The Questions of King Madura

That morning, in the city of Madura, golden sunlight spread across the palace rooftops, and birds sang in the royal gardens. In the great hall, King Madura Avantiputa sat upon his throne, his brow furrowed in thought. He had just heard the words of the Brahmins at court: "Your Majesty, only the Brahmin class is supreme. All other classes are lowly. The Brahmins are children of Brahma, born from the mouth of Brahma, the true heirs of Brahma."

The king felt uneasy. He asked himself, "If this is truly so, then what meaning does my royal power have, my Kshatriya lineage?" Then he heard of the Venerable Mahā Kaccāna, an Arahant dwelling in the Kunda forest, renowned as a wise and eloquent teacher. The king ordered fine chariots made ready and, with his retinue, set out for the Kunda forest.

Upon arrival, after the customary courtesies, King Madura sat down to one side and, with palms joined, said:

"Venerable sir, the Brahmins claim that they alone are the highest caste, the fair caste, the pure, the children of Brahma, while all other classes are the dark castes, the lowly. What does the Venerable One think of this?"

The Venerable Mahā Kaccāna smiled with compassion, his voice calm and warm:

"Your Majesty, that is merely a sound in the world, an empty saying. What do you think? If a Kshatriya lived in prosperity with wealth, gold, silver, and grain, could he take into his service another Kshatriya, or a Brahmin, a Vessa, or a Sudda as a loyal servant, one who rises early and sleeps late, carries out every command, and seeks to please in all things?"

King Madura nodded and replied:

"Venerable sir, if that Kshatriya were wealthy, he could take anyone from the four classes into his service."

The Venerable One asked further:

"And if a Brahmin were wealthy, or a Vessa, or a Sudda, could they likewise take others into their service, even a Brahmin?"

The king confirmed:

"Venerable sir, they could."

The Venerable One looked straight into the king's eyes and asked:

"Then, Your Majesty, if this is so, are these four castes equal or not equal?"

King Madura fell silent. He realized something he had never considered before. After a moment, he answered slowly:

"Venerable sir, if this is so, the four castes are equal. I see no difference between them."

The Venerable Mahā Kaccāna offered another example:

"What do you think, Your Majesty? If a Kshatriya took life, stole, engaged in sexual misconduct, spoke falsely, sowed discord, spoke harshly, spoke frivolously, and was consumed by greed, hatred and delusion, holding wrong views—after the breaking up of the body, would he be reborn in a lower realm, an evil destiny, a place of suffering, in hell?"

King Madura answered at once:

"Venerable sir, if a Kshatriya committed such wrongs, he would surely fall into a lower realm."

The Venerable One asked again:

"And if a Brahmin, a Vessa, or a Sudda committed those same wrongs, would they not also fall into a lower realm after death?"

King Madura admitted:

"Venerable sir, whatever the class, one who commits such wrongs will fall into a lower realm after death."

The Venerable One asked:

"Then are the four castes equal or not equal?"

This time, King Madura did not hesitate:

"Venerable sir, the four castes are equal. I see no difference between them."

The Venerable One then gave an example from the law:

"What do you think, Your Majesty? Suppose a man broke into houses, plundered goods, ambushed travelers on the highways, or committed adultery with another's wife. If he were caught and brought before you, how would you deal with him?"

King Madura replied in a stern voice:

"Venerable sir, we would execute him, or torture him, or confiscate his property, or punish him according to his crime. For his former title of Kshatriya would have vanished; he would now only be called a thief."

The Venerable One asked further:

"And if a Brahmin, a Vessa, or a Sudda did the same?"

The king answered:

"We would deal with him according to his crime as well. His former title would vanish, and he would only be called a thief."

The Venerable One concluded:

"Then are the four castes equal or not equal?"

"They are equal, Venerable sir."

Finally, the Venerable One spoke of one who goes forth into the homeless life:

"What do you think, Your Majesty? If a person of any class, having shaved off hair and beard, donned the ochre robes, left the household life for the homeless life, abandoned killing, stealing, and false speech, ate only one meal a day, lived the holy life, kept the precepts, and cultivated wholesome things—how would Your Majesty treat such a one?"

King Madura answered with reverence:

"Venerable sir, I would bow to him, rise to greet him, offer him a seat, and make offerings of the four requisites—robes, food, lodging, and medicine for illness—and arrange for his protection and care according to the Dharma. For his former class title would have vanished; he would now only be called a samana."

The Venerable One asked:

"And if one from the other classes went forth in the same way, would Your Majesty treat him likewise?"

The king answered:

"Venerable sir, in just the same way."

At that moment, King Madura felt as though a great burden had been lifted from him. He rose, joined his palms, and said with deep emotion:

"Magnificent, Venerable Kaccāna! Truly magnificent! Just as one sets upright what has been toppled, reveals what has been hidden, points the way to one who is lost, and brings a lamp into the darkness, so has the Venerable One made the truth clear to me. I take refuge in the Venerable One, in the Dharma, and in the Sangha. May the Venerable One accept me as a lay disciple, from this day until the end of my life, devoted and faithful."

The Venerable Mahā Kaccāna replied gently:

"Your Majesty, do not take refuge in me. Take refuge in the Blessed One, for I myself have taken refuge in the Blessed One."

King Madura asked:

"Venerable sir, where does that Blessed One now dwell?"

"That Arahant, Perfectly Enlightened One, has already entered nirvana, Your Majesty."

King Madura pondered for a moment and then said:

"Venerable sir, if we heard that the Blessed One were dwelling even a hundred yojanas away, we would travel a hundred yojanas to see him. If he were two hundred, four hundred, or five hundred yojanas away, we would go all the same. Since the Blessed One has entered nirvana, we take refuge in that Blessed One who has entered nirvana, in the Dharma, and in the community of Bhikkhus. May the Venerable One accept me as a lay disciple, from this day until the end of my life, devoted and faithful."

From that time on, King Madura became a devoted lay disciple, and thanks to the king's enlightenment, many people in his kingdom also began to reconsider their entrenched notions of class, moving toward a more just society under the light of the Buddha's teachings (Dharma).

The Meaning of the Story

The lesson Master Thích Chân Quang wished to convey is this: the worth of a person is not determined by lineage, class, degrees, or appearance, but by blessings from merit, karma, and the fairness of the law. All people are equal before cause and effect (karmic law): those who do evil reap bitter fruits, and those who do good reap wholesome fruits, no matter their class. Therefore, do not be arrogant because of status or lineage, and do not look down on anyone; instead, strive to create merit and live wholesomely, so that you may rise in life through your own efforts.

Compiled from a dharma talk by Master Thích Chân Quang