sulasa_jat

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Sulasā Jātaka (No. 419)

Once in Benares there lived a courtesan, Sulasā, whose price was one thousand a night. In Benares also lived a robber, Sattaka. One day he was taken by the king's men, and, as he was being led to execution, Sulasā saw him and fell in love with him. She bribed the chief guard to free him and lived with him. After a few months Sattaka, tired of her, and, wishing to kill her, took her to a lonely mountain top, saying that he had made a vow to the deity dwelling there. When Sulasā discovered his real intention, she begged leave to be allowed to pay obeisance to him before her death, and, as she walked round him, she watched her opportunity and pushed him down the precipice, where he was crushed to death.

The story was related in reference to Puññalakkhaṇā, a slave girl of Anāthapiṇḍika's wife. The girl borrowed a costly jewel belonging to her mistress and went to the pleasure garden. There a thief became friendly with her and planned to kill her. However, she, reading his thoughts, asked him to draw some water for her from a well near by, and as he did so, she pushed him into the well and threw a stone down on to his head. The characters in the two stories were identical. J.iii.435-9; cf. the story of Bhaddā Kuṇḍalakesā and also the Kaṇavera Jātaka.

Dictionary of Pāli Proper Names • G.P. Malalasekera