जेतुन्तर के राजा संजय और रानी फुसती के पुत्र वेस्सन्तर के त्याग की कहानी राजा हरिश्चन्द्र की कथा को संभवत: प्रभावित करती प्रतीत होती है।

कहा जाता है कि मात्र आठ वर्ष की अवस्था में वेस्सन्तर ने महान् दान की जब प्रतिज्ञा ली थी तभी पृथ्वी प्रकंपित हो उठी थी। सोलह वर्ष की आयु में उनका विवाह मद्दी से हुआ। उसके जालि नामक पुत्र और कण्हजिना नामक पुत्री थी।

उन्हीं दिनों कलिंग राज्य में भयंकर सूखे का प्रकोप हुआ। लोग अन्न और जल के लिए त्राहि-त्राहि कर उठे। जब वहाँ के लोगों को यह ज्ञात हुआ कि जेतुन्तर राज्य में एक ऐसा सफेद हाथी था जिसकी उपस्थिति मात्र से इच्छानुसार बारिश होती है। इसे कलिंग राज्य के आठ ब्राह्मण जेतुन्तर पहुँचे। जब उन्हें उस हाथी के स्वामी वेस्सन्तर की दान वीरता का ज्ञान हुआ तो वे वेस्सन्तर के पास जा पहुँचे और उन्होंने वेस्सन्तर से हाथी मांगा। दानवीर वेस्सन्तर ने उनकी याचना सहर्ष स्वीकार की। उसने हाथी को कलिंग के ब्राह्मणों को सौंप दिया।

उस शुभ हाथी के दान दिये जाने की खबर से जेतुन्तर की प्रजा अत्यंत खिन्न और क्रुध हुई। लोग दौड़ते हुए राजा के पास पहुँचे। वेस्सन्तर को दण्डित करने को कहा, तब राजा संजय ने वेस्सन्तर को वनवास का आदेश दिया।

वेस्सन्तर के लाख मना करने के बावजूद भी उसकी पत्नी मद्दी भी पति का साथ देने के लिए वनवास को तैयार हुई। अंतत: वेस्सन्तर अपनी पत्नी और बच्चों के साथ चार घोड़ों के एक रथ पर सवार वन को प्रस्थान कर गया।

मार्ग में उसे चार लोभी ब्राह्मण मिले। उन्होंने वेस्सन्तर से उनके चारों घोड़ों को मांग लिया। वेस्सन्तर ने उन्हें भी अपने घोड़े सहर्ष दे दिये। जब वह स्वयं ही रथ खींचन की तैयारी करने लगा तब उसकी सहायता के लिए चार यक्ष लाल हिरणों के रुप में वहाँ पहुँचे और वेस्सन्तर के रथ को खींचते हुए जंगल की ओर बढ़े। तभी मार्ग में एक ब्राह्मण भिक्षु प्रकट हुआ । उसने वेस्सन्तर से उसका रथ मांग लिया। दान में रथ देकर वेस्सन्तर और मद्दी गोद में बच्चों को लिए पैदल ही वन की ओर बढ़ते रहे। कहा जाता है कि धूप की तपिश से उन्हें बचाने के लिए बादल उनके ऊपर छत्र बन कर चलता रहा। जब उन्हें भूख लगती तो फलों से लदे पेड़ झुक-झुक कर उन्हें फल प्रदान करते। जब उन्हें प्यास लगती तो कमल के जलाशय उनके सामने स्वत: प्रकट हो उनकी प्यास बुझाते। अंतत: उनकी यात्रा की परिसमाप्ति बंकगिरी के वन पहुँच कर हुई जहाँ विश्वकर्मा ने उनके लिए एक कुटिया का निर्माण कर रखा था।

वेस्सन्तर का प्रताप इतना महान् था कि कोई भी जंगली या हिंस्त्र जानवर उनकी कुटिया के आस-पास फटकता भी नहीं था। इस तरह वन में विहार करते, उनके चार महीने खुशी-खुशी निकल गये।

