16. THE PEACEMAKER

108 Buddhist Parables

Once when the Buddha was staying at the Nyagrodha Park near Kapilavatthu, a serious dispute broke out between the Sakyas and Koliyas, who had directed the Rohini river to be constricted by a dam between the cities of Kapilavatthu and Devadaha for the purpose of irrigation of their fields.

In a certain month, when the crops started to wither and the river ran low, labourers and residents of both the cities assembled for a meeting. The Koliyas remarked that if the water continued to be shared by both sides, it would be inadequate for both clans. And since their crops could ripen with one more watering, they should have it. To that, the Sakyas rebutted that their crops, too, could ripen with one more watering and they should have the water.

Thus began their bickering out of mutual reluctance to let the water be taken by the other. When things got more bitter, one man struck another, with the other man retaliating and sparking off a fight. Both sides reported the quarrel to their ministers, who, in turn, reported it to their royal households. And the leaders of the respective clans also got infuriated and decided to wage a war on each other. Armed for battle, the Sakyas and Koliyas declared to show their strength and power to each other.

Surveying the world at dawn, the Buddha realized that if he did not go to them, they would destroy one another. Using his supernormal power, he levitated through the air to where the conflict was and sat cross-legged in the air above the middle of the Rohini river to catch everyone’s attention.

The Sakyas and Koliyas, on seeing this amazing miracle, threw off their weapons and paid homage to the Blessed One.

Then the Buddha enquired on the origin of the quarrel and got a response that the quarrel began over not sharing the water.

The Blessed One asked the kings, “Tell me, O Kings, how much the water if worth?”

“Very little, of course,” responded the kings.

“And how much the human lives are worth?”

“Beyond the price,” replied the kings.

“Is it fitting, O Kings, that for very little water one should destroy human lives which are beyond price?”

And to this all became silent. The Buddha then asked both the sides to reflect on their actions, exclaiming that if he were not there, they would have let a river of blood flow out of their evil desires.

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