| J.504 |
Bhallaatika Jaataka |
The bodhisatva was once born as Bhallatiya, king of Benares. Desirous of eating venison
cooked on charcoal, he gave the kingdom in charge of his courtiers and went to the
Himalayas on a hunting expedition. While wandering near Gandhamadana, among pleasant
streams and groves, he came across two kinnaras fondly embracing one another and
then weeping and wailing most pitifully. The king quieted his hounds, laid down his
weapons and approached the kinnaras. In answer to his questions, the female told
him that one day, while she was picking flowers on the opposite bank for a garland
for her lover, it grew late and a storm arose. The stream which separated the two
lovers swelled in flood and they had to spend the night apart from each other. The
memory of one night passed in separation, had filled them with sorrow for 697 years
and they still wept whenever they thought of it. The story was told in reference
to a quarrel between Pasenadi and Mallika about conjugal rights. They were sulky
and refused to look at one another. The Buddha visited the palace and reconciled
them. The two kinnaras were identified with the king and the queen. |
61/144 |
Jaataka |
Khuddhaka |
J.iv.437ff. |
intimacy |