Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v1.c12.2716

v1.c12.2716

Kulāvaka Jātaka (No. 31).—The Bodhisatta was born in Macala under the name of Magha. He spent his time with the heads of the other twenty-nine families in the village, engaged in various forms of social service. The headman, finding his gains diminish, made a false report to the king, who ordered Magha and his friends to be trampled by elephants; but by virtue of their mettā they could not be killed, and thereupon the king showed them great favour. After death they were all born in Tāvatiṃsa, with Magha as Sakka. Three of Magha’s wives—Sudhammā, Cittā and Nandā—who had persuaded him to let them share in his good work, were born as Sakka’s handmaidens. But Sujātā, who had taken no part in their activities, received no such honour.¹ At that time the Asuras shared Tāvatiṃsa with the Devas, but one day they got drunk and were hurled down to the foot of Sineru. They therefore declared war on the Devas, and during one of their fierce battles Sakka was defeated and fled over the sea in his chariot Vejayanta. When he came to Simbalivana, the chariot felled down the trees there, and the young Garuḷas were hurled into the sea. Hearing their cries of agony, Sakka made his driver, Mātali, turn the chariot and go back. The Asuras, seeing him return, thought it was another Sakka coming with reinforcements, and fled in terror. The Vejayanta-pāsāda rose from the earth, and Sakka lived in it, having fortified his city with a fivefold guard.