Early Monastic Buddhism v1.c14.s3.t4: King Pasenadi
Early Monastic Buddhism v1.c14.s3.t4
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King Pasenadi
v1.c14.s3.t4.1
Buddha resided here for twentyone vassas in addition to many visits paid to it at other times, so king Pasenadi got many opportunities of meeting him and holding with him conversation on religious topics. From the references to Pasenadi in the Nikāyas, it is evident that the king was a follower of the brāhmanic religion, had the brāhmaṇa Bāvari as his first purohita, and celebrated sacrifices involving slaughter of hundreds of animal victims.¹ One of his queens M a l l i k ā, and his two sisters S o m ā and S a k u l ā, were devotees of Buddha.² Queen Mallikā was once addressed by Buddha regarding the qualities which distinguish one woman from another³ while Princess Sumanā listened to a sermon on the merit of making gifts.⁴ It was probably through the influence of these ladies combined with the occasional instructions from Buddha that the mind of the king was gradually softened towards Buddhism. Later on he declared himself a lay-devotee of Buddha and showed signs of his devotion by occasional gifts to the members of the Order. On the death of Queen Mallikā he repaired to Buddha for words of consolation.⁵ In the latter part of his life he expressed his highest admiration (dhammanvaya) for Buddha and his Saṅgha.⁶
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¹ Samyutta, I, pp. 75-6; Sutta Nipāta, p. 192.
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² Majjhima, II, pp. 108, 125-6.
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³ Aṅguttara, II, p. 202.
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⁴ Ibid, III, p. 32
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⁵ Ibid., III, p. 57.
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⁶ Majjhima, II, p. 120.
Cites (4)
- Suttanipāta — Pāli
- Majjhimanikāya — Pāli
- Saṃyuttanikāya — Pāli
- Aṅguttaranikāya — Pāli