Tag Archives: The Bodhisatta Murdered By His Father

292. The Bodhisatta Murdered By His Father

Once upon a time when Mahapatapa was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta came to life as the son of his queen Canda and they named him Dhammapala. When he was seven months old, his mother had him bathed in scented water and richly dressed and sat with him. The king came to the queen’s place. And as she was playing with the boy, being filled with a mother’s love for her child, she omitted to rise up on seeing the king. He thought, “Even now this woman is not paying respect to me and if the boy grows up, she will take no notice of me. I will have him put to death at once.” So he returned home, and sitting on his throne summoned the executioner. He came and asked the king, “What is you pleasure, Sire?”