On the Origin of the Indian Brahma Alphabet c5.30

c5.30

An official letter is mentioned and its preparation is described in the Puṇṇanadī Jātaka,⁵ which gives an account of the manner, in which the future Buddha was re-installed in his position as Purohita of the king of Benares, after having been banished in consequence of the intrigues of his enemies. "Afterwards the king remembered his (*the Bodhisattva's*) virtues, and reflected thus, 'It is not proper to send somebody in order to call my teacher; but I will compose a verse, write a [9] letter (*paṇṇa*), order crow's flesh to be cooked, tie up the letter (*paṇṇa*) and the flesh in white cloth, seal it with the royal seal (*rājamuddikā*) and send it to him. If he is clever, he will come after reading the letter and recognising the crow's flesh; if he is not clever, he wo'nt come'. He then wrote the verse, which begins with the words *puṇṇaṃ nadiṃ*, on a sheet." Of course the future Buddha was clever, and came back to Benares.