The Story of Kalayakkhini (Dhammapada 1 : 5)

I. Yamaka Vagga –Twin Verses

Verse 5:
Hatred is never appeased by hatred in this world.
By non-hatred alone is hatred appeased, this is an eternal law.
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While residing at the Jetavana monastery in Savatthi, the Buddha uttered Verse (5) of this book, with reference to a certain woman who was barren, and her rival.

Once there lived a householder, whose wife was barren; later he took another wife. The feud started when the elder wife caused abortion of the other one, who eventually died in child birth. In later existences the two were reborn as a hen and a cat; a doe and a leopardess; and finally as the daughter of a nobleman in Savatthi and a yakkhini* named Kali.

One day, the yakkhini (Kalayakkhini) was in hot pursuit of the lady with the baby, when the latter learned that the Buddha was nearby, giving a religious discourse at the Jetavana monastery. She fled to him and placed her son at his feet for protection. The yakkhini was stopped at the door by the guardian spirit of the monastery and was refused admission. She was later called in and both the lady and the yakkhini were reprimanded by the Buddha.

The Buddha told them about their past feuds as rival wives of a common husband, as a cat and a hen, and as a doe and a leopardess. They were made to see that hatred could only cause more hatred, and that it could only cease through friendship, understanding and goodwill.

Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:

"Na hi verena verāni sammant’ idha kudācana

averena ca sammanti, esa dhammo sanantano."

Hatred is never appeased by hatred in this world.

By non-hatred alone is hatred appeased, this is an eternal law.

At the end of the discourse, the yakkhini was established in Sotapatti Fruition and the long-standing feud came to an end.

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Notes :

* Yakkhini / yakkhi = female yakkha.

Yakkha (Pali) = yaksha (Sanskrit), 夜叉 yè chā (Chinese), Yasha (Japanese), ba-lu (Burmese), gnod sbyin (Tibetan).

Yakkha is classified as the lesser deities in Catummaharajika heaven (the realm of the Four Great Heavenly Kings). Yakkhas have various character, some of them are violent and can harm humans, some of them are of a good nature and benevolent, even help humans. Some of them are Buddhist and some of them are not. They have some supernatural power and can assume any appearance. Some acts as the king’s ministers, some have their own territory which was assigned by their king, some acts as the keeper of forest, tree, lake, river, etc.

For protection in the forest from haunting yakkha, one can recite Atanatiya Sutta / Atanatiya Paritta.

Some literatures use term Yakkha as a broad class of nature-spirits. Some English literatures say that yakkha is between fairy and ogre. As the appearance of fairy is quite the opposite of the ogre, presumably what they mean is the characteristic of the yakkhas.

Bimbisāra, King of Magadha, after his death was reborn as a yakkha called Janavasabha in the retinue of Vessavaṇa.

Cãtummahãrãjika Bhumi (The world of the Four Great Heavenly Kings (四天王 Sì Tiānwáng)

-  Dhatarattha : guardian of the east, leader of Gandhabbas (devas who are known for their skill as musicians).

-  Virulhaka : guardian of the south, leader of Kumbhandas (who guards forest, mountains and hidden treasure).

-  Virupakkha : guardian of the west, leader of Nagas / dragons

-  Vessavana/Kuvera : guardian of the north, leader of Yakkha.

Catummaharajika-bhumi can also be categorised as :

•  Bhumamattha Devata : devas who dwell on the ground, mountain, river, seas, house, temples, etc.

•  Rukakkhattha Devata : devas who dwell on the trees.

•  Akasattha Devata : devas who lives in the air.

Deva = being who lives in heavenly realms.