Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v1.c12.2767

v1.c12.2767

Kusa.—The Bodhisatta, son of Okkāka, king of Kusāvatī and of his queen Sīlavatī. Okkāka has no heir, in spite of performing various rites. But at length, by the favour of Sakka, Sīlavatī miraculously gives birth to two sons. The elder, though ill-favoured, is supernaturally wise and is called Kusa. The younger, very handsome, is called Jayampati. Kusa consents to marry only on condition that a princess can be obtained exactly like an image which he himself has fashioned. Pabhāvatī, daughter of King Madda of Sāgala, is found to fulfil this condition, and is married to Kusa. The bride is not to look upon her husband's face until she has conceived, but Kusa plays various pranks upon her and she accidently discovers how ugly he is. She leaves him immediately and returns to her father's court. Thither Kusa follows her, and under a variety of menial disguises, including that of a cook, tries, but in vain, to win her affection. At length Sakka intervenes. He sends letters, purporting to come from King Madda, to seven kings, offering Pabhāvatī to each of them. They arrive in Sāgala simultaneously and threaten to destroy the city. Madda decides to cut Pabhāvatī into seven pieces, and she is only saved from immediate death by the despised husband. At his appearance the kings flee, for wherever he looks the earth trembles. Kusa returns with his wife to Kusāvatī and they live there happily.