Kavikumārakathā

A Jātaka story taken from the Vratāvadānamālā, in which Upagupta tells the story of Prince Kavikumāra to King Aśoka. According to Upagupta’s narration, this story was first told by the Buddha to his followers at Gṛdhrakuṭa mountain. Kavikumāra was one of the past lives of the Buddha. His mother was Sudharmā, who died giving birth to him. Kavikumāra's father was King Satyarata of Kāmpilya, and his chief queen was Lakṣmaṇā. They had been childless for a long time, so the king decided to marry Sudharmā. However, suddenly, Lakṣmaṇā became pregnant and gave birth to Lolamantra. After the death of Satyarata, Lolamantra ascended the throne. But shortly after Sudharmā gave birth to Kavikumāra, who was born with a jeweled cornet on his head. Astrologers warned King Lolamantra that this child could potentially dethrone him. Consequently, Lolamantra sent his soldiers to kill the infant Kavikumāra. However, with the help of a confidant of Satyarata, Sudharmā managed to save him and placed him in the custody of a Kaivartta (fisherman). Years later, the astrologer saw Kavikumāra playing in a field and informed the king. The king sent his army to kill him, but Kavikumāra saved himself. With the help of a Vidyādhara, he learned the science of magic and transformed into the shape of a damsel. He went to the king's court, where the king was enchanted by her beauty and took her to his bedchamber. When the king tried to embrace her, Kavikumāra reverted to his masculine form, killed King Lolamantra, and declared himself the new king. Due to this heinous crime, Kavikumāra was condemned to hell for many thousands of years. The story concludes with how the remnants of that sin caused an injury to the Buddha. (Mitra, 1882, pp. 102-103).