THE GREAT CHRONICLE OF BUDDHAS
676
treasuries and granaries, and reigned over his newly conquered land. Dighiti, the ex-
King and his queen arrived at Benares in due course, and took refuge at a potter's house,
on the fringe of the City, in the guise of wandering ascetics.
The Queen conceived A Child
Bhikkhus
... after some time, the Queen of King Dighiti became pregnant and developed
a strong desire for certain particular thing, such as to see at sunrise a fourfold army,
fully arrayed, fully equipped standing on level ground and to drink the water used in
washings of swords.
The Queen made it known to her husband, King Dighiti of Kosala, that she had
conceived a child and that she had a strong desire to see fully equipped army at sun-rise,
and to drink water used in washing sword. Whereupon, the King of Kosala said: ‚Dear
Queen ... how will it be possible for us to see a fully equipped army and to get water
used for washing swords, when we are in a humble condition!‛ The Queen replied:
‚Your Majesty, I will die if my wishes are not fulfilled.‛
A Far-Sighted Philosopher and Friend.
At that time, King Dighiti's boyhood friend was the Brahmin priest of Brahmadatta,
King of Kasi.
Bhikkhus
, ... Dighiti, King of Kosala went to see his boyhood friend, the
brahmin priest and told him: ‚My dear friend ... your friend, my Queen is in a family
way, and she has a strong desire to see a fully equipped army standing in a vast and
level plain, and to drink water used in washing swords.‛ Whereupon, the Brahmin said:
‚Your Majesty... in that case, I should like to see the Queen.‛
Bhikkhus
, .... the Queen went to see the Brahmin priest. When the Brahmin noticed the
Queen coming from a distance, he got up and arranging his upper garment over one
shoulder and with his hands clasped announced joyously: ‘Indeed, a King of Kosala is in
your womb,’ for three times in succession. And he assured the Queen: ‘Be happy, good
Queen, you will get a chance at sun rise to see the fully equipped fourfold army arrayed
on a level ground and drink the washings of the swords.’
Bhikkhus
, .... the Brahmin priest went to King Brahmadatta of Kasi and addressed: ‘Your
Majesty... the signs which I can see are such that a fully equipped army must appear on a
vast plain at sun-rise and the royal swords are to be washed then.’ The King ordered his
courtiers to carry out the instructions given by the Brahmin priest.
The Queen of King Dighiti had her strong desires fulfilled (as arranged by the Brahmin);
she had seen a fully equipped army standing on a vast plain and drunk the water used in
washing the swords.
Bhikkhus
, she gave birth to a baby son in due time and was named
Dighavu.
Bhikkhus
, .... when prince Dighavu had grown to an age of discretion, it occurred to
King Dighiti: ‘The King Brahmadatta of Kasi had hitherto done much harm to us; he had
seized our army, war chariots, elephants, horses, and territories including small villages;
deprived us of our treasuries and granaries. He would do away with three of us once he
found out our whereabouts; it would be safe for our son, Dighavu, to stay outside the
city. He accordingly arranged for Dighavu to stay aloof from them at a place outside the
boundaries of the city.
Bhikkhus
,... Prince Dighavu learnt various arts and science of the
time during the period of his self-exiled life.
A Disloyal Court Barber
Bhikkhus
, .... a barber of King Dighiti of Kosala had free access to the palace of the
King of Kasi.
Bhikkhus
, .... when the barber saw the King and Queen of Kosala taking
refuge in an old hut of the potter under the guise of ascetics on the outskirts of the city,
he went to King Brahmadatta of Kasi and reported: ‚Your Majesty .... King Dighiti and
his Queen have been taking refuge in a hut of a potter under the guise of ascetics on the
outskirts of the city.‛
Bhikkhus
, ... King Brahmadatta ordered his attendants to bring the
King and Queen of Kosala to him. The attendants did as they were bid.
Bhikkhus
, .... King Brahamadatta of Kasi gave orders to his servants: ‚Courtiers ....fasten