sudhammā, Cittā and Nandā. Of these four, Sudhammā asked the chief carpenter about the reason why Magha and party are spending the whole day in the forest. The chief carpenter told her about the rest-house construction project. Sudhammā requested him to arrange for her contribution in the project but he told her that Magha and party had decided against contribution of any kind from their wives. Thereupon, Sudhammā bribed the chief carpenter with eight ticals of silver to see to her contribution in the project.

The chief carpenter agreed. He went to the village centre and loudly proclaimed to Magha and party that it was time to start work for the day. When he was sure that everyone in the party was on his way to the forest, he said: “Boys, you go ahead. I have some business that is keeping me back.” He went in another direction and chose a tree fit for making a ridge-pole. He sent it to Sudhammā and said: “Keep this until I send someone for it.”

The construction project progressed from stage to stage: collection of timber, site clearing, foundation-work, structural frame and scaffolding were all ready and in place, except the rafters. At that juncture, the chief carpenter announced that to fix the rafters he needed a ridge-pole but that he forgot to find a piece of timber of a special kind for the purpose. The working party blamed the man for his forgetfulness and asked him where to find one at this belated stage. “Let us try and inquire at our kinsmen’s places,” said the chief carpenter. Magha and party went into the village asking whether anyone had got some suitable piece of timber for making a ridge-pole.

Sudhammā said she had got one. The party of workers asked the price for it, but she said: “I don't want any price, but let it be my contribution.” Magha scoffed at the idea. “Come men, let’s go,” he said, “this woman shall not be allowed to contribute. We will get one from the forest.” So saying, they left the village.

Back at the work site, the chief carpenter, sitting on the scaffolding for fixing the ridgepole, asked: “Where’s the timber for the ridge pole?” Magha and his friends explained the situation, The chief carpenter then looked up to the sky and said: “Young men, today is a very auspicious day; another equally auspicious day will not be around at least for another year. You have collected all the timber in this structure with so much trouble. If we were to leave it unroofed, it will rot as it is. Let Sudhammā have her contribution and share the result of the merit in the deva-world. Please get the timber for the ridge-pole from her house.”

In the meantime, Sudhammā had an inscription that read: “This is Sudhammā Rest-House” carved on the lower surface of the ridge-pole which was wrapped up with a piece of new cloth. Magha’s men then came back and said: “O Sudhammā, please bring the ridgepole. Let things take their own course. We shall now share the merit with you.” Sudhammā, in handing over the ridge-pole, warned them: “Don't take off that cloth-wrapping until eight or sixteen rafters have been fixed to the ridge-pole!”

The builders obeyed her warning. They removed the cloth-wrapping on the ridge-pole only after it had been put in place, needing only to be nailed down. Then an observant villager, looking up the building, noticed the inscription. “What is written there?” A literate villager read it out to them: “It reads: ‘This is Sudhammā Rest-house.’ ”

At that, Magha and company protested loudly: “Remove that ridge-pole men! We, who had laboured all along, have got none of our names on this building, whereas, Sudhammā, by putting in a piece of timber a cubit long got her name for the whole Rest-house.” But even while they were protesting, the chief carpenter nailed down all the fixtures at the ridge-pole, thus putting the finishing work.

The builders, later on, marked out three portions on the floor space of the big rest-house: one for the King and his officers, one for the common people and one for the sick.

Sharing of Responsibility in The Running of The Rest-house

There were thirty-three flooring boards used in the building of the Rest-house, each assigned to one of Magha’s men. The elephant was given the instructions by Magha that whenever a guest arrived and sat on the board assigned to one of the thirty-three cobuilders, the elephant was to take the guest to the house of that co-builder where the guest would get every care and attention. These instructions were satisfactorily followed by the elephant so that every guest who came to the rest-house got food, lodging and massage services at the co-builders house for the day.

