| J.424 |
Aaditta Jaataka | Sucira Jaataka | Soviira Jaataka |
Once the bodhisatva was born as Bharata, King of Roruva, in the country of Sovira.
He was very righteous and much beloved, and his chief queen, Samuddavijaya was wise
and full of knowledge. The king wishing to give alms to Pacceka Buddhas instead of
to less-well accomplished monks, consulted the queen, and acting on her advice, made
a proclamation to his people that they should keep the precepts. He himself observed
all holy days and gave great gifts in charity. One day he offered flowers to the
eastern quarter and making obeisance, wished that any paccekabuddha in that quarter
might come to accept alms. His wish not being fulfilled, he repeated on the following
days, the same ceremony to the other quarters till, on the fourth day, seven paccekabuddhas
came to him from the North where they lived in Nandamulapabbhara. The king and the
queen offered them food for seven days and gave them requisites. The paccekabuddhas
departed one-by-one, each expressing his thanks in a stanza and exhorting the king
and queen to lead pure lives. The story was related in reference to Pasenadiís asadisadana,
to show that wise men of old also gave gifts to holy men with discretion. This is
evidently the story referred to as the Sucira Jaataka in the introduction to the
Dasabrahmana
Jaataka (J.495) and again as the Soviira Jaataka in the introduction of the Sivi Jaataka
(J.499). |
59/571 |
Jaataka |
Khuddhaka |
J.iii.469ff. |
alms giving, pure recipient |