Reading guide
A vision from a single glimpse
Waking as an infant and seeing the pale umbrella held over his bed, Temiya is struck with the memory ‘by which I had gone to hell’ in a previous life — the umbrella representing not comfort but the kingship that led to his own past ruin.
A goddess's counsel, accepted at once
A goddess who was once his relation advises a specific strategy: appear as a fool, let everyone scorn him, and this will achieve his goal. Temiya does not hesitate or negotiate; he resolves immediately on three factors — deafness, muteness, and paralysis — and holds to them for sixteen years.
Tested, and never breaking character
The court eventually tests him physically, rubbing his limbs and senses for any sign of feeling or awareness, and finding none, denounces him with the epithet ‘black-ear’ — a term of contempt, not concern, met by Temiya with private elation rather than distress: his resolve has succeeded exactly as intended.
Discarded, then taken to be buried alive
Written off as unfit to inherit the throne, Temiya is first paraded through the city for seven days — the very ceremony of an heir apparent, performed over someone about to be discarded — then taken by chariot to the forest, where a charioteer begins digging a pit to bury him in the ground.
A resolve held to the story's very edge
This particular verse text ends without narrating what happens once the pit is dug: the final verses state only that Temiya, afraid of breaking any of his many resolves, did not break this one either. As with several other stories in this collection, the resolution — what becomes of him at the graveside — is left to the fuller Jātaka tradition outside this text.
Key terms
The text
A vision from a single glimpse
§1“Then again when I was the true-born son of the king of Kāsi, Mūgapakkha was my name, they called me Temiya.
§2None of the sixteen thousand court women had given birth to a male. After many days and nights I was born, the only one.
§3To my father I was a dear son born with difficulty, a light-bringer of impeccable lineage. Holding a white parasol over my bed, my father provided for me.
§4Sleeping on the fine bed, then having awoken, I saw the pale umbrella, by which I had gone to hell.
§5At the sight of the umbrella a terrible dread arose in me. I reached the decision, ‘How can I be free of this?’
A goddess's counsel
§6A former blood-relation of mine, a goddess wishing to help, saw my suffering and enjoined me to three states.
§7‘Don’t show intelligence, be as a fool to all creatures, let all folk scorn you, thus you will achieve your goal.’
§8When she had spoken, I said the following. ‘I shall do your bidding, just as you say, goddess. You want what’s best for me, mom, you desire my welfare, goddess.’
§9After hearing her words, I was like one lost at sea reaching the shore. I was thrilled, my mind elated, and I resolved on three factors.
Sixteen years, and a test
§10I became deaf, and dumb, and crippled, unable to walk. Resolving on these factors, I lived for sixteen years.
§11Then they rubbed my hands and feet, my tongue and ears as well, and seeing no defect in me, denounced me as ‘black-ear’.
§12Due to that, the entire country, including the generals and priests, with one mind cheered as I was discarded.
§13When I heard of their decision I was thrilled, my mind elated, ‘The goal for which I lived fervently I have achieved.’
Paraded, then taken to the forest
§14Bathed and oiled, with my turban wrapped, anointed, they held the umbrella as they paraded me around the city.
§15After the seventh day holding the umbrella, when the sun’s orb had risen, I was taken out by chariot, until the charioteer came to a wood.
§16Leaving the chariot in the open, the bridled horse released from his hand, the charioteer dug a pit to bury me in the ground.
A resolve held to the edge of the story
§17I was afraid for the many different resolves that I had undertaken, so I did not break that resolve, because it was solely for awakening.
§18I had no dislike of my parents, nor did I dislike myself. But because omniscience is precious to me, that is why I resolved on my vow.
§19Having resolved the three factors, I lived for sixteen years. There is no-one to equal my resolve: this is my perfection of resolve.”
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