Cave 17

- Visvantara

Prince Viśvantara was known for his generous nature. Often he would ride out of his palace in a grand royal procession to several alms-houses. One day, in the city, he met a group of brahmins from a hostile kingdom. They demanded custody of his most valuable elephant. Viśvantara handed over his elephant without a second thought. This action of the prince irked the citizens of the kingdom who asked for Viśvantara's banishment. Viśvantara pondered over the injustice of the citizen's request but never protested their decision. The king ordered Viśvantara's exile, Viśvantara prepared for his banishment by handing over food to beggars and giving away all his worldly possessions. Then he went to the palace to bid farewell to his father and mother. His wife Princess Madrī and their two children decided to join Viśvantara on exile. Accompanied by his family, Viśvantara took leave of the citizens. The prince and his family passed through the city on their chariot. They were headed to a forest. During the journey, a brahmin came up to Viśvantara and asked for his horses. Viśvantara handed over the horses to the brahmin. He solemnised the deed by pouring water over the brahmin's hand. Next, he handed over the chariot to another group of brahmins. Then the prince and his family continued the rest of their journey on foot. They met a forest-dweller who told them the way to a hermitage where they could set up base. After half a year, a wicked brahim named Jujjuka arrived at the hermitage to demand custody of Viśvantara's children. Viśvantara told him to at least wait till Madrī returned from foraging, but Jujjuka persisted with his request. Viśvantara brought a jar filled with water to seal the handover of his children to the brahmin. The wailing children were dragged away by the brahmin. Madrī had wanted to return home sooner but was held up by a lion. She sensed something was wrong and rushed back to the hermitage. Madrī was shocked to discover that her children had been given away. Viśvantara tried to console his wife and explain himself. Madrī shared her sorrows of losing her children to the animals in the forest who had once been her children's playmates. Indra in the guise of a brahmin arrived at the hermitage to perform one final test of Viśvantara's benevolence. He demanded custody of Madrī - Viśvantara's only companion. Viśvantara handed his wife over to the brahmin without protest. Indra was pleased and rewarded Viśvantara's great acts of benevolence . A deity convinced the wicked brahmin to return Viśvantara's children to the king's palace. He brought Viśvantara's children to the city. At the king's court, the wicked brahmin bargained for a large sum in exchange for the children. The King was convinced of Viśvantara's capacity for benevolence and decided to ask him to return to the city. A group of citizens went to Viśvantara to ask him to return to the city as their prince. Viśvantara and Madrī returned to the royal court in a grand procession. Viśvantara was reinstated as the prince.