| J.240 |
Mahaapi"ngala Jaataka |
Mahapi"ngala was once king of Benares -- he was extremely wicked and quite pitiless.
When he died, the people were delighted, and burned his body with 1,000 cartloads
of wood amongst great festivity. They then elected his son, the bodhisatva, as king.
He noticed that while others rejoiced, the palace doorkeeper wept and inquired the
reason. The man replied that Mahapi"ngala would strike him on the head in passing
eight times a day. He was sure, he would treat Yama in like fashion, be banished
from hell and return to his palace where he would continue to assault him. The bodhisatva
reassured the man that there would be no return from hell for Mahapi"ngala.
The story was told in reference to the great joy shown by the multitudes of people
at the death of Devadatta. Devadatta is identified with Mahapi"ngala. |
57/468 |
Jaataka |
Khuddhaka |
J.ii.239ff., DhA.i.126ff. |
retribution |