Contributions by Magha’s Family

(1) Magha had a coral tree planted not far away from the rest-house. Beneath the tree, he laid a big stone slab. (2) Nandā, one of Magha’s wives, dug a big tank not far away from the rest-house. (3) Cittā, another wife of Magha, created a garden in the vicinity. (4) Sūjā, the senior most wife of Magha, was not interested in works of merit. She spent much of her time in front of the mirror, tending herself to look beautiful. Magha said to her: “Now Sūjā, Sudhammā had the opportunity to contribute her mite in the building of the rest- house; Nandā has a tank to her credit; and Cittā has created a garden. But you have done no meritorious deed. Please do some good deed for the benefit of others. Sūjā replied: “My lord, for whom did you perform these good deeds? Are your good deeds not mine also.” She was not interested. She just went on her way beautifying herself.

The Hereafter of Magha and Party: Magha is reborn as Sakka

Magha lived the full life span and at the death of that existence he was reborn in the Tāvatiṃsa Deva realm as Sakka, Lord of Devas. His thirty-three friends, at their death, were also reborn in Tāvatiṃsa Deva realm as Sakka’s close assistants.

(Of the four wives of Magha, Sudhammā, Cittā and Nandā, at their death, were reborn as the three queens of Sakka. The senior most wife of Magha, Sūjā, who did not listen to Magha’s advice but spent her time embellishing herself, at her death was reborn as a paddy bird in a ravine.)

Sakka’s Grand State

Sakka’s Vejayanta palace was seven hundred yojanas high; the flag post on the top of it is three hundred yojanas high. As the result of planting the coral tree when he was Magha, the celestial coral tree, three hundred yojanas in diameter of foliage, with a trunk of fifteen yojana girth, (with a height of a hundred yojanas) arose in the Tāvatiṃsa realm. For his former deed of laying a stone slab for the use of the public, there arose his majestic Paṇḍukambalā rock throne of emerald colour which is sixty yojanas in length (fifty yojanas in width and fifteen yojanas in height.)

For having donated timber in the construction of the rest-house, Sudhammā Assembly Hall for the discussion of the Dhamma arose, much to the fame and honour of Queen Sudhammā. (Likewise) for her former donation for public use of a tank, Nandā tank arose in Tāvatiṃsa realm to the credit of Queen Nandā, and for her donation for Public use of a garden, Cittalatā Park, sixty yojanas wide, appeared in Tāvatiṃsa realm to perpetuate the name of Queen Cittā.

Sakka sat at the Sudhammā Assembly Hall on a golden throne one yojana long, with a white umbrella three yojanas wide, held above him, surrounded by thirty three assistants or celestial Chieftains and three deva queens, while twenty-five million celestial dancers kept Sakka and his queens entertained. His followership comprised devas of Catumahārāja and Tāvatiṃsa realms.

The Strange Destiny of Sūjā

Magha was glad that his three former wives in the human existence were now deva queens but where had Sūjā been reborn? He reviewed the destiny of this former wife and saw that she was a paddy bird in a ravine. “Alas! this girl disregarded my words and is now having an ignoble existence,” Sakka said to himself, and he went to the place where Sūjā the paddy bird lived.

Sūjā recognized Sakka as Magha of her previous existence and she held down her face in despondency. “O you stupid girl!” he scolded her, “You spent all your time in preening yourself. And now you are afraid to look up to me. Sudhammā, Nandā, and Cittā are now deva queens. Come with me and see our happy state.” So saying, he took her to Tāvatiṃsa realm where she was put at the Nandā Park. He then resumed his seat on the golden throne at the Vejayantā Palace.

Sūjā is slighted by The Deva Dancers

The deva dancers asked Sakka: “Where have you been just now, Lord?” Sakka was reluctant to answer. But when pressed further by them, he told them the truth. He said that Sūjā, having been reborn a paddy bird in a ravine, had been brought by him and that she was now staying at the Nandā Park.

The deva dancers, who had been servants at Sūjā’s household in their past existence, went to the Nandā Park to see their former mistress. They poked fun at her funny appearance. “Look at Sūjā’s beak, it’s like a spike for hunting crabs!” Poor Sūjā was deeply hurt when those girls, who had been her household servants in the human world and whom she had treated with disdain, were now so scornful of her. She entreated Sakka to send her back to her own place: “What use is there for me with these palaces glittering with gold and gems? This Nandā Park has no attraction for me. All beings feel at home only where they are born. Send me back to the ravine. That is where I belong.”

