• Brahmadatta

1. Brahmadatta. King of Kāsi. He captured Kosala and murdered its king Dīghiti and Dīghiti's wife, but made peace later with Dīghiti's son, Dīghāvu, restored to him his father's kingdom, and gave him his own daughter in marriage. Vin.i.342ff.; DhA.i.56f.

2. Brahmadatta. King of the Assakas and friend of Renu. When Mahāgovinda divided Jambudīpa into seven equal portions for Renu and his six friends, Brahmadatta was given the kingdom, of the Assakas, with Potama as his capital. D.ii.235f.

3. Brahmadatta. In the Jātaka Commentary this is given as the name of numerous kings of Benares. In most cases we are told nothing further of them than that they reigned at Benares at the time of the incidents related in the story. Brahmadatta, was probably the dynastic name of the kings of Benares. Thus, for instance, in the Gangamāla Jātaka (J.iii.452) Udaya, king of Benares, is addressed as Brahmadatta.

In the Gandatindu Jātaka (J.v.102-106) however, Pañcāla, king of Uttarapañcāla, is also called Brahmadatta; in this case it was evidently his personal name. It was also the name of the husband of Pingiyāni. He was a king, but we are not told of what country. He is identified (J.v.444) with Kunāla.

4. Brahmadatta Thera. He was the son of the king of Kosala, and, having witnessed the Buddha's majesty at the consecration of Jetavana, he entered the Order and in due course became an arahant. One day, while going for alms, he was abused by a brahmin, but kept silence. Again and again the brahmin abused him, and the people marveled at the patience of Brahmadatta, who then preached to them on the wisdom of not returning abuse for abuse. The brahmin was much moved and entered the Order under Brahmadatta. Thag. vs. 441-6; ThagA.i.460ff.

5. Brahmadatta. Head of a dynasty of thirty six kings, all of whom ruled at Hatthipura. His ancestors ruled at Kapilanagara. MT. 127; Dpv. iii.18.

6. Brahmadatta. A Pacceka Buddha. In the time of Kassapa Buddha he had been a monk and had lived in the forest for twenty thousand years. He was then born as the son of the king of Benares. When his father died he became king, ruling over twenty thousand cities with Benares as the capital, but, wishing for quiet, he retired into solitude in the palace.

His wife tired of him and committed adultery with a minister who was banished on the discovery of his offence. He then took service under another king and persuaded him to attack Brahmadatta. Brahmadatta's minister, much against his will, and having promised not to take life, made a sudden attack on the enemy and drove them away. Brahmadatta, seated on the field of battle, developed thoughts of metā and became a Pacceka Buddha. SnA.i.58ff.

7. Brahmadatta. A brahmin, father of Kassapa Buddha. J. i.43; Bu.xxv.34.

8. Brahmadatta. Pupil of the Paribbājaka Suppiya. A conversation between these two led to the preaching of the Brahmajāla Sutta. D.i.1.

9. Brahmadatta. A monk, sometimes credited with having supplied the illustrations to the aphorisms in Kaccāyama's grammar. P.L.C. 180.

10. Brahmadatta. See also Ekaputtika-, Catumāsika-, Cūlani-, and Sāgara-; and below, s.v. Brahmadatta-kumāra.