In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

A householder was lodging in a poor old womans house on the road from Benares to Uttarapatha. During his stay there his thoroughbred mare foaled, and the foal was given to the woman at her request, in part payment of her charges. She brought up the foal as though he were her own child. Some time after, the Bodhisatta, who was then a householder, happened to pass the same way and discovered the thoroughbreds presence by the behaviour of his own horses. The woman agreed to part with the foal to him for a large price on condition that he should be provided with all manner of luxuries. The Bodhisatta kept his word, and when the king came to inspect his horses, made the foal, who knew his own worth, exhibit his marvellous powers. The king installed him as his state horse, and thereafter the lordship of all India passed into the kings hands.

The story was told in reference to Sariputta. Once, when the Buddha was returning to Savatthi after a tour, the citizens decided to celebrate his arrival by each one taking on himself the task of feeding a certain number of monks in the Buddhas retinue. A poor old woman wished to feed a monk, but all the monks were already allotted, only Sariputta remaining. She invited him to her house, and he accepted her invitation. When it became known that Sariputta was to feed with her, the king and all the rich citizens of Savatthi sent her food and garments and money to help in her entertainment of the Elder. As a result, through the kindness of Sariputta, she became rich in a single day.

Sariputta is identified with the thoroughbred of the Jataka (J.ii.286ff).

This is evidently the same story as that which, in the Dhammapada Commentary (iii.325), is called the Kundakasindhayapotaka Jataka. But there the story is related, not in reference to Sariputta, but to the Buddha himself, because he accepted a cake of rice husks from the slave woman Punna. This is probably due to some confusion with two or more stories of similar import. See also Kundakapuva Jataka.

context information

Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Jataka.

Full-text: Kundakasindhavapotaka Jataka.

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