एक दिन जब मद्दी भोजन इकट्ठा करने वन में कहीं दूर चली गयी थी और कुटिया के बाहर बच्चे खेल रहे थे तभी जूजका नाम का एक दरिद्र और वृद्ध ब्राह्मण वेस्सन्तर की कुटिया के पास पहुँचा।

उस वृद्ध को जवान पत्नी का घर के काम-काज आदि कराने के लिए दासों की आवश्यकता थी। अत: उसने वृद्ध जूजका को वेस्सन्तर के बच्चों को दान में लाने के लिए भेजा था; क्योंकि वेस्सन्तर के त्याग की चर्चा सर्वव्याप्त थी। जूजका ने वेस्सन्तर से उसके दोनों बच्चों को दान में मांग लिया और लताओं से उन बच्चों के हाथ-पैर बाँध बड़ी बेदर्दी से मारता-पीटता और घसीटता अपने मार्ग पर बढ़ गया।

देर शाम को जब मद्दी लौटी तब बच्चों को कुटिया में न पाकर रोती-पिटती उसने वेस्सन्तर से उनका पता पूछा किन्तु उत्तर में वेस्सन्तर मौन ही रहा। हाँ, दूसरे दिन वेस्सन्तर ने जूजका ब्राह्मण द्वारा बच्चों के ले जाने की सूचना दी क्योंकि उस समय तक मद्दी बच्चों के वियोग को सहन करने में सक्षम हो चुकी थी। मद्दी ने भी तब पति की दान-शीलता की प्रशंसा की। 

वेस्सन्तर के इस महान् त्याग से पृथ्वी प्रकंपित हो उठी और साथ ही सिनेरु पर्वत भी हिल उठा जिससे सक्क (शक्र या इंद्र) भी चौंक उठे; और एक संयासी का भेष बना वेस्सन्तर की दान-परायणता की परीक्षा लेने उनकी कुटिया पर आ धमके। वहाँ उन्होंने वेस्सन्तर से उनकी पत्नी को दान में मांगा। वेस्सन्तर ने मद्दी को भी दान में दे दिया। मद्दी के हृदय से भी आह या क्रोध का कोई शब्द नहीं फूटा।

सक्क के लिए भी वेस्सन्तर का त्याग पूज्य था। उन्होंने तत्काल ही अपना असली रुप धारण कर, उनकी पारिवारिक खुशी लौटाने का वर प्रदान किया और दान-परायण पति-पत्नी से विदा ले अंतर्धान हो गये।

उस समय कलिंग को जाने वाला जूजका लहु-लुहान बच्चों को लेकर रास्ता भूल जेतुन्तर जा पहुँचा। जोतुन्तर के सिपाहियों ने जुजका को शंकित होकर देखा क्योंकि वह किसी भी तरह से बच्चों का अभिभावक या सम्बन्धी प्रतीत नहीं होता था। अत: वे उसे बन्दी बनाकर राजा के पास ले गये। राजा संजय ने तत्काल अपने खून को पहचान लिया और अपने पौत्रों को मुँह मांगे दामों में खरीद लिया। जूजका की किस्मत में आकस्मिक धनागमन का भोग नहीं लिखा था क्योंकि दूसरे दिन ही जरुरत से बहुत ज्यादा भोजन करने के कारण उसकी मृत्यु हो गयी। 

उसी दिन वह सफेद हाथी भी कलिंग छोड़ वापिस जेतुन्तर आ पहुँचा। राजा अपने सिपाहियों को साथ वंकगिरी जा युवराज वेस्सन्तर और मद्दी को वापिस अपने राज्य ले आया।

Vessantara-Jataka, Sanchi

Vessantara-Jataka,Goli, Andhra Pradesh

T he lineage of the Sivis is best known for its charity and sacrifices in the Indian traditions since time immemorial. Once, the Bodhisatta was born as Vessantara (Sanskrit: Vishvantara) in the dynasty of the Sivi in the kingdom of Jetuttara. King Sanjaya was his father; and Queen Phusati was his mother. He appeared to be a child prodigy because he spoke on the very day when he was born. Interestingly, on the same day a white elephant was also born. This elephant, who was given the name Pacchaya, was gifted with the supernatural power to make the rain fall.

