| J.163 |
Susiima Jaataka |
Susima was king of Benares an the bodhisatva was his chaplainís son. The chaplain
had been master of ceremonies in the kingís elephant-festival, and as a result, had
amassed great wealth. He died when his son was sixteen. Soon after, another elephant-festival
came round and other brahmins obtained the kingís permission to be in charge of ceremonies
on the plea that the chaplainís son was too young. However, when only four days remained
before the festival, the bodhisatva found his mother weeping. She explained that
for seven successive generations, their family had managed the elephant-festival
and she felt the change deeply. The bodhisatva discovered that a teacher-expert in
elephant lore lived in Takkasila, two thousand leagues away. He comforted his mother
and proceeded to Takkasila reaching it in a single day. There he paid his fee of
1,000 pieces to the teacher and explained the urgency of his mission. In one night
the teacher taught him the three Vedas and the elephant lore and the pupil could
even excel his teacher in knowledge. The next morning, he left early for Benares
and reached it in one day. On the day of the festival, the bodhisatva went in all
his array before the king and protested against the infringement of his rights. He
challenged anyone to show superiority over him in elephant-lore and nobody could
be found to do so. The king thus appointed him to conduct the ceremonies. The Jataka
was related in reference to an attempt on the part of the heretics to prevent the
people of Savatthi from giving alms to the Buddha. All the people of the city made
a collection to hold an almsgiving, but they were divided in their allegiance, some
wishing to entertain the Buddha, others favouring heretical teachers. A vote was
passed and the majority were found to be in favour of the Buddha. For a whole week
alms were given on a lavish scale and at the end of the week, the Buddha pronounced
a blessing. Ananda is identified with Susima, Sariputta with the teacher, Mahamaya
with the Bodhisatvaís mother and Suddhodana with his father. |
57/085 |
Jaataka |
Khuddhaka |
J.ii.045ff. |
injustice, deviation from tradition |