Sibi Jataka facts for kids

The Shibi Jataka is a famous story from a collection called the Jataka tales. These tales are about the many lives of Buddha before he became enlightened. Each Jataka story teaches important ideas from Buddhism, like doing good deeds (called Dharma) and making sacrifices for others. People believe that Buddha himself told these stories in India. He wanted to show that by always doing good things, you can reach a special state called Nirvana, which means perfect peace and understanding.

King Sibi's Amazing Story

An ancient stone carving showing the Shibi Jataka story, from Gandhara (around 200-300 AD). You can see it at the British Museum.

One day, King Shibi was sitting in his royal court. A small sparrow, scared and flying fast, landed in his lap. It was trying to escape a falcon that was chasing it.

The falcon then spoke to the king. It said that the sparrow was its food and it needed to eat to live. King Shibi understood the falcon's right to hunt. But he also felt it was his duty to protect anyone who sought his help, even a tiny bird.

To solve this problem, King Shibi made an incredible offer. He said he would give the falcon some of his own flesh. This way, the sparrow would be safe, and the falcon would still get its meal. This story shows how much King Shibi cared about protecting all living things.

Different Versions of the Story

There are a few different ways the Shibi Jataka story is told. The one you just read is also found in a very old Indian epic called the Mahabharata.

Here is another version of King Shibi's story:

• A blind person came to King Shibi. This person was actually Indra, a powerful god, in disguise.
• He asked the king to donate one of his eyes. He hoped this would help him see a little bit again.
• But King Shibi was incredibly generous. He offered both of his eyes! He wanted the blind person to get their full sight back.
• King Shibi's willingness to give up both his eyes truly impressed Indra.
• Indra then showed his true form and blessed the king for his amazing sacrifice.

In the Chinese Buddhist tradition, these two versions of the story are linked to two different kings. The king who gives his eyes is known as Kuai-mu Wang, which means "the king with happy eyes."

Shibi Jataka in Ancient Art

The story of King Shibi is shown in many ancient Buddhist cave paintings.

• One famous example is in Cave 17 at Ajanta Caves in India.
• This painting shows a man holding a set of scales. King Shibi is shown cutting flesh from his own body.
• The painting also shows the king’s helpers and people from his kingdom. They are celebrating his noble act.
• Another painting is in the Mogao Caves (Cave 275) in China. This painting shows five Jataka tales, and both versions of the Shibi legend are included here.

King Sibi and the Chola Dynasty

The story of King Shibi has a special link to the Chola dynasty. This was a powerful kingdom in South India that ruled for a very long time, from about 100 CE to 1250 CE.

Later Chola kings claimed that they were descendants of King Shibi. The Tamil name for Shibi was Sembiyan. Many Chola kings used this name as part of their own titles. This showed their pride in being connected to such a generous and brave king.