This Uposatha Day I proudly present this Jataka to you all.
After reading this jataka, I truly admire Buddha's 5 Precepts for house-holders.
5 Precepts really make the world a better place to live.
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Kunala Jataka
[Wisdom Library]
Kunala, king of the Citrakokilas, though well served by his hen birds, always
despised them and found fault with them. The king of the Phussakokilas,
Punnamukha, on the other hand, always sang the praises of his escort. One day
the two kings met, and Punnamukha asked Kunala why he was not more gracious to
his ladies. 'Because I know too much about women', was the answer; but
Punnamakha was not in a mood to discuss the matter any more.
Later, Punnamukha fell ill, and his hen birds deserted him and came to Kunala.
He drove them away, ministered to Punnamukha, and cheered him. Some time after,
Kunala, seated on the Manosilatala in Himava (according to Buddhaghosa,D.ii.675,
this was on the banks of the Kunaladaha), started to tell his friend of the
wickedness of women. Hearing of this, many inhabitants of numerous worlds came
to listen to him, among them Ananda, king of the vultures, and the ascetic
Narada. Many were the instances given by Kunala to illustrate the deceitfulness,
ingratitude and immorality of women - among them the stories of :
Kanha
Saccatapavi
Kakati
Kurangavi
Pingiyani, Brahmadattas mother who sinned with Pancalacanda
the queen Kinnara
Pancapapa
Kunalas diatribe was followed by Anandas, and his by Naradas, each claiming to
speak from facts within their knowledge.
In the stories related by Kunala, the bird king is identified with one of the
characters concerned in each story, so that he was able to speak with authority.
Thus he was Ajjuna, one of Kanhas husbands;
the goldsmith in the story of Saccatapavi;
the Garuda in Kakatis tale; Chalangakumara, who misconducted himself with
Kurangavi;
Pancalacanda, lover of Brahmadattas mother;
the chaplain, also called Pancalacanda, who saved Kinnara from her husbands
wrath;
Baka, one time husband of Pancapapa;
and Brahmadatta, husband of Pingiyani.
Punnamukha is identified with Udayi, the vulture king with Ananda and Narada
with Sariputta.
The preaching of the Kunala Jataka was followed by that of the Mahasamaya Sutta.
This Jataka was related in order to destroy the discontent that rose in the
hearts of the Sakiyan youths, kinsmen of the Buddha, who, having entered the
Order, were troubled by the thought of the wives they had left behind.
The Buddha therefore took them to the Himalaya, showed
them the magnificent beauty of the region, particularly the miraculous
splendours of the Kunaladaha, and there preached to them.
At the end of the Jataka they all became arahants. We are told that that very
day they became arahants (J.v.412-56; also DA.ii.674ff; AA.i.173).
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Love Buddha's dhamma,yawares/sirikanya