384 LESSON 24 09 2011 Dighavu kumara Vatthu The Story of Prince Dighavu
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Department of Arts
Mv 10.2.3-20
PTS: Horner vol. 4, pp.
489-498
Dighavu-kumara Vatthu:
The Story of Prince Dighavu
by
Thanissaro Bhikkhu
Once, monks, in Varanasi, Brahmadatta was the king of Kasi β rich,
prosperous, with many possessions, many troops, many vehicles, many
territories, with fully-stocked armories & granaries. Dighiti
was the king of Kosala β poor, not very prosperous, with few
possessions, few troops, few vehicles, few territories, with poorly-stocked
armories & granaries. So Brahmadatta the king of Kasi, raising a fourfold
army, marched against Dighiti the king of Kosala. Dighiti the king of Kosala
heard, “Brahmadatta the king of Kasi, they say, has raised a fourfold army
and is marching against me.” Then the thought occurred to him, “King
Brahmadatta is rich, prosperous… with fully-stocked armories & granaries,
whereas I am poor… with poorly-stocked armories & granaries. I am not
competent to stand against even one attack by him. Why don’t I slip out of the
city beforehand?” So, taking his chief consort, he slipped out of the city
beforehand. Then King Brahmadatta, conquering the troops, vehicles, lands,
armories, & granaries of King Dighiti, lived in lordship over them.
Meanwhile, King Dighiti had set out for Varanasi together with
his consort and, traveling by stages, arrived there. There he lived with her on
the outskirts of Varanasi in a potter’s house, disguised as a wanderer. Not
long afterwards, she became pregnant. She had a pregnancy wish of this sort:
she wanted to see a fourfold army, armed & arrayed, standing on a parade
ground at dawn, and to drink the water used for washing the swords. She said to
King Dighiti, “Your majesty, I am pregnant, and I have a pregnancy wish of
this sort: I want to see a fourfold army, armed & arrayed, standing on a
parade ground at dawn, and to drink the water used for washing the
swords.” He said, “My queen, where is there for us β fallen on hard
times β a fourfold army, armed & arrayed, standing on a parade ground, and
water used for washing the swords?”
“If I don’t get this, your majesty, I will die.”
Now at that time the brahman adviser to King Brahmadatta was a
friend of King Dighiti. So King Dighiti went to him and, on arrival, said,
“A lady friend of yours, old friend, is pregnant, and she has a pregnancy
wish of this sort: she wants to see a fourfold army, armed & arrayed,
standing on a parade ground at dawn, and to drink the water used for washing
the swords.”
“In that case, let me see her.”
So King Dighiti’s consort went to King Brahmadatta’s brahman
adviser. When he saw her coming from afar, he rose from his seat, arranged his
robe over one shoulder and, with his hands raised in salutation to her,
exclaimed three times, “Surely the king of Kosala has come to your womb! Surely
the king of Kosala has come to your womb! Don’t be worried, my queen. You will
get to see a fourfold army, armed & arrayed, standing on a parade ground at
dawn, and to drink the water used for washing the swords.”
Then he went to King Brahmadatta and, on arrival, said to him,
“Your majesty, signs have appeared such that tomorrow at dawn a fourfold
army, armed & arrayed, should stand on a parade ground and that the swords
should be washed.”
So King Brahmadatta ordered his people, “I say, then: Do as
the brahman adviser says.” Thus King Dighiti’s chief consort got to see a
fourfold army, armed & arrayed, standing on a parade ground at dawn, and
got to drink the water used for washing the swords. Then, with the maturing of
the fetus, she gave birth to a son, whom they named Dighavu
(LongLife). Not long afterwards, Prince Dighavu reached the age of discretion.
The thought occurred to King Dighiti, “This King Brahmadatta of Kasi has
done us great harm. He has seized our troops, vehicles, lands, armories, &
granaries. If he finds out about us, he will have all three of us killed. Why
don’t I send Prince Dighavu to live outside of the city?” So Prince
Dighavu, having gone to live outside of the city, learned all the crafts.
