| J.234 |
Asitaabhu Jaataka |
The bodhisatva was once born as an ascetic dwelling in the Himalayas. The king of
Benares grew jealous of his son Prince Brahmadatta and banished the prince and his
wife, Asitabhu. They went to live in the Himalayas in a leaf-hut. One day the prince,
enamoured of a kinnaree followed her, forsaking his wife. Asitabhu went to the bodhisatva,
receiving instruction until she could attain supranormal powers through meditation.
She returned to the hut. Later she was discovered floating in the air and uttering
verses in praise of her new-found freedom, by the Prince who had returned disappointed
in his quest. The princess flew away in the air, leaving the prince alone. When his
father died, he succeeded to the throne. The story is told in reference to a young
girl, daughter of a servitor of the two chief disciples. She was married, but finding
her husband neglectful of her, visited the two chief disciples. Under their instruction,
she attained sotapatiphala and embraced the religious life, becoming an arahant.
She was Asitabhu in a previous birth. The story is referred in the Vibhanga commentary
in connection with a king of Benares, who having gone into the forest with his queen
to eat roast flesh, fell in live with a kinnaree and deserted his wife. When he returned
to his queen, he found her flying through the air away from him, having developed
supranormal powers. A tree-sprite then uttered a stanza, citing the example of Asitabhu. |
57/444 |
Jaataka |
Khuddhaka |
J.ii.229ff., Vibhanga Commentary p.470ff. |
marital neglect |