A Collection of Buddhist Wisdom Verses - Ancient Buddhist Texts

28: Heedful
Jā 521 Tesakuṇajātakaṁ
The Power of Wisdom
A childless King adopts three birds as his
children, which his courtiers scorn. To prove
their worth he asks them for advice in ruling the
Kingdom, and this is part of what his ‘son’ says.
533. Balaṁ pañcavidhaṁ loke purisasmiṁ mahaggate,
Tattha bāhubalaṁ nāma carimaṁ vuccate balaṁ,
These five-fold powers in the world
Are found in a truly great man,
And herein, bodily power
Is the least of all the powers,
534. Bhogabalañ-ca, dīghāvu, dutiyaṁ vuccate balaṁ,
Amaccabalañ-ca dīghāvu, tatiyaṁ vuccate balaṁ.
The power of riches is surely,
Friend, called the second power,
The power of good councillors,
Is said to be the third power,
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