Vessandon Jataka
The Ten Birth Stories of the Buddha
Vessandon Jataka
Perfection of Giving
Translated by:
Mr. Jean-Francois Leduc
Phramaha Jerm Boonthong
Phramaha Prassert Ammart-Ek
Prince Vessandon was the son of King Sonchai and Queen Pusadi. He had been giving alms (Dana) since he was young. When he was 16 years old, he married Princess Mathri. She bore him a son and a daughter by the names of Kalha and Chali. When famine struck the Kingdom of Kalingkaraja, the King sent his Brahmin to see Prince Vessandon and asked for him to take the Elephant, Pujjaya gachen, who belonged to the city because he could make the rain fall according to the season. Prince Vessandon donated the Elephant to the Brahmin, which angered the people of Sanchai who then asked their king to punish Prince Vessandon by exiling him away from the city. Prince Vessandon, the Queen and the children headed toward Khaowongkot (to Maze) to go into a retreat. The four of them became hermits.
Chuchok, the old Brahmin, begged all over the Kingdom of Kalingkarat. He had a beautiful wife Amittada. She was so beautiful that all the Brahmins were jealous and they courted her. She became very angry and she asked Chuchok to go to Khaowongkot where he begged Prince Vessandon's children to take her in their entourage. Chuchok set forth to find the two royal chilren. While the Queen was away to get fruits for her husband and her children, he went to see Prince Vessandon.
A deity, half tiger half lion, stopped her as she was returning to her retreat and would not let her go unless Prince Vessandon gave up his children. When the Queen returned she learned about this episode and she felt very sad so Prince Vessandon said it was very difficult to give up one's children to reach Enlightenment and save humankind. The Queen then agreed with her husband's action.
The Sakka in Heaven upon learning what was happening was afraid that some ill-intentioned man might take the Queen away and there would no one left to take care of Prince Vessandon, so the god turned into a Brahmin and asked Prince Vessandon to give up the Queen, which he did.
The god saw that Prince Vessandon had a beautiful soul and praised the perfection of his charity and told him that the Queen could return to him.
Chuchok was walking in the forest with the two children until he arrived at a crossroads. A deity inspired him to head for the Kingdom of Sanchai. Chuchok took the children to the Palace. King Sanchai redeemed his nephew and niece. Chuchok was so very happy with the ransom money he received that he ate and drunk until his belly swelled and burst and he died.
Then King Sanchai and Queen Pusadi, came to take the children to their Kingdom. At the same time the eight Brahmins brought back the Elephant, Pajjayagachen.
Later Prince Vessandon succeeded his father on the throne and he brought happiness to his people by following the Ten ways of the King (Tosapitrajadham).