Sakka complied with her wish. Before leaving her at the ravine he asked: “Now, will you listen to my word (this time)?” And Sūjā replied: “Yes, I will, my Lord.” “Then take upon yourself to observe the Five Precepts. Observe them well without the slightest flaw. I will then make you Chief of those deva maidens in two or three days.’

Sūjā, the paddy bird, was observing the Five Precepts when, two or three day later, Sakka came to test her virtue. He took up the form of a fish and floated spine downwards in front of Sūjā in a stream. Thinking that it was a dead fish, Sūjā seized it by the head when, lo! its tail fluttered. Sūjā said: “Oh, it’s a live fish!” and let it go. Then Sakka standing in the sky, cried out: “Good! Good! you observe the Five Precepts well. For this virtuous conduct, I shall make you Chief of the deva maidens two or three days hence.”

Sūjā was reborn as A Potter’s Daughter

Sūjā, as a paddy bird, lived a life span of five hundred years. Since she would not eat live fish, she was mostly starving herself. Although she was failing in her health due to starvation, she never breached the Five Precepts. At her death, she was reborn as the daughter of a potter in the city of Bārāṇasī.

Sakka reviewed the fate of Suja, the paddy bird, and seeing that she was now the potter’s daughter, he thought of helping her in life as it was not appropriate for him to take her to Tāvatiṃsa realm straight from the potter’s house. So he turned himself into an old man selling golden cucumbers. He was not however selling them for any amount of money: “I will sell them only to those who have morality,” he said to the would-be buyers, who said: “Old man, we do not know what is meant by morality. Name your price for these.” But the old man insisted: “They will go only to those who observe morality.” The villagers said among themselves: “Let’s go, men, this old man is rather quaint!” And so they left.

The potter’s daughter asked them: “You went to buy cucumbers. Where are the cucumbers?”

“Dear girl, that cucumber vendor is rather quaint. He says he will sell his cucumbers only to those who observe morality. Perhaps he has got daughters who were fed on morality.

But, as for us, we do not even know what morality means.”

On hearing this strange news, Sūjā rightly surmised that these golden cucumbers must have been meant for her only, so she went to the old man and said: “O Father, give me the cucumbers.”

“My little girl, do you observe morality?”

“Yes, Father, I observe morality well without a flaw.”

“These cucumbers which are solid gold are for you,” said the old man who was Sakka in guise. After leaving the whole cart of golden cucumbers in front of the potter’s house, he vanished to Tāvatiṃsa.

Sūjā is reborn as A Daughter of Vepacitti Asura

The potters daughter observed the Five Precepts throughout her life and, on her death, she was reborn as the daughter of Vepacitti Asura. Thanks to the observance of morality in her two previous existences as a paddy bird and as a potter’s daughter, she possessed great beauty and charm. Vepacitti Asura planning to marry his daughter to a suitable husband, and called an assembly of asuras.

Sakka reviewed the destiny of Sūjā again. He saw that Sūjā was now born as an Asura and that her marriage was being planned. “Now is my chance to get Sūjā.” he thought, and setting his mind on eloping her, went to the assembly of asuras in the guise of an asura. As he sat in the midst of asuras no one noticed him as stranger.

Vepacitti Asura handed her daughter a garland saying: “Make your choice of the bridegroom by throwing this garland above the head of anyone of your fancy.” Sūjā looked around and, on seeing Sakka in the guise of an asura, she was inflamed with love, a love that had bound the two in many previous existences. “This is my bridegroom (lit, my husband),” she declared, throwing the garland above Sakka’s head.

Thereupon, seizing Sūjā’s arm firmly, Sakka went up into the sky. Then only the asuras know that it was Sakka and raised a cry: “Friends, hold him! Hold this old Sakka! He is our enemy. We will never give up our Sūjā to this old Sakka.”

Vepacitti Asura asked his followers: “Who is it that has taken away my daughter?”

“My Lord, it is that old Sakka!”

Then he said to his followers: “This Sakka is the most powerful person besides myself. So make way.”

Sakka succeeded in his amorous venture. He made Sūjā, Chief of the twenty-five million celestial dancers in Tāvatiṃsa.

Thereafter, Sūjā said to her husband: “My Lord, I have no relatives here in Tāvatiṃsa. So take me wherever you go.” Sakka conceded to this wish.

(This is the story of Magha)