Once upon a time, there was a king Assaka reigning in Potali, which is a city of the kingdom of Kasi. His queen consort, named Ubbari, was very dear to him; she was charming, and graceful, and beautiful passing the beauty of women, though not so fair as a goddess. She died and at her death the king was plunged in grief, and became sad and miserable. He had the body laid in a coffin, and embalmed with oil and ointment, and laid beneath the bed; and there he lay without food, weeping and wailing. His parents, kinsfolk, friends and courtiers, priests and laymen, consoled him not to grieve, since all things pass away; they could not move him. As he lay in sorrow, seven days passed by.

Now the Bodhisatta was at that time an ascetic, who had gained the Five Supernatural Faculties and the Eight Attainments; he lived at the foot of Himalayas. He was possessed of perfect supernatural insight, and as he looked round India with his heavenly vision, he saw this king lamenting, and straightway decided to help him. By his miraculous power he flew by air, and landed in the king’s park, and sat down on the ceremonial stone, like a golden image.

A young Brahmin of the city of Potali entered the park, and seeing the Bodhisatta, he greeted him and sat down. The Bodhisatta began to talk pleasantly with him. “Is the king a just ruler?” he asked.

The youth replied, “Yes! Sir! the king is just a ruler; but his queen is just dead; he has laid her body in a coffin, and lies down lamenting her; and to day is the seventh day. Why do you not free the king from this great grief? Virtuous beings like you ought to overcome the king’s sorrow.”

the Bodhisatta said, “I do not know the king. But if he comes to me and ask me, I would tell him the place where she has reborn now, and make her speak herself.”

The youth said, “Holy Sir! Then stay here until I bring the king to you.” The Bodhisatta agreed, and he hurried to the king and told him about it. “You should visit this being with the divine insight!” he told the king.

The king was overjoyed at the thought of seeing Ubbari; and he entered his chariot and drove to the place. Greeting the Bodhisatta, he sat down on one side, and asked, “Is it true, as I am told, that you know where my queen has come into being again?”

The Bodhisatta replied, “Yes. I do.”

Then the king asked where it was.

The Bodhisatta replied, “O king! She was intoxicated with her beauty, and so fell into negligence and did not do fair and virtuous acts; so now she has become a little dung worm in this very park.”

“I don’t believe it!” said the king.

“Then I will show her to you, and make her speak,” answered the Bodhisatta.

“Please make her speak!” said the king.

The Bodhisatta commanded “Let the two that are busy rolling a lump of cow dung, come forth before the king!” and by his power he made them do it, and they came. The Bodhisatta pointed one out to the king; “O king! There is your queen Ubbari; She has just come out of this lump, following her husband the dung worm. Look and see.”

“What! My queen Ubbari a dung worm? I don’t believe it!” cried the king.

“I will make her speak, O king!”

“Please make her speak, holy Sir!” said he.

The Bodhisatta by his power gave her speech. “Ubbari!” said he.

“What is it, holy Sir?” she asked, in a human voice.

“What was your name in your former character?” the Bodhisatta asked her.

She replied, “My name was Ubbari, the consort of king Assaka, Sir!”

The Bodhisatta went on and asked, “Tell me!Which do you love best now king Assaka, or this dung worm?”

She replied, “O! Sir! that was my former birth. Then I lived with king Assaka in this park, enjoying everything; but now that my memory is confused by re birth. This worm is dearer to me than the king. Now I would kill king Assaka, and smear the feet of my husband the dung worm with the blood flowing from his throat!”

When king Assaka heard this, he repented on the spot; and at once he made the queen’s body to be crimated and washed his head. He saluted the Bodhisatta, and went back into the city; where he married another queen, and ruled in righteousness. And the Bodhisatta, having instructed the king, and set him free from sorrow, returned again to the Himalayas.