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Jataka Tale
VII: Phra Chanda
Kumarn
Phra Chanda Kumarn was the son of a
king and a just and righteous viceroy. One night the King dreamt
that he had traveled to heaven and was thus filled with a desire to
see it for himself. The King sought the advice of Kantaharn, his
minister. Kantaharn had for many years a grudge against Chanda
Kumarn, so he advised the king thus, if you wish to see heaven for
yourself you must sacrifice 100 sacred cows, 100 royal elephants and
100 auspicious horses, 100 millionaires, the viceroy and the rest of
the royal family. The King accordingly dug a sacrificial pit and lit
the pyre in preparation of course the prisoners were screaming and
wailing with fear, the birds left the city and the sound reached as
far as the planes of heaven. Their torture was further increased
when the King wavered several times in his resolve yet was urged on
by the cruel Kantaharn. Meanwhile, Phra Chanda Kumarn bore
everything with equanimity.
Finally, Phra In intervened and destroyed the implements of
sacrifice with a blazing hammer. The prisoners were released and the
population celebrated by mobbing Kantaharn to death. They were about
to turn on the King, but Phra Chanda Kumarn pleaded for mercy and
thus his father was exiled as a bear, owning nothing but his life.
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