| J.052 |
Culajanaka Jaataka |
The king of Mithila had two sons, Aritthajanaka and Polajanaka and at his death,
the throne went to the elder. The elder suspected the younger of treachery and put
him in chains. Polajanaka escaped, and later returned to lay seige Mithila, kill
Aritthajanaka and seize the throne. Aritthajanakaís wife escaped in disguise, with
much treasure and pregnant with the Bodhisatva. Sakka provided her with a chariot
to convey her to Kalacampa where she was adopted by an udicca-brahmin. At the age
of sixteen, the bodhisatva (Mahajanaka) left by ship for Suvannabhumi taking half
the treasure with him. The ship was wrecked mid-ocean, but the bodhisatva, undaunted,
swam valiantly for seven days, until Manimekkhala, goddess of the sea, admiring his
courage, rescued him and placed him in the mango-grove of Mithila. Meanwhile Polajanaka
had died and left orders that the throne should go to anyone who could find favour
in the eyes of the daughter, knew the head of a square bed, could string a bow that
required the strength of one thousand men and draw out the sixteen great treasures.
No-one forthcoming, the state chariot was sent out without a horseman, to search
for an heir. It went straight to where Mahajanaka was lying -- he could solve the
various riddles and was declared king. Later, the bodhisatva, against much dissuasion,
renounced the world. The queen Sivali also renounced the world, staying in the royal
park. The Jataka exemplifies viriya paramita. See also the identical Maha
Janaka Jataka (J.539). |
56/073 |
Jaataka |
Khuddhaka |
J.i.268 |
perseverence |