Kandari and Kinnara. Kandari-Jataka, Bharhut

एक राजकुमार था। उसका नाम कंदरी था। वह बहुत ही सुन्दर था और प्रतिदिन हज़ार घटों के इत्र से नहाता था। भोजन भी वह सुगंधित लकड़ियों की थाल में करता था। उसका रुप यौवन और उसकी जीवन चर्या इतनी आकर्षक थी कि कोई भी कन्या उस पर अनायास मुग्ध हो उठती थी।

युवावस्था में ही वह राजा बना और उसका विवाह किन्नरा नाम की एक राजकुमारी से हुआ। वह अपनी रानी से इतना प्यार करता था कि उसे प्रसन्न रखने के लिए उसने कोई और विवाह नहीं किया।

राजा के महल के पास एक जामुन का पेड़ था। एक दिन उस पेड़ के नीचे चीथड़ों में लिपटा एक अपंग भिखारी आ बैठा। रानी ने जब उसे देखा तो वह उसके पहली नज़र में प्यार कर बैठी। वह हर रात उसके पास जाती और सुबह होने से पहले फिर से राजा के पास लौट आती। एक दिन राजा कंदरी
और उसका पुरोहित उस पेड़ के नीचे से गु रहे थे। तभी राजा की नज़र उस धूल-धूसरित भिखारी पर पड़ी। उसे देख राजा के मुख से निकल गया, " क्या ऐसे गंदे व्यक्ति को कोई कन्या प्यार कर सकती 
है ?"

भिखारी ने राजा की बात सुन ली। और जवाब में उस से कहा, " क्या कहते हो ? मुझे तो इस राजा की रानी भी प्यार करती है।"

राजा ने तब छुप कर रानी की निगरानी की। और उसने भिखारी की बात को सच पाया। दूसरे दिन उसने रानी को दरबार में बुलाया और मृत्युदण्ड दे दिया। लेकिन पुरोहित ने उस दण्ड का विरोध किया। इस पर राजा ने रानी को मृत्युदण्ड न दे, उस भिखारी के साथ रानी को राज्य से निष्कासित कर दिया और उस जामुन के पेड़ को भी कटवा डाला।

K andari, a king of Varanasi was very handsome and was known for his charming personality all over the place. Each day he used one thousand caskets of perfume. His food was cooked on scented wood. His charm, fame and riches were enough to attract any woman to be contented as his wife.

He was married to a gorgeous woman named Kinnaraa and provided all that he could to please her. Further, to keep the queen in cheer he remained monogamous unlike his contemporary rulers.

One day, Kinnaraa while looking outside her palace window saw a supercilious cripple. He was ugly and dirty; steeped in mud and dust; and clad in rags. Yet, she grew a strong sensual passion for the man; and developed a strong yearning for his cuddle. 

The cripple took shelter under a jambu tree. He was pining for food and water. When the king slept at night, Kinnaraa visited the cripple and offered him dainty food and made him love her. Since then, she regularly carried food for him and satisfied her carnal desires.  

Thus, some weeks passed. One day, when the king was on his way to the palace accompanied by the royal chaplain Panchalachanda, he saw the cripple and wondered whether that snooty cripple could ever win the love of any woman! So, to find an answer, he looked at his chaplain. The cripple, who did not recognise the king, overheard the conversation and proudly shouted that he had won the love of the queen of the kingdom. The king was shocked. Yet, to investigate into the matter, he on suggestion of his chaplain watched the queens movements at night.   He noticed that the queen was sneaking outside with dainty food and going to the beggar. When she reached close to the beggar the latter slapped her so hard that her pendant broke and fell on the ground. He had hit her because she was late that night; and the beggar had to wait for her longer. Still, she cuddled the cripple.

Now, to the king it was as clear as the day light that the cripples claim was true; and he was but a cuckold.

Next morning, he summoned her in the court and ordered her execution. Panchalachanda, the chaplain, then persuaded the king to show mercy to her as she had only followed her instincts common to most women. To prove his point, he took him to most places both within and outside the kingdom in disguise and introduced him to several women to test their virtues. Eventually, the king was convinced with what his minister had said. So, he spared the life of the queen but banished her from the kingdom with the cripple.

Finally, he ordered his men to cut off the jambu tree.

(When narrating this story the Buddha identified the chaplain as Kunala.)

See Kandari Jataka Jataka Pali no. 341.