142. The Bodhisatta And King Mallika
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta was conceived by his Queen. On his birth, they called him as Prince Brahmadatta.
In course of time, he grew up, and at sixteen years went to Takkasila for his education; where he mastered all branches of learning, and on his father’s death he became king. He ruled with uprightness and all rectitude, administering justice with no regard had to his own will or whim. And as he ruled thus justly, his ministers on their part were also just; thus, while all things were justly done, none brought a suit into court. The courts were deserted.
141. The Bodhisatta And Kaccani
Once upon a time Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares. A young man on his father’s death devoted himself to his mother and tended her. Every day his mother and his wife quarreled and he lost his peace of mind. One day, when his wife said she could not live with the old witch and he must decide which one of them should go, he took her word that his mother was in fault and said, “Mother! you are always raising strife in the house; so go and live in some other place, where you choose.” She obeyed, weeping, and going to a friend’s house, she worked for wages and with difficulty made a living. After she left, her daughter-in-law conceived a child, and went about saying to her husband and the neighbours that such a thing could never have happened as long as the old witch was in the house.
140. The Bodhisatta And His Wife
Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta reigned over Benares, the Bodhisatta was born as his son. They named him as Prince Paduma, the Lotus Prince. After him came six younger brothers. One after another these seven came of age and married and settled down, living as the king’s companions.
One day the king saw these seven brothers with their followers. He conceived the suspicion that they meant to kill him, and seize his kingdom. So he sent for them, and told: “My sons! you may not live in this town. So go elsewhere, and when I die you shall return and take the kingdom which belongs to our family.”
139. The Bodhisatta And His Ungrateful Wife
Once upon a time, in the reign of Brahmadatta, king of Benares, the Bodhisatta was born in Kasi as a householder’s son and coming of age he married and settled down. Now his wife was a wicked woman, and she intrigued with the village headman. The Bodhisatta came to understand this, and thought how to put her to test.
At that time all the grain had been carried away during the floods; and afterwards there was a famine. But it was the time when the corn had just sprouted, and all the villagers came together, and sought help of their headman, saying, “Two months from now, when we have harvested the grain, we will pay you in kind” so they got an old ox from him, and ate it.
