Dīghīti, Dīghati
A king of Kosala. His kingdom was captured by Brahmadatta, king of KÄsi, and he and his wife fled to Benares, where they lived in disguise in the house of a potter. His wife bore a son named DÄ«ghÄyu (v.l. DighÄvu). Before his birth, his mother had a craving to see the army drawn up in battle array, its swords tempered. DÄ«ghÄ«ti appeased her craving with the help of his friend, the chaplain of Brahmadatta. DÄ«ghÄyu was sent away from the city lest harm should befall him, Later, DÄ«ghÄ«ti’s place of refuge was discovered and he and his wife were being led to the place of execution when DighÄyu, who was on a visit to the city, saw them. DÄ«ghÄ«ti, recognising his son, called to him his dying advice “do not look too far nor too near (mÄ dÄ«ghaṃ passa mÄ rassaṃ). DÄ«ghÄyu heard and understood; he entered the service of Brahmadatta, first as an elephant-trainer, then as a musician, and finally as his personal servant. He wished to avenge the death of his parents, but when the occasion arose, he remembered his father’s instructions and desisted. Vin.i.342ff.
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