Kṣantivāda Jātaka

[Full title: Jātakas and Avadānas in the Amarāvatī Art: Kṣantivāda Jātaka]

Story:-

Once Bodhisattva was born as Kundaka Kumāra in a rich Brāhmiṇ family. At that time the king of Banaras was Kalābu. He acquired knowledge at Takkasilā and afterwards settled as a householder. After his parents death he received their treasure. But he gave all wealth to the persons who deserve it and became an ascetic. He went to the Himālayas. He came to Banaras for procuring salt and vinegar and stayed in the royal garden.

One day the drunken king Kalābu came to the royal garden along with the dancers and musicians. Afterwards he fell asleep. The musicians thought that as the king is asleep there is no need to sing. They went to roam in the royal garden. At that time they saw Bodhisattva. The ascetic requested them to listen to some ethics and morals until the king wakes up.

After some time the king woke up. His favourite woman of the harem said that the musicians and dancers had gone away to listen to the ascetic. The king seized the sword and went off to teach the ascetic a lesson. The women in the garden tried to pacify him.

The king asked the ascetic what doctrine he was preaching? The ascetic replied “The doctrine of patience”. In order to see the reality of patience the king asked the executioner to give him thousand stripes. As a result the ascetic suffered with pain as the skin was cut. The king again asked him about the doctrine he would preach at that moment. The ascetic replied “The doctrine of patience.”

The king again ordered the executioner to cut off his hands. The executioner cut off his hands, feet, nose and ears. The whole body was covered with blood. Again the king asked about his doctrine. He gave the same answer. Finally, the king asked the ascetic to lie down and he struck Bodhisattva above his heart with his foot and took himself off.

After the departure of the King the commander-in-chief wiped the blood from his body and requested him to be angry with the king who has sinned against him. After that the king was swallowed by the Mother Earth and Bodhisattva died on that day. But in Jātakamala Kalabu cut off the head of the ascetic^[1].

Depiction:-

A synoptic narrative mode of the jātaka in fragmentary state is visible on a limestone panel from Amarāvatī, preserved in the Archaeological Museum, Amarāvatī. The narrative contains three fragmentary episodes of the jātaka separated by a pilaster motif. Two episodes on the left side and one episode on the right side of the panel is seen. The upper left side of the panel shows a royal procession. The lower left side of the panel illustrates the fighting scene. The person with the royal dress and headgear is the drunken king Kalābu approaching the ascetic to attack him with his soldiers. The man with his raised hands appear to be the ascetic. The third episode on the right side of the panel depicts the scene of the royal harem outside the palace. The portrayal of gateway suggests the outlet to the royal garden where the king is seated on a throne. The favourite lady of king is beside him on a wicker stool. There is a group of women standing and sitting on the right side of the king witnessing the scene. Some of them are holding fruits and wine to serve the king. A man kneeling at the feet of the favourite lady of the kings is the one who is going to be beheaded. The king is shown with his outstretched hand asking one of the ladies to bring a sword^[2].(Pl 19a)

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Cowell E.B, Op.cit, vol III-IV. No. 313, pp 26-29

[2]:

Acc No.61, Limestone, Measurement 160 x 69 x 30 cm, Archaeological Museum, Amaravati, Archaeological Survey of India.