မဟာဇနကဇာတ္

the Great Swimmer ( Zanak-ka)

This is the story of future Buddha who would not give up swimming in a great ocean after shipwreck, doing it with a belief that so long as there is life, there is hope. He finally got help and became a king.

Once upon a time, in the kingdom of Meik-hti-la, King Arittha Zanak-ka had a fight with his younger brother, Pawla-Zanaka, when he got killed. His pregnant queen had to run away disguised as a village woman, taking some treasures with her. She came to a city called Taxilla (city of university) where she was helped by a kind-hearted professor who treated her like a daughter. She lived with his family, and a son was born soon after. The boy was named Zanak-ka.
When Zanak-ka grew up and went to school his friends were making fun of him by calling him that he has no father. He was ashamed, and asked his mother if he has a father. His mother told him that he had a father, and would tell him all about it later when he grew up. When Zanak-ka grew up his mother told him all about his father and why they had to run away from Meik-thi-la. Since then Zanak-ka was always thinking of how to get his father’s country back from his evil uncle. One day he told his mother that he would go to Meik-hti-la to see if he could get the country back. He asked for money and his mother gave him the treasures she had brought with her, and let him sell it for money.

Zanak-ka set sail for Meik-hti-la in a merchant ship. A big storm broke out in the middle of the ocean, and the ship was rolling heavily in big waves and about to break up. Zanak-ka prepared himself for a swim, by eating food to get energy, and soaked his clothes with oil to make swimming easier. The rest of people onboard were running about in panic instead of preparing for shipwreck. When the ship began to sink Zanak-ka climbed up the mast, dived into the sea, and swam away from the sinking ship. All the people, except Zanak-ka, were killed either by drowning or attack by sharks.

Zanak-ka swam in the ocean observing Fasting Precepts at the same time to get blessings (Kusala Karma) from it. After one week Ocean Angel named Mani-may-kha-la appeared in the sky and talked to him. She said, “Young man, do you know that the ocean is so big, and the shore is nowhere to be seen? You are swimming without a chance to survive. Are you doing it foolishly?” Zanak-ka replied, “If I keep on swimming I will still be alive, and so long as there is life there is hope. I will not give up swimming ”. Ocean Angel went away thinking that it was foolish of him.

When the Ocean Angel came back few days later, she saw Zanak-ka still swimming. She asked him the same question again, and he gave her the same answer . Now she knew that this man was not swimming foolishly, but just trying to do his best with good reason. So she decided to help him. He asked her to be taken to Meik-hti-la where he was going. As soon as she lifted him out of ocean he fell asleep in exhaustion. She took him across the sky to Meik-hti-la and left him on a flat rock in a garden near the city.

At that time in Meik-hti-la palace, King Pawla Zanak-ka had died leaving only a daughter named Sanda Devi as Princess Royal, who cannot be a king. The ministers were looking for a suitable man who could be king. They sent out the royal chariot with king’s regalia (royal apparel) on it, by saying prayers to find someone who could be their king. The royal chariot went out through the city gate and entered the garden where Zanak-ka was sleeping, and stopped there. When the ministers saw the sleeping man they let the musicians play loud music to scare him. Zanak-ka woke up and saw the ministers and musicians. He knew that they meant no harm to him, and was not frightened by them. By this ministers found out that he was not a scary person. When they saw the markings on Zanak-ka’s feet, the signs of a great man, they requested him to come along to the palace. So he went along with them on as a possible future king.

When this news reached the Princess Royal, she sent her attendants to tell Zanak-ka to come and see her. Zanak-ka kept on talking to ministers pretending not to hear them. Attendants thought that he was deaf, and told this to the princess. Later, when Zanak-ka went around the palace compound the princess saw him. She found him to be a strong handsome man who could be a king, and she went to see Zanak-ka herself. He told her who he was, and came to learn that they were cousins.

The late king had left behind three Riddles to be solved by anyone who should be king of Meik-hti-la. The First Riddle was to find out “the most sacred place on the royal throne”. Zanak-ka did not know the answer but he knew that the princes could. He tricked the princess by handing her his turban to be put it at a suitable place. The princess placed it at the site where her father used to do. Zanak-ka pointed out at the site as the answer. Second Riddle was the test of strength, to hook up the strong royal crossbow, which Zanak-ka did very easily. The Third Riddle was to find out hidden treasures in the palace compound by reading the scriptures. Zanak-ka who was educated in Taxilla could find out all the hidden treasures. All riddles being solved, he was chosen as the king. Coronation was celebrated when Zanak-ka was crowned the King of Meik-hti-la and the princess as his Chief Queen. Zanak-ka sent for his mother and kind-hearted professor to come over and live with them.

A son was born to the king and queen, and he was named Digavu. He was appointed Crown Prince and had to learn the duties of king. One day the king went out for garden nspection, and found a mango tree bearing ripe fruits that tasted delicious. He ate some and let his followers eat as well. But the followers took away all the fruits and left nothing for common people who became very angry and pulled down the mango tree.

When Zanak-ka saw the mango tree broken, he was told what had happened to it. He felt very sorry as he forgot to tell his followers just to take some and leave the rest for common people. He realized that he was getting old and forgetful. He called for Prince Digavu and told him to take over the throne in his place. Zanak-ka retired to the forest to become a hermit, and spend the rest of his lifetime in prayers and meditation.

Keyword:
Try your best in doing what is right and beneficial. Reward will come surely. Not trying is to throw away a good chance for success. If there is life there is hope.

Remark:
The Future Buddha demonstrated the virtues for Perfection in Diligence and Resolution, by making great effort by swimming the great ocean with great resolution. He showed strong belief that if there is life there is hope.