Vessantaras passion for charity was so intense that the earth trembled when he pledged to make a great gift at the young age of eight. At sixteen he married Maddi (Sanskrit: Madri). He had two children: Jali and Kanhajina.

At that time there was a great draught in Kalinga. So, eight Brahmins from Kalinga came to Vessantara to beg for his white elephant to make the rain fall in their country. Vessantara acceded to their request and donated the elephant. When the people of Jetuttara heard of this news they were terribly disturbed. Agitatingly, they went to the king and asked him to punish the prince by banishing him to the forest of Vankagiri. The will of the people eventually prevailed and Vessantara   had to go on exile much to the unwillingness of the king. Before setting out he obtained the kings consent to hold an alms-giving ceremony called the �Gifts of Seven Hundreds (Sattasataka). On the occasion he gave away seven hundred pieces of seven hundred kinds of things to the needy people.

Vessantara, driving his chariot

When Vessantara took leave of his parents and was preparing to depart his wife Maddi insisted to accompany him with her children Jali and Kanhajina.

Vessantaras chariot being drawn by the deer. Maddi and the two children in the coach with the king, the Thai version

They left the palace in a royal chariot drawn by four horses. On the way four brahmins met him and begged for his four horses. After giving the four horses to the brahmins when he began to fasten the girth tightly round his waist to put himself under the yoke and to drag the carriage there appeared four yakkhas in the form of red deer. They put their shoulders under the yoke like well-trained excellent horses and drew his carriage. When Maddi was staring at them with joy and surprise the Bodhisatta said,

Lo! the influence

of the benevolent forest

Of the hermitage

That the best of the deer

Extend hospitability

To the forest-guests

So ardently.

The queen, however, remarked,

You may conceal your merits, and say so

I call this to be your influence.

Like the laughing lotuses,

which surpass the beauty of the stars mirrored in the water,

Exposing so fully

To the curious gaze of the radiant Moon

With its groping rays

For the delightful titillation.

When they were thus involved in the pleasant conversation they encountered one more brahmin beggar, who begged for the carriage. So, Vessantara had to part with his carriage, too. He then lifted his son Jali in his arms, and Maddi lifted Kanhanjana; and thus they continued their jouney on foot. The sun was scorching. So, The cloud overspread overhead to act as a canopy. The trees extended their branches to offer them delicious fruits as an offering to their virtue of charity. When they longed for water the lotus ponds appeared before them to quench their thirst. Further, the yakkhas shortened their path to protect them from exertion. Thus, treading through Suvannagiritala, Kantimara, Mount Aranjagiri, Dunnivittha, the capital of Cheta (where his uncle ruled), Gandhamadana, the foot of Mount Vipula to the river Ketumati (where a forester offered them food) and then by crossing the river Nalika along the bank of lake Muchalinda and further crossing a dense forest they finally reached Vankagiri.

Vissakamma, the Engineer of Sakka had already built two hermitages for them in the forest. One was for Vessantara and the other was for the rest of the family. The power of Vessantara was so strong that no wild animal came near their hermitages. Happily, they spent four months.

