Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c36.3449

v2.c36.3449

Then she was reborn as the daughter of Vepacitti, king of the Asuras, a bitter enemy of Sakka. Because of her great beauty, Vepacitti granted to Sujā the boon of choosing her own husband, and Sakka, disguised as an aged Asura, came to the assembly where she was to choose. Filled with love for him, owing to their previous association, she threw the garland round the aged Asura, and when the others exclaimed that he was old enough to be her grandfather, Sakka took Sujā up into the air and declared his identity. The Asuras started in pursuit, but Mātali drove the Vejayantaratha, and Sujā was installed in Tāvatimsa as Sakka’s chief consort, at the head of twenty-five million apsarases. She asked for and was granted as a boon that she should be allowed to accompany Sakka wherever he went.¹