Buddhist Fables
- The Story of Ruru Deer
- The Story of Two Swans
- The Hare on The Moon
- The Story of Chaddanta Elephant
- The Story of Great Monkey
- The Story of The Two Deer
- The Story of a Buffalo
- Silava Elephant
- The Wise Monkey
- The Story of the Golden Swan
- The Story of The Great Ape
- The Mighty Fish
- Story of the Monkey King
- Lion and Jackal
- Somdatta
- The Story of the Crows
- The Monkey Brothers
- The Story of Nigrodha Deer
- Kalbahu
- Nandivisala
- Coronation of Owl
- The Feast of the Dead
- The Heart of the Monkey
- The Story of a Rooster
- The Story of a Tigeress
- The Pigeon and The Crow
- The Story of Romaka Pigeon
- The Story of Khardiya Deer
- The Thankless Monkey
- Can A Fool Ever Act Good!
- The Story of a Tortoise
- Jackal –The Arbitrator
- The Story of a Snake Charmer
- The Leather Garment
- The Giant Crab
- Mahilaimukha Elephant
- The Story of Vinilaka
Buddhist Classics
- The Sacrifice of Vessantara
- The Wisdom of Vidhura Pandita
- Chullabodhi – The Conqueror of Anger
- The Story of Kushinagar
- The Virtue of Forbearance
- Matanga – The World’s First Crusader of Untouchability
- The Temptation of Isisanga
- The Flight of Sakka
- Mahajanaka’s Renunciation
- The Wine-Jar
- The Sacrifice of Sivi
- The Box of the Monster
- The Lotus Stalk
- Kandari – The Handsome Prince
- Ghat: The Virtuous King
- Supparaka – The Ancient Mariner
- Sankhapala: The Naga King
- Champeyya
- The Baveru Island
- The Great Gambler
- The Story of The Dumb Prince
- The Naive House-Holder
- The Jewelled Serpent
- The Mango-Thief
- The Foot-Print Reader
- The Story of Sutasoma
- The Story of Sudasa
- The Little Bowman
- The Envoy of Belly
- Story of a Drummer
- The King, Who Knew The Language Of Animals
- The Happy Man
- Sama: The Good Son
Life and Legends of Buddha
- Gotama Buddha
- Birth Story of Gotama
- Maha Maya’s Dream
- Sage Asita’s Visit
- The Four Sights
- Story of Renunciation
- The Buddha’s Victory over Mara
- The Personality of the Buddha
- Nalgiri Elephant
- Story of Kumara Kassapa
- Dhamma-Chakka-Pavattana-Katha
- The Buddha’s Teaching of Abhidhamma
- Buddha's Visit to Rahula Mata
- The Savatthi Miracles
- The Flying Buddha
- Story of Parinibbana
- Suddhodana
- Sujata
- Sariputta
- Moggallana
- Story of Mara
- Bimbisara
- Nanda
- Janapada Kalyani Nanda
- The Spiritual Journey of Janapada Kalyani
- Phussa Buddha
- Vipassi Buddha
- Sikhi Buddha
- Vessabhu Buddha
- Kakusandha Buddha
- Konagamana Buddha
- Kassapa Buddha
- Metteya
The Illustrated Jataka & Other Stories of the Buddha by C. B. Varma Introduction | Glossary | Bibliography
070 – Sama: The Good Son
Sama-Jataka, Sanchi
Once two beings of Brahma-loka (higher divine world) were born as boy and girl. They were called Dukulaka and Parika, respectively. Their parents were bosom friends. When the two children attained maturity their parents married them. As the two were the beings of higher world they did not indulge in any physical relationship. Detached from the earthly life they lived in a hermitage as ascetics. Nonetheless, persuaded by Sakka Dukulaka touched the navel of Parika at a proper time, which made the latter conceive a baby. The baby was born with golden colour. So, he was given the name of Suvannasama; but was often called Sama.
Once, Sama’s parents took shelter under a tree when there was heavy rain pour. The water, which dripped from their body fell on a snake living in the ant-hill on which they were standing. This made the snake furious and exhale the venomous breath, which made them blind. Having not found his parents back till late in the evening, Sama himself went outside to look for them; and finally brought them home. Since then he looked after them.
Once Piliyakkha, the king of Varanasi was out on a hunting expedition in the forest around the hermitage. There, he heard the sound of water, which was being drawn by Sama for his parents. Mistaking Sama as a goblin, he shot him with a poisoned arrow. Now, a yakkhini Bahusodari, who happened to be the mother of Sama seven births before, saw Sama being killed, descended and stood in the mid air. She then frightened the king and ordered him to go and inform the blind parents of his misdeed.
Despite the news of the son’s death the blind parents remained calm and did not show any resentment. They instead requested the king to escort them to their dead son. After reaching near the body of Sama, Parika performed the Sacchakiriya (Act of Truth) which evaporated the poison and made him well. Then the yakkhini performed the similar kiriya for the blind parents. And the parents, too, were cured and regained their eye-sight.
(Bodhisatta is identified with Sama; Dukuluka with Kassapa; Parika with Bhadda Kapilani; Piliyaka with Ananda; and the yakkhini Bahusodari with Uppalavanna).
See Sama Jataka Jataka Pali No.540. See Mahavatthu (ed. Senart 3 vols); Milinda Panha 198 f.