Vessantara-Jataka, Mathura

One day, one old Brahmin named Jujaka came to the hermitage when Maddi had gone to the forest to bring some fruits for the family. Accosting Vessantara he begged for his two children because Amittatapana, his wife had demanded for two slaves for herself. As Vessantara was widely known for his dana-paramita   (perfection of charitability) the greedy Brahmin was intent on exploiting the situation. Vessantara tried to convince the Brahmin to change his mind in several ways. Yet, he insisted on accepting nothing but the two children. Knowing Jujakas mind the children were extremely terrified and ran away to a nearby pond and hid themselves. They, however, re-appeared when their father called them. And by then Vessantara had finally agreed to the shrew demand of Jujaka. The brahmin, then chanting some phrases of benediction to the donour ordered the children to accompany him. The children, who did not want to leave glued to the feet of their father to ask Jujaka to wait at least until the arrival of their mother. But shrewd and mean Jujaka without wasting time fastened the hands of the two delicate children with a creeper and forcibly dragged them to his destination. The bleeding and bewailing children, however, screamed,

Oh! the mother will certainly cry like the chataka   (bird) upon return

Whose little ones are killed.

How would she act

When she comes back with many roots and fruits

Gathered from the forest

But finds the hermitage empty.

Oh father! I have many toys �

Horses, elephants and chariots �

Give half to mother to assuage her grief.

When Maddi returned late in the evening and did not find her children around, she asked Vessantara of their whereabouts. But Vessantara kept silence. She then repeated the same question several times, yet Vessantara did not utter a single word. So, she again went inside the forest and looked for the children for whole night. Next morning, when she returned she fainted. Vessentara then helped her regain consciousness. That was the time he apprised her of the whereabouts of the children and narrated the story. By then Maddi had mustered up the courage to endure the trauma. Surprisingly, she praised Vessantaras great act of dana-sila (Conduct of charity).

Their sacrifice trembled the earth. And so did mount Sineru with all its resplendent gems. Surprised, Sakka, the lord of the   devas inquired into the cause. When he learnt the cause of the quakes owing to the sacrifice of Vessantara he visited the hermitage next morning to test the firmity of his vow in the guise of a mendicant and begged him for his wife. Even then Vessantara did not lose the firmness of his mind and nodded to donate Maddi as well. Besides, no anger sprang even in the heart of Maddi. She did not wail. She rather looked stupefied and stood like a statue with her eyes fixed on her husband with a fresh load of suffering.

Admiringly, Sakka then said,

Though a house-holder

Yet giving up the most beloved children and wife in charity

With such detachment;

Can there be a greater exemplification of magnanimity?

Now, it was the time for Sakka to reveal his identity. He gave Maddi back to Vessantara. Furthermore, he offered eight boons to the great donor, which included the reunion of his family; his recall to the fathers kingdom; and his ability to benefaction.

In the meanwhile, Jujaka had traveled sixty leagues and having lost his way he reached Jetuttara, though he intended to reach Kalinga. His rugged appearance and harsh behaviour with the two delicate children attracted the royal guards, who brought him before the king. King Sanjaya, when   saw his grand-children and learnt their story he bought them back from the cruel brahmin in lieu of handsome gifts and seven-storeyed palace. But Jujaka could hardly enjoy those riches as he died of over-eating in a few days. The king along with Phusati, Jali and his army then marched to Vankagiri to bring back his son and the daughter-in-law.

The white elephant Pacchaya also joined the procession as he had just returned from Kalinga as no one could subdue him there.

Finally, after a month of merry-making in the forest they all returned to the kingdom, happily.

(Devadatta is identified with Jujaka and his wife Amittapana as Chincha; Sanjaya as Suddhodhana and Phusati as Mahamaya; Rahula with Jali, Uppalavanna as Kanhajina Rahulamata as Maddi; and Vessantara as the Bodhisatta).

See Vessantara Jataka Jataka Pali No.547; Cf.Vishvantara-Jataka Jataka Mala 9; Cariyapitaka 1.9; Avadanakalpalata No.23.

Note :

• Vessantaras sacrifice shook the earth seven times, which becomes a subject of dilemma in Milinda Panha p.113.

• The story of Vessantara was portrayed in the relic chamber of Maha Thupa of Sri Lanka. See Mahavamsa 30.88.