Buddhist Fables

  1. The Story of Ruru Deer
  2. The Story of Two Swans
  3. The Hare on The Moon
  4. The Story of Chaddanta Elephant
  5. The Story of Great Monkey
  6. The Story of The Two Deer
  7. The Story of a Buffalo
  8. Silava Elephant
  9. The Wise Monkey
  10. The Story of the Golden Swan
  11. The Story of The Great Ape
  12. The Mighty Fish
  13. Story of the Monkey King
  14. Lion and Jackal
  15. Somdatta
  16. The Story of the Crows
  17. The Monkey Brothers
  18. The Story of Nigrodha Deer
  19. Kalbahu
  20. Nandivisala
  21. Coronation of Owl
  22. The Feast of the Dead
  23. The Heart of the Monkey
  24. The Story of a Rooster
  25. The Story of a Tigeress
  26. The Pigeon and The Crow
  27. The Story of Romaka Pigeon
  28. The Story of Khardiya Deer
  29. The Thankless Monkey
  30. Can A Fool Ever Act Good!
  31. The Story of a Tortoise
  32. Jackal –The Arbitrator
  33. The Story of a Snake Charmer
  34. The Leather Garment
  35. The Giant Crab
  36. Mahilaimukha Elephant
  37. The Story of Vinilaka

Buddhist Classics

  1. The Sacrifice of Vessantara
  2. The Wisdom of Vidhura Pandita
  3. Chullabodhi – The Conqueror of Anger
  4. The Story of Kushinagar
  5. The Virtue of Forbearance
  6. Matanga – The World’s First Crusader of Untouchability
  7. The Temptation of Isisanga
  8. The Flight of Sakka
  9. Mahajanaka’s Renunciation
  10. The Wine-Jar
  11. The Sacrifice of Sivi
  12. The Box of the Monster
  13. The Lotus Stalk
  14. Kandari – The Handsome Prince
  15. Ghat: The Virtuous King
  16. Supparaka – The Ancient Mariner
  17. Sankhapala: The Naga King
  18. Champeyya
  19. The Baveru Island
  20. The Great Gambler
  21. The Story of The Dumb Prince
  22. The Naive House-Holder
  23. The Jewelled Serpent
  24. The Mango-Thief
  25. The Foot-Print Reader
  26. The Story of Sutasoma
  27. The Story of Sudasa
  28. The Little Bowman
  29. The Envoy of Belly
  30. Story of a Drummer
  31. The King, Who Knew The Language Of Animals
  32. The Happy Man
  33. Sama: The Good Son

Life and Legends of Buddha

  1. Gotama Buddha
  2. Birth Story of Gotama
  3. Maha Maya’s Dream
  4. Sage Asita’s Visit
  5. The Four Sights
  6. Story of Renunciation
  7. The Buddha’s Victory over Mara
  8. The Personality of the Buddha
  9. Nalgiri Elephant
  10. Story of Kumara Kassapa
  11. Dhamma-Chakka-Pavattana-Katha
  12. The Buddha’s Teaching of Abhidhamma
  13. Buddha's Visit to Rahula Mata
  14. The Savatthi Miracles
  15. The Flying Buddha
  16. Story of Parinibbana
  17. Suddhodana
  18. Sujata
  19. Sariputta
  20. Moggallana
  21. Story of Mara
  22. Bimbisara
  23. Nanda
  24. Janapada Kalyani Nanda
  25. The Spiritual Journey of Janapada Kalyani
  26. Phussa Buddha
  27. Vipassi Buddha
  28. Sikhi Buddha
  29. Vessabhu Buddha
  30. Kakusandha Buddha
  31. Konagamana Buddha
  32. Kassapa Buddha
  33. Metteya

The Illustrated Jataka & Other Stories of the Buddha by C. B. Varma Introduction | Glossary | Bibliography

055 – Champeyya

Champeyya, Ajanta

Once Bodhisatta was born as a Naga king Champeyya in the Champa river as a result of his desire to enjoy the royal life of the Naga world. He was married to an extremely pretty princess Sumana and enjoyed all sorts of luxuries and comforts. But soon he developed detachment to the royal life-style. He aspired to lead a life of recluse to practise Sila-Paramita (perfection of the righteous conduct). Sumana, the queen consort was alarmed and tried to dissuade him from such aspirations. Yet, her best allurements and efforts could not change the mind of the king and one day he eventually abdicated the throne to lead a life of an ascetic much to the grief of his pregnant consort. He retired on an ant-hill to practise his holy fast for certain number of days; and to dedicate his life to the service of the others.

When he lay deep in his meditation on the ant-hill a snake charmer caught sight of him. Certainly the large snake was a prized prey for him. He pronounced his mantra to subdue the snake. The mantra, however, failed to have any effect on the Naga.

Champeyya and Sumana with the baby, Ajanta

Yet, the snake pretended as if he was overpowered by the charm. The charmer put him in the basket and took him from one place to other and made him dance to his tunes on every road-side passing through Avanti, Savatthi and Vidisa until he reached Varanasi, the kingdom of king Uggasena.

Naga king Champeyya and his consort Suman in the royal palace. The king appears to be detached and dispassionate

In the meanwhile Sumana, the pregnant queen, who could not bear the pangs of separation from her husband ignored the advice of all including the royal physician and wandered from place to place to look for her beloved husband. On the way, she gave birth to the new king. Nonetheless, she kept on wandering for several years until one day, she could find out the serpent king dancing to the tune of a snake charmer in the court of Varanasi.

The sudden appearance of his wife with her son clad like a beggar shocked the serpent king. So, he abruptly stopped dancing to the surprise of all including the king.

Naga king Champeyya and his consort Suman in the royal palace.
The king appears to be detached and dispassionate, Ajanta		 The snake charmer is showing his tricks and Varanasi people are watching, Ajanta

Now, Sumana made a formal request to king Uggasena to help her husband free at least for the sake of her son; and narrated her story. The king was impressed and acceded to her request. He got the Naga king released to join his family. The serpent king then invited him to visit the Naga world. The Varanasi king accepted the invitation and enjoyed his hospitality for seven days.

(Champeyya is identified with the Bodhisatta; Sumana with Yasodhara; Uggasena with Sariputta; and the snake charmer with Devadatta).

The surprise moment when the serpent king stopped dancing at the sight of ill-clad Sumana and his son; and Uggasena expresses his surprise at the discontinuation of the dance, Ajanta

See Sankhapala Jataka Jataka Pali No.506.