| J.432 |
Padakusalamaa.nava Jaataka | Padakusala Jaataka |
Once the queen of a Benares king, having sworn a false oath, became a horse-faced
yakkha. She served Vessavana for three years and was given leave to eat people within
a certain range. One day she caught a rich and handsome brahmin and, falling in love
with him, made him her husband. When she went out she shut him up lest he should
escape. The bodhisatva was born as their son, and, on learning his fatherís story,
discovered from the yakkha how far her power extended, and then escaped with his
father. The yakkha followed, but they were outside her territory and would not be
persuaded to return. She gave her son a charm enabling him to trace the footsteps
of any person, even after a lapse of twelve years. On the strength of his charm,
the lad entered the service of the king of Benares. One day, the king and his chaplain,
wishing to test him, stole some treasure, took it away by devious paths and hid it
in a tank. The youth recovered the treasure easily, tracing their footsteps even
in the air. The king wished the name of the thieves to be divulged, but this the
boy would not do -- instead he related various stories to the king showing he knew
the real culprits. The king however, insisted that the thieves be denounced and when
the boy revealed the names, the assembled populace murdered the king and his chaplain
and crowned the boy as king. The story was related in reference to a seven-year old
boy of Savatthi who could recognize footsteps. His father put him through a severe
test and then went to the Buddha, where the boy found him. When the Buddha heard
the story, he revealed that of the past. The father of the story of the past is identified
with Mahakassapa. |
59/659 |
Jaataka |
Khuddhaka |
J.iii.501ff. |
detective |