The Life Stories of the Female Lay Disciples – 2240 

 

 

was conceived in the womb of the governess in the house of Ghosaka. She was 
humpbacked at birth and was called Khujjuttarā. 

About the same time, the future Sāmāvatī passed away from her Deva existence 
and was reborn as the daughter of Bhaddavatiya the householder in Bhaddiya, in 
the province of Bhaddiya. She was named as Sāmā by her parents. 

At one time, the town of Bhaddiya suffered from famine and the people left the 
town for other towns for their own survival. Bhaddiya the householder said to 
his wife: “Dear wife, we cannot know when this famine will end. We too must 
leave this place. Our friend Ghosaka the householder of Kosambī will recognise 
us if he sees us. Let us go to him.” He told his wife about going to Ghosaka but 
the two householders had known each other by their reputations only and had 
never met. They decided to go, leaving behind their servants. The father, mother 
and daughter, went in the direction of Kosambī, travelling by stages. After 
going through much hardship on the way, they at last reached Kosambī and 
stayed in a public rest house which was outside the city. 

Ghosaka the householder was making his daily alms giving to all the needy who 
called at 

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 his door. Destitute travellers and mendicants thronged to his 

house every day. Bhaddavatiya the householder and his family were looking 
haggard after a hard journey. They decided they should not present themselves 
before Ghosaka in the present unsightly state but should rest and recoup 
themselves first. So, they remained at the rest house while their daughter Sāmā 
was sent to the alms giving station of Ghosaka to beg for food. 

Sāmāvatī, as a daughter of a householder, was reluctant to jostle through her 
way in the unruly crowds of alms seekers. As she stood apart in a hesitant 
manner, her dignified demeanour was noticed by the superintendent of alms 
distribution. He thought to himself: “While everyone else is making loud noise 
and trying to reach out ahead of others like in a fisherman’s fish distribution, 
this young maiden is keeping back. She must be of some worthy family. And she 
has a fine personality.” And so he addressed Sāmāvatī: “Dear girl, why don’t you 
step up and beg?” She replied: “Dear father, how could a decent girl like me 
elbow through in such a jammed packed crowd?” 

“How many persons are there in your family?” 

“There are three, father.”