Devadhamma Jataka A certain rich man living in Savatthi joined the Buddhist monkhood after the death of his wife. Before that he had built for himself a bedroom, a kitchen and a store for food, fuel and other necessities. He had more requisites than any other monk. He also employed servants to cook things he liked to eat. He provided himself with a comfortable life, changed his robes once each day and each night, and he lived aloof from the Brethren on the outskirts of the Jetavana monastery. Thus, it was that one day a number of bhikkhus who came to visit found out about it. They were surprised that he had more things than that prescribed for a monk. Nowhere was he close to the simple life led by the Buddha, to whose teaching he was to devote himself. So they persuaded him to go with them to meet the Buddha on this matter.
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When the Buddha saw them coming into his presence, he asked the monks: “Why, bhikkhus, have you brought this monk against his will here?“ They put the matter before him, saying: “Lord, this brother has amassed a lot of possessions.” The Buddha asked the rich monk: “Is it true, bhikkhu, that you are well-off?” He admitted that he was. So the Buddha asked him: “But why, do you have so many things? Haven’t I praised the virtues of desiring little, of contentment, and so forth, and to live in solitude and determine in resolve?“ Suddenly angered by these words, he cried out: “Then I‘ll go about like this,” and flung off his outer clothing and stood before them clad only in his waist-cloth. The Compassionate Buddha then said to him: “Was it not you, monk, who in bygone days sought the shame that fears evil acts, and even as a water-demon had lived for twelve years seeking after that same shame?
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How then, after taking vows to follow the weighty Doctrine of the Buddha, you have flung off your outer robes and stand here devoid of this shame?” These words brought him to his senses and suddenly he felt his shame and put on his robes. When he had done so, he saluted the Buddha and sat on one side. The other bhikkhus then asked the Buddha to make it clear to them what they had just heard. So the Buddha revealed to them things that had been concealed by rebirth. Story of the past Once, when Brahmadatta was the king of Benares in Kasi, the Bodhisatta was born as his son and named Prince Mahimsasa. When he could run about, he had a younger brother named Chanda Kumara (Prince Moon). Then his mother died.
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Then the king married another queen and had another son named Suriya Kumara (Prince Sun). Infatuated with her he said to his new queen he would grant her any wish he asked for her son. She said that she would do so later. After her son had grown up, she reminded the king of his promise and asked that her son be made the heir to the throne. However, the king refused her unreasonable request. He told her he had two older sons whom he also loved very much. Undaunted by his refusal, she would use her wiles to wear him down but he avoided setting this matter. He saw that he had to guard the safety of his two sons. He told them in private how he had used foolish words to grant a wish to prince Sun’s mother and what she had asked for which he did not wish to give. Now he feared she might do evil against them so that her own son would benefit. So he had decided they should hide themselves in the forest.
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They were to come out and claim the kingdom only upon receiving news of his death. Lamenting at this forced separation he kissed them and they left. Upon leaving the king’s palace, they were seen by Prince Sun. When he heard that they were going to the forest, he wanted to go with them. They had no choice but to take him with them. Eventually, they came to a place in the Himalayan foothills. Seeing a pool not far away, the Bodhisatta sat down at the foot of a tree. Then he said to Prince Sun to go and bathe in it to cool himself. Then he was to use a lotus leaf as a cup and bring some water back for his brothers. Now Vessavana, a demon lord, had ordered a demon water-spirit to guard it. It had permission to eat only those who do not know what the truly godlike is.
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Those who did not enter the pool were safe. So Prince Sun entered it and was unable to tell the demon what is truly godlike and he was seized and imprisoned in the pool. The Bodhisatta realizing that Prince Sun had gone for quite a while and had not returned, sent Prince Moon to look for him. He too was seized by the demon. After waiting and not seeing both his brothers he felt something was amiss. He went to the pool and saw their footsteps leading into the water. Realizing that a demon existed there, he buckled on his sword. Then he took up his bow and arrow and waited. When the demon realized that the Bodhisatta had no intention of entering the water he took the form of a woodsman, went up to the Bodhisatta and said: “You’re tired, hot and thirsty friend. Why don’t you cool yourself in the pool of clean, fresh water?”
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The prince recognized him instantly as the demon. Without beating about the bush, he said to the demon: “It is you who have seized my brothers.” The demon admitted it. The prince asked him why. He replied that all who went down into the pool belonged to him. The prince asked: “ALL?” It replied: “not all, only those who cannot answer what is truly godlike.” The prince asked: “You want to know what is truly godlike?” It replied: “I do.” Then the prince said: “If this is the reason, then I’ll tell you.” The demon replied: “Do so; I’ll listen. “However the prince said: “I should like to start but I am tired, thirsty and hungry.” The demon was keen to know the answer. It bathed him, gave him food to eat and water to drink. Then it decked him with sweet-scented flowers, sprinkled him with scents and then laid out a couch for him in a beautiful pavilion.
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Seating himself on the couch and making the water spirit sit at his feet, the Bodhisatta said: “Listen and you will hear what the truly godlike really is.” Then he spoke thus: “Only those who shrink from evil, are pure in mind tranquil and dedicated to Gods are called truly Godlike”. When the demon heard this he was pleased and asked which of his brothers he wanted released. He replied: “Prince Sun.” Then the demon said: “Though you know so well what the truly godlike is, you don’t act with your knowledge.” The Bodhisatta asked: “How so?” The demon asked: “Why did you take the younger in preference to the elder, disregarding his seniority?” The Bodhisatta replied; “I not only know but practice the godlike. It is on this boy’s account that we seek refuge in the forest. It is for him that his mother asks for the kingdom from our father who refused to give in to her demand and consented to our flight to the forest.
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With us came this boy who never thought of returning home. No one will ever believe me if I were to say he had been devoured by a demon. It is the fear of their odium that causes me to demand him from you.” “Excellent! O man of wisdom.” said the demon in approval, “you not only know but practice the godlike.” And in token of his pleasure he released the two brothers and returned them to him. Then the Bodhisatta said to the water-spirit, “Friend, it is in consequence of your own evil deeds in times past that you have now been born a demon existing on flesh and blood of living creatures; and, in this present birth too you are doing the same. This evil behavior will forever prevent you from escaping rebirth in hell and other evil states. Now is the time to renounce evil and live virtuously.”
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Thus, the demon was converted and the Bodhisatta lived in the area under his protection, until, one day he saw in the stars that his father was dead. Then taking his brothers and the water-spirit with him, he went back to Benares to claim the throne. He made Prince Moon his Viceroy and Prince Sun his Generalissimo. The water-spirit was given a pleasant spot as his adobe and measures were taken for him to be provided with choice garlands, flowers and food and he ruled in righteousness till he passed away.
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End of story of the past Then the Buddha gave a discourse on the Truths, and at the close, that monk won the Fruit of the First Path. Then He made the connection between the stories. He identified the birth and said: “The well to do bhikkhu was the water-spirit; Ananda was Prince Sun, Sariputta was Prince Moon and I myself was the eldest brother Prince Mahimsasa.” The Buddha emphasized that shunning evil, being of pure mind and abhorrence to good,
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