| J.510 |
Ayoghara Jaataka | Ayog.rha Jaataka |
The bodhisatva was once born as the son of the king of Benares. Both the earlier
children of the queen consort had been devoured by a female yaksa. For the third
child, therefore, an iron house (ayoghara) was built and in this the bodhisatva was
born (taking his name therefrom). Meanwhile, the she-yaksa had died, but yet the
bodhisatva grew up in the iron house. When he was sixteen, his father wishing to
give him the kingdom, had him taken in a ceremonial procession round the city. Wondering
at all he saw, he asked why he had been denied the sight of all these things before.
When told the reason, he reflected that all of life is a prison, and though he had
escaped the clutches of the yaksa, there still remained old age and death. Accordingly,
at the end of the procession, he announced his intention to renounce the world. His
parents and many others being converted to his views, they followed him into the
forest, where a special hermitage was built for them by Vissakamma under Sakka’s
orders. The story is told regarding the Buddha’s renunciation. |
61/273 |
Jaataka |
Khuddhaka |
J.iv.490ff. |
renunciation |