This is the fifth section of a five-part series – The 15 Days of the Buddha’s Miracles.
When the Buddha finished telling the story of the six heretic teachers challenging him, King Bimbisara then asked,
“Lord, why was Prince Tree Stump born so mighty, and yet so ugly?”
The Buddha replied, “Listen carefully, your majesty, and I will tell you cause and effect (Karma).”
The Reason why Prince Tree Stump was mighty and ugly
“In aeons past, aeons beyond recall, there was a Pratyekabuddha. He had a nervous disorder that could only be treated with clarified butter.
One day, this Pratyekabuddha was begging for clarified butter, when he bumbed into a householder. This household became angry, and scolded him, “If you didn’t beg, you couldn’t eat. Your head looks like a tree stump and your skin looks like dried bark!”
Still, the man gave the begging Pratyekabuddha a small portion of spoiled butter.
When the buttermaker’s wife was coming home, she saw the begging buddha leaving their house. She bore faith and asked him to take as much butter from their house as he wished.
When she entered the house, the woman scolded the man, “You scolded and insulted this man and gave him the spoils of your butter. How dare you?!”
The man then felt remorse for his action. He welcomed the begging man back to the house. Then, he told the man that he could get as much butter as he wished forever in their house. The saint then came to their house often, and to repay their kindness, the saint exhibited many supernatural powers, such as flying to the sky.
When the man and wife saw these marvels, they felt great and serene faith. The man said, “By the merits of supplying this saint with butter, may we always be born as husband and wife.”
The wife heard this and said, “You once scolded this man, saying he looks like a tree stump. Then, you only gave him the leftover butter. Because of this, you will be born ugly. How can I be your wife? I will run away and you will have to bring me back.”
The husband and wife then dedicated their lives to the Pratyekabuddha and confessed their faults. Then saint then said, “Due to your kindness, I shall fulfil whatever request you may have.” The man and woman requested that they will always be reborn as husband and wife.
The Buddha then said, “Because he initially insulted the Pratyekabuddha and only gave him the spoiled butter, he was reborn as the ugly prince. But later, because he repented and dedicated his life to that saint, he was born mighty and powerful.
I was Prince Tree Stump and this buttermaker in my previous lives.”
Upon hearing this, King Bimbisara, all the other kings and attendees rejoiced greatly.
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