| J.543, Cyp.ii.2 |
Bhuuridatta Jaataka |
Prince Brahmadatta, son of the king of Benares, lived on the banks of the Yamuna,
exiled from his father’s kingdom. He wore the garb of an ascetic, but his heart was
not in the ascetic life, and when a Naga maiden tried to seduce him, he easily succumbed.
Their children were Sagara-Brahmadatta and Samuddaja. When the king of Benares died,
Brahmadatta returned with his children to the kingdom and his Naga wife returned
to the Naga world. While playing about in a lake specially prepared for them, the
children of Brahmadatta were frightened by a tortoise. The tortoise was summoned
before the king and punished by being thrown in the Yamuna. Caught in a whirlpool,
the tortoise was carried to the Naga world of King Dhatarattha, and on questioning
has the presence of mind to say he had been sent from Benares to propose marriage
between Dhatarattha and Samuddaja. Naga messengers were sent to the Benares court
to make arrangements and laid their proposals before the king. The tortoise meanwhile
disappeared. Brahmadatta was horrified by the proposals but could not refuse at risk
of the total destruction of the city. Samuddaja was taken to the Naga world and had
five children, one of whom was the bodhisatva and was later given the name Bhuridatta.
Anxious to be born in Sakka’s company, Bhuridatta took uposatha vows and observed
the fast coiled around an ant-hill. During one such fast, Bhuridatta was captured
by a brahmin Alambayana and a villager. They crushed his bones and travelled about
making him dance before large audiences under the power of a charm. He was rescued
by his brothers and sisters in a show of miraculous strength which reduced Alambayana
to leprosy. The villager was similarly punished but was pardoned on Bhuridatta’s
request. The Jataka was related in reference to some laymen of Savatthi who kept
the fast diligently. See also Campeyya
Jaataka (J.506). |
64/001 |
Jaataka |
Khuddhaka |
J.vi.157ff. |
eight precepts |