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Kākavatī Jātaka (No.327)

Kākavatī was the chief queen of the King of Bārāṇasī (the Bodhisatta). A certain Garuḷa king came disguised as a man and played at dice with the king. Having fallen in love with Kākavatī, the Garuḷa carried her off to his abode by the Simbalī-Lake and there lived with her. The king, missing his queen, sent his physician, Natakuvera, to look for her. The physician hid himself in the Garuḷa’s plumage and thus reached the palace where Kākavatī was. There he enjoyed her favour and returned to Bārāṇasī in the Garuḷa’s wing. While the Garuḷa and the king were playing at dice, Natakuvera sang a song telling of his experiences with Kākavatī. The Garuḷa, realising what had happened, brought the queen back to Bārāṇasī.

The story was related by the Buddha to a monk who was discontented on account of a woman. The monk is identified with Natakuvera (J.iii.90‑2).

The story is among those related by the bird Kuṇāla, in the Kuṇāla Jātaka. There (J.v.428) we learn that the Garuḷa’s name was Venateyya, who is identified with Kuṇāla.

The Kākavatī Jātaka very closely resembles the Suyonandī Jātaka. J.iii.187 ff.