| J.320 |
Succaja Jaataka |
The bodhisatva was once minister to the king of Benares and the king, fearing his
son the viceroy, gave orders that he should live outside the city. The viceroy therefore
left the city with his wife and lived in a hut in a frontier village. When he discovered,
by observing the stars, that the king was dead, he returned with his wife to take
the throne. On the way they passed a mountain and his wife asked ëif this mountain
were of pure gold, would you give me some of it?í ëNot an atomí he replied, and she
was deeply hurt. She became queen, but was shown no respect or honour by the king.
The bodhisatva, noticing this, questioned her and made her promise to repeat her
story in the kingís presence. This she did, and the king, realizing her affection
for him, bestowed all honour on her. The story was told to a landowner of Savatthi
who went with his wife to collect a debt. They received a cart in settlement of a
debt and leaving it with friends, were on their way home when they saw a mountain
and had a conversation identical with the above. Arriving at Savatthi, they went
to Jetavana, and when the Buddha asked the wife if she was happy, she told him what
had happened. The Buddha then related the Jataka of the king and queen who were the
landowner and his wife. At the end of the story they became sotapannas. |
58/512 |
Jaataka |
Khuddhaka |
J.iii.066ff |
marital harmony |