Story summary
Candakumāra helps a person who has been wronged in court. The king gives him responsibility for judging disputes, taking that power away from Khaṇḍahāla, a priest who has accepted bribes. Seeking revenge, the priest persuades the king that a terrible sacrifice, including the prince and other innocent people, will bring heavenly rewards.
The prince and his family plead for the lives at risk. Candā, the prince’s wife, appeals to the truth of their innocence, and Sakka intervenes to stop the sacrifice. The tale challenges the belief that cruelty can lead to goodness and shows why even powerful advice must be questioned.
Themes to explore
- Justice
- Protecting life
- Moral courage
Read and wonder together
What can we do when someone tells us to do something that would hurt another person?
New to these tales? Explore our guide to Jātaka stories and reading together.
About the traditional tale
This summary introduces the traditional story. Dharma Trail’s illustrated edition is still being prepared.
Source for grown-ups: Khaṇḍahāla (Candakumāra) Jātaka, no. 542, in The Jātaka, volume VI, translated by E. B. Cowell and W. H. D. Rouse (1907). The full source includes material for adults.