Now at that time King Dighiti’s barber had gone over to King
Brahmadatta. He saw King Dighiti, together with his consort, living on the
outskirts of Varanasi in a potter’s house, disguised as a wanderer. On seeing
them, he went to King Brahmadatta and, on arrival, said to him, “Your majesty,
King Dighiti of Kosala, together with his consort, is living on the outskirts
of Varanasi in a potter’s house, disguised as a wanderer.”
So King Brahmadatta ordered his people, “I say then: go
fetch King Dighiti together with his consort.”
Responding, “As you say, your majesty,” they went and
fetched King Dighiti together with his consort.
Then King Brahmadatta ordered his people, “I say then:
having bound King Dighiti & his consort with a stout rope with their arms
pinned tightly against their backs, and having shaved them bald, march them to
a harsh-sounding drum from street to street, crossroads to crossroads, evict
them out the south gate of the city and there, to the south of the city, cut
them into four pieces and bury them in holes placed in the four directions.”
Responding, “As you say, your majesty,” the king’s
people bound King Dighiti & his consort with a stout rope, pinning their
arms tightly against their backs, shaved them bald, and marched them to a
harsh-sounding drum from street to street, crossroads to crossroads.
Then the thought occurred to Prince Dighavu, “It’s been a
long time since I saw my mother & father. What if I were to go see
them?” So he entered Varanasi and saw his mother & father bound with a
stout rope, their arms pinned tightly against their backs, their heads shaven
bald, being marched to a harsh-sounding drum from street to street, crossroads
to crossroads. So he went to them. King Dighiti saw Prince Dighavu coming from
afar, and on seeing him, said, “Don’t, my dear Dighavu, be far-sighted.
Don’t be near-sighted. For vengeance is not settled through vengeance.
Vengeance is settled through non-vengeance.”
When this was said, the people said to him, “This King
Dighiti has gone crazy. He’s talking nonsense. Who is Dighavu? Why is he
saying, ‘Don’t, my dear Dighavu, be far-sighted. Don’t be near-sighted. For
vengeance is not settled through vengeance. Vengeance is settled through
non-vengeance’?”
“I’m not crazy or talking nonsense. He who knows will
understand.” Then a second time… a third time he said, “Don’t, my
dear Dighavu, be far-sighted. Don’t be near-sighted. For vengeance is not
settled through vengeance. Vengeance is settled through non-vengeance.”
A third time, the people said to him, “This King Dighiti
has gone crazy. He’s talking nonsense. Who is Dighavu? Why is he saying,
‘Don’t, my dear Dighavu, be far-sighted. Don’t be near-sighted. For vengeance
is not settled through vengeance. Vengeance is settled through
non-vengeance’?”
“I’m not crazy or talking nonsense. He who knows will
understand.”
Then the king’s people, having marched King Dighiti together
with his chief consort to a harsh-sounding drum from street to street,
crossroads to crossroads, evicted them out the south gate of the city and
there, to the south of the city, cut them into four pieces, buried them in
holes placed in the four directions, stationed guards, and left.
Then Prince Dighavu, having entered Varanasi, brought out some
liquor and got the guards to drink it. When they had fallen down drunk, he
collected sticks, made a pyre, raised the bodies of his mother & father
onto the pyre, set fire to it, and then circumambulated it three times with his
hands raised in salutation.
Now at that time, King Brahmadatta had gone up to the terrace on
top of his palace. He saw Prince Dighavu circumambulating the pyre three times
with his hands raised in salutation, and on seeing him, the thought occurred to
him, “Doubtlessly this person is a relative or blood-kinsman of King
Dighiti. Ah, how unfortunate for me, for there is no one who will tell me what
this means!”
Then Prince Dighavu, having gone into the wilderness and having
cried & wept as much as he needed to, dried his tears and entered Varanasi.
Going to an elephant stable next to the king’s palace, he said to the chief
elephant trainer, “Teacher, I want to learn this craft.”
“In that case, young man, you may learn it.”
