VASAVADATTA

VASAVADATTA, THE COURTESAN

  THERE was a courtesan in Mathura named Vasavadatta. She happened

to see Upagutta, one of Buddha's disciples, a tall and beautiful

youth, and fell desperately in love with him. sent an invitation to

the young man, but he replied: "The time has not yet arrived when

Upagutta will visit Vasavadatta." The courtesