The Loyalty of an Elephant towards His Blind Mother

The Loyalty of an Elephant towards His Blind Mother

From the Matriposhaka Jataka, Ajanta Caves, Gupta Period,5th Century CE

          Once the Bodhisattva was born as a white elephant.  One day a hunter was lost in the jungle where the white elephant lived. The elephant took the hunter back to his village. The hunter, instead of being grateful to the white elephant, thought that he should tell the King of Benaras about the existence of the white elephant and earn a reward from the King. The King sent a few hunters into the jungle. The white elephant was brought to the King's court. A huge crowd had gathered to see the white elephant.  But when the King tried to feed the elephant, it refused all food. The King asked him why he was starving himself. The elephant told the King, " I have a blind mother who cannot eat without me. Then how can I eat without her? She must be starving in the jungle." Hearing the love and affection, sensing his loyalty towards his mother, the King freed the white elephant. Here we see the joy amongst the elephant upon the return of the white elephant. The blind mother elephant is caressing the white elephant. 

           The story is not just about the joy of a family reunion, but it is more about family loyalty. However, loyalty in a positive way. It is about sustaining each other emotionally and financially.  But it is not about hoarding things so as to leave riches for our children. As an old Sanskrit saying goes " why leave riches for a good son? He can earn on his own. Why leave riches for the bad son? He will squander away your hard earned wealth." 

            But like Dhrastraraj we are blinded by our love for our children. For their sake we harm our society and nation without realising that without a strong nation our next generation has no future. While we strengthen our family economically, we weaken our nation.