Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c30.638

v2.c30.638

**Bhūridatta Jātaka** (No. 543).—Prince Brahmadatta, son of the king of Benares, lived on the banks of the Yamunā, exiled from his father's kingdom. He wore the garb of an ascetic, but his heart was not in the ascetic life, and, when a Nāga-maiden tried to seduce him, he easily succumbed. Their children were Sāgara-Brahmadatta and Samuddajā. When the king of Benares died, Brahmadatta returned with his children to the kingdom and his Nāga wife returned to the Nāga-world. While playing about in a lake specially prepared for them, the children of Brahmadatta discovered a tortoise, Cittacūla, and were much frightened. Cittacūla was brought before the king and was ordered to be cast into the Yamunā, that being the direst penalty the king could envisage. Caught in a whirlpool, Cittacūla was carried to the realm of the Nāga-king Dhataraṭṭha, and, when questioned, had the presence of mind to say that he had been sent from Benares to propose a marriage between Dhataraṭṭha and Samuddajā. Nāga messengers were sent to the Benares court to make arrangements, and they laid their proposal before the king. Cittacūla had meanwhile spirited himself away. Brahmadatta was horrified at the proposals of the messengers, and did not fail to say so, whereupon Dhataraṭṭha was so incensed at the insult offered to him that he laid siege to Benares with his Nāga hosts. To avert the total destruction of the city, Samuddajā was given to Dhataraṭṭha, with whom she dwelt for a long time without discovering that she was in the Nāga-world, everyone, at the king's orders, having assumed human form. Samuddajā had four children—Sudassana, Datta, Subhaga and Ariṭṭha (Kāṇāriṭṭha)—and one step-daughter, Accimukhī. Datta, who was the Bodhisatta, used to visit Virūpakkha, the ruler of the Nāga hosts, and one day went with him to pay homage to Sakka. In the assembly a question arose which only Datta could answer, and Sakka was so pleased with him that he gave him the name of Bhūridatta (wise Datta). Anxious to be born in Sakka’s company, Bhūridatta took the vows and observed the fast, lying on the top of an ant-hill. At the end of the fast, Nāga maidens would come and take him back.