In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

There once lived in Benares a wealthy householder, worth eighty crores. He offered his wealth to the king, who, however, had no need for it; so he gave much away in gifts and was born as Sakka. Equally generous were his descendants - Canda, Suriya, Matali and Pancasikha. But the next in descent, Pancasikhas son, Maccharikosiya, became a miser. He stopped all giving and lived in abject poverty. One day, seeing his sub treasurer eating rice porridge, he wished for some himself, but, owing to his miserliness, he went in disguise to the river with a little rice and there started to cook it with the help of a slave. Sakka saw this, and, accompanied by Canda and the others, appeared before him disguised as a brahmin. Advancing towards him, Sakka asked him the way to Benares, and, pretending to be deaf, approached the place where the porridge was being cooked and asked for some. Maccharikosiya refused to give him any, but Sakka insisted on reciting to him some stanzas on the value of giving, and then Kosiya agreed to give him a little porridge. One by one the others, also disguised as brahmins, approached, and, in spite of all his efforts, Kosiya was forced to invite them to share his meal. He asked them to fetch small leaves, but in their hands small leaves became large. After the porridge had been served, Pancasikha assumed the form of a dog, then of a horse of changing colours, and started chasing Kosiya, while the others stood motionless in the air. Kosiya asked how beings could gain such powers, and Sakka explained to him and revealed their identity. Maccharikosiya went back to Benares and gave away his wealth in charity. Later he became a hermit and lived in a hut.

At that time the four daughters of Sakka - Asa, Saddha, Siri and Hiri - went to Anotatta to play in the water. There they saw Narada under a paricchattaka flower, which served him as a sunshade, and each asked him for the flower. Narada said he would give it to the best of them, and referred them to Sakka. Sakka sent (by Matali) a cup of ambrosia (sudhabhojana) to Kosiya, and said that whichever of his daughters succeeded in persuading Kosiya to share with her his drink would be adjudged the best. He listened to all their claims and decided in favour of Hiri. Sakka, wishing to know why he decided thus, sent Matali in his chariot to ask him. While Matali was yet speaking to him, Kosiya died and was reborn in Tavatimsa. Sakka gave him Hiri as wife and also a share of the kingdom of Tavatimsa.

The story was told in reference to a monk of Savatthi, who was so generous that he would give away his own food and drink and so starve. He is identified with Maccharikosiya, Uppalavanna with Hiri, Anuruddha with Pancasikha, Ananda with Matali, Kassapa with Suriya, Moggallana with Canda, Sariputta with Narada, and Sakka with the Buddha himself. J.v.382 412.

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: Hiridevi, Siri, Saddha, Matali, Kosiya Jataka, Candima, Kancanaguha, Vejayanta.

Relevant text

Search found 3 books and stories containing Sudhabhojana Jataka, Sudhābhojana-jātaka; (plurals include: Sudhabhojana Jatakas, jātakas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Cetasikas (by Nina van Gorkom)

Chapter 19 - Envy, Stinginess, Regret < [Part III - Akusala Cetasikas]

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The Jataka tales [English], Volume 1-6 (by Robert Chalmers)

Jataka 535: Sudhābhojana-jātaka < [Volume 5]

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The Mahavastu (great story) (by J. J. Jones)

Chapter IV - Mañjarī-jātaka < [Volume II]

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