Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v1.c9.1418

v1.c9.1418

Ummadanti.—The daughter of the banker Tiriṭavaccha of Ariṭṭhapura. When she came of age, she was so beautiful that all who saw her lost control of themselves. At her father’s request, Sivi, the king of the country (who was the Bodhisatta) sent fortune-tellers to examine her, with a view to making her his wife, but the brahmins, on seeing her, were so intoxicated with passion that Ummadanti had them driven out of the house. They returned and told the king that she was a witch, and she was, therefore, given in marriage to Ahipāraka, son of the commander-in-chief. Ummadanti bore the king a grudge for having refused her hand, and one feast day, when the king passed under her window, she threw flowers at him to attract his attention. From the moment that the king saw Ummadanti, he was beside himself with longing for her and lay on his couch raving about her. When Ahipāraka heard what had happened he offered his wife to the king, but Sivi was too righteous to hear of accepting the gift, and by a supreme effort of will he overcame his infatuation.