Then, rising in the last watch of the night, Prince Dighavu sang
in a sweet voice and played the lute in the elephant stable. King Brahmadatta,
also rising in the last watch of the night, heard the sweet-voiced singing
& lute-playing in the elephant stable. On hearing it, he asked his people,
“I say: Who was that, rising in the last watch of the night, singing in a
sweet voice and playing a lute in the elephant stable?”
“Your majesty, a young man β the student of such-and-such
an elephant trainer, rising in the last watch of the night, was singing in a
sweet voice and playing a lute in the elephant stable.”
“I say then: go fetch that young man.”
Responding, “As you say, your majesty,” they went and
fetched Prince Dighavu.
Then King Brahmadatta said to Prince Dighavu, “I say: Was
that you rising in the last watch of the night, singing in a sweet voice and
playing a lute in the elephant stable?”
“Yes, your majesty.”
“I say then, my young man: sing and play the lute.”
Responding, “As you say, your majesty,” and seeking to
win favor, Prince Dighavu sang with a sweet voice and played the lute.
Then King Brahmadatta said to him, “I say: You, my young
man, are to stay and attend to me.”
“As you say, your majesty,” Prince Dighavu replied.
Then he rose in the morning before King Brahmadatta, went to bed in the evening
after him, did whatever the king ordered, always acting to please him, speaking
politely to him. And it was not long before King Brahmadatta placed the prince
close to him in a position of trust.
Then one day King Brahmadatta said to Prince Dighavu, “I
say then, my young man: harness the chariot. I’m going hunting.”
Responding, “As you say, your majesty,” Prince Dighavu
harnessed the chariot and then said to King Brahmadatta, “Your chariot is
harnessed, your majesty. Now is the time for you to do as you see fit.”
Then King Brahmadatta mounted the chariot, and Prince Dighavu
drove it. He drove it in such a way that the king’s entourage went one way, and
the chariot another. Then, after they had gone far, King Brahmadatta said to
Prince Dighavu, “I say then, my young man: unharness the chariot. I’m
tired. I’m going to lie down.”
Responding, “As you say, your majesty,” Prince Dighavu
unharnessed the chariot and sat down cross-legged on the ground. Then King
Brahmadatta lay down, placing his head on Prince Dighavu’s lap. As he was
tired, he went to sleep right away. Then the thought occurred to Prince
Dighavu: “This King Brahmadatta of Kasi has done us great harm. He has seized
our troops, vehicles, lands, armories, & granaries. And it was because of
him that my mother & father were killed. Now is my chance to wreak
vengeance!” He drew his sword from his scabbard. But then he thought,
“My father told me, as he was about to die, ‘Don’t, my dear Dighavu, be
far-sighted. Don’t be near-sighted. For vengeance is not settled through
vengeance. Vengeance is settled through non-vengeance.’ It would not be proper
for me to transgress my father’s words.” So he put his sword back in its
scabbard. A second time… A third time the thought occurred to Prince Dighavu:
“This King Brahmadatta of Kasi has done us great harm. He has seized our
troops, vehicles, lands, armories, & granaries. And it was because of him
that my mother & father were killed. Now is my chance to wreak
vengeance!” He drew his sword from his scabbard. But then he thought,
“My father told me, as he was about to die, ‘Don’t, my dear Dighavu, be
far-sighted. Don’t be near-sighted. For vengeance is not settled through
vengeance. Vengeance is settled through non-vengeance.’ It would not be proper
for me to transgress my father’s words.” So once again he put his sword
back in its scabbard.
Then King Brahmadatta suddenly got up β frightened, agitated,
unnerved, alarmed. Prince Dighavu said to him, “Your majesty, why have you
gotten up suddenly β frightened, agitated, unnerved, & alarmed?”
“I say, my young man: Just now as I was dreaming, Prince
Dighavu β son of Dighiti, king of Kasi β struck me down with a sword.”
Then Prince Dighavu, grabbing King Brahmadatta by the head with his left hand,
and drawing his sword from its scabbard with his right, said, “I, your
majesty, am that very Prince Dighavu, son of Dighiti, king of Kasi. You have
done us great harm. You have seized our troops, vehicles, lands, armories,
& granaries. And it was because of you that my mother & father were
killed. Now is my chance to wreak vengeance!”
So King Brahmadatta, dropping his head down to Prince Dighavu’s
feet, said, “Grant me my life, my dear Dighavu! Grant me my life, my dear
Dighavu!”
“Who am I that I would dare grant life to your majesty? It
is your majesty who should grant life to me!”
“In that case, my dear Dighavu, you grant me my life and I
grant you your life.”
Then King Brahmadatta and Prince Dighavu granted one another
their lives and, taking one another by the hands, swore an oath to do one
another no harm.
Then King Brahmadatta said to Prince Dighavu, “In that
case, my dear Dighavu, harness the chariot. We will go on.”
Responding, “As you say, your majesty,” Prince Dighavu
harnessed the chariot and then said to King Brahmadatta, “Your chariot is
harnessed, your majesty. Now is the time for you to do as you see fit.”
Then King Brahmadatta mounted the chariot, and Prince Dighavu
drove it. He drove it in such a way that it was not long before they met up
with the king’s entourage.
Then King Brahmadatta, having entered Varanasi, had his
ministers & councilors convened and said to them, “I say, then. If you
were to see Prince Dighavu, the son of Dighiti, the king of Kasi, what would
you do to him?”
Different ministers said, “We would cut of his hands, your
majesty” β “We would cut off his feet, your majesty” β “We
would cut off his hands & feet, your majesty” β “We would cut off
his ears, your majesty” β “We would cut off his nose, your
majesty” β “We would cut off his ears & nose, your majesty”
β “We would cut off his head, your majesty.”
Then the king said, “This, I say, is Prince Dighavu, the
son of Dighiti, the king of Kasi. You are not allowed to do anything to him. It
was by him that my life was granted to me, and it was by me that his life was
granted to him.”
Then King Brahmadatta said to Prince Dighavu, “What your
father said to you as he was about to die β ‘Don’t, my dear Dighavu, be
far-sighted. Don’t be near-sighted. For vengeance is not settled through
vengeance. Vengeance is settled through non-vengeance’ β in reference to what
did he say that?”
“What my father said to me as he was about to die β ‘Don’t
be far-sighted’ β ‘Don’t bear vengeance for a long time’ is what he was saying
to me as he was about to die. And what he said to me as he was about to die β
‘Don’t be near-sighted’ β ‘Don’t be quick to break with a friend’ is what he
was saying to me as he was about to die. And what he said to me as he was about
to die β ‘For vengeance is not settled through vengeance. Vengeance is settled
through non-vengeance’ β My mother & father were killed by your majesty. If
I were to deprive your majesty of life, those who hope for your majesty’s well-being
would deprive me of life. And those who hope for my well-being would deprive
them of life. And in that way vengeance would not be settled by vengeance. But
now I have been granted my life by your majesty, and your majesty has been
granted your life by me. And in this way vengeance has been settled by
non-vengeance. That is what my father was saying to me as he was about to
die.”
Then King Brahmadatta said, “Isn’t it amazing! Isn’t it
astounding! How wise this Prince Dighavu is, in that he can understand in full
the meaning of what his father said in brief!” So he returned his father’s
troops, vehicles, lands, armories, & granaries, and gave him his daughter
in marriage.
Such, monks, is the forbearance & gentleness of kings who
wield the scepter, who wield the sword. So now let your light shine forth, so
that you β who have gone forth in such a well-taught Dhamma & Discipline β
will be their equal in forbearance & gentleness.
4. Department of Arts
Department of Arts (ART) at
Nitartha Institute is based on the Science of Arts and Crafts, one
of the five traditional sciences
taught at NΔlandΔ University. It currently offers non-credit
courses.
4.1 Traditional Arts
Traditional arts curriculum
currently features two non-credit courses: LΓΌjong and Songs of
Realization.
ART 500 LΓΌjong - non-credit
ART 510 Songs of Realization -
non-credit
4.2 Visual Arts
The future visual arts curriculum
will offer courses in Thangka painting, a Tibetan visual arts
discipline; Ikebana, the Japanese
contemplative art of flower arrangement, and others.