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

051 – Kandari – The Handsome Prince

Kandari and Kinnara. Kandari-Jataka, Bharhut

Kandari, a king of Varanasi was very handsome and was known for his charming personality all over the place. Each day he used one thousand caskets of perfume. His food was cooked on scented wood. His charm, fame and riches were enough to attract any woman to be contented as his wife.

He was married to a gorgeous woman named Kinnaraa and provided all that he could to please her. Further, to keep the queen in cheer he remained monogamous unlike his contemporary rulers.

One day, he went to a lake to take bath. So, he spat out the box and threw it on the shore. He then took out his woman and anointed her and bathed her in the lake. Then he dressed her in a pretty dress and let her move freely on the shore to enjoy the fresh breath and went to the lake for a dip.

One day, Kinnaraa while looking outside her palace window saw a supercilious cripple. He was ugly and dirty; steeped in mud and dust; and clad in rags. Yet, she grew a strong sensual passion for the man; and developed a strong yearning for his cuddle.

The cripple took shelter under a jambu tree. He was pining for food and water. When the king slept at night, Kinnaraa visited the cripple and offered him dainty food and made him love her. Since then, she regularly carried food for him and satisfied her carnal desires.

Thus, some weeks passed. One day, when the king was on his way to the palace accompanied by the royal chaplain Panchalachanda, he saw the cripple and wondered whether that snooty cripple could ever win the love of any woman! So, to find an answer, he looked at his chaplain. The cripple, who did not recognise the king, overheard the conversation and proudly shouted that he had won the love of the queen of the kingdom. The king was shocked. Yet, to investigate into the matter, he on suggestion of his chaplain watched the queen’s movements at night. He noticed that the queen was sneaking outside with dainty food and going to the beggar. When she reached close to the beggar the latter slapped her so hard that her pendant broke and fell on the ground. He had hit her because she was late that night; and the beggar had to wait for her longer. Still, she cuddled the cripple.

Now, to the king it was as clear as the day light that the cripple’s claim was true; and he was but a cuckold.

Next morning, he summoned her in the court and ordered her execution. Panchalachanda, the chaplain, then persuaded the king to show mercy to her as she had only followed her instincts common to most women. To prove his point, he took him to most places both within and outside the kingdom in disguise and introduced him to several women to test their virtues. Eventually, the king was convinced with what his minister had said. So, he spared the life of the queen but banished her from the kingdom with the cripple.

Finally, he ordered his men to cut off the jambu tree.

(When narrating this story the Buddha identified the chaplain as Kunala.)