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Jataka Tale 207 is known as the “Assaka Jataka”—a story from the collection of Buddhist tales about the previous lives of the Buddha (the Bodhisatta).
🐘 Assaka Jataka (Jataka No. 207)
🌿 The Story
Once upon a time, in the city of Potali, there ruled a king named Assaka. He had a beloved queen named Ubbari, whom he loved deeply.
However, tragedy struck when Queen Ubbari died.
The king was overwhelmed with grief. Unable to let go, he had her body preserved and kept it near him. Every day, he mourned, wept, and refused to move on. His sorrow consumed his life and distracted him from his duties as a ruler.
🧘 The Bodhisatta’s Intervention
At that time, the Bodhisatta (the Buddha in a previous life) was born as a wise teacher. Seeing the king’s suffering, he decided to help.
He approached the king and gently tried to teach him about impermanence—the idea that all things, including life and relationships, eventually pass away.
But the king could not accept it.
🐛 A Powerful Lesson
To awaken the king, the Bodhisatta used a striking example:
He showed the king a female dung beetle and told him that this insect had once been his beloved Queen Ubbari in a previous life. Now, she had moved on and was happily living a completely different existence.
This shocked the king.
He realized:
Life is constantly changing
Clinging to the past brings suffering
Even those we love move on through different forms of existence
🌅 The Transformation
With this realization, King Assaka finally let go of his attachment. He stopped mourning obsessively and returned to his responsibilities with a clearer, wiser mind.
🌟 Moral of the Story
Attachment leads to suffering
Everything is impermanent (Anicca)
Letting go brings peace
Wisdom helps overcome grief
This tale is often used in Buddhist teachings to explain grief, loss, and acceptance in a very direct and memorable way.
If you want, I can simplify it into a short version or explain the deeper Buddhist meaning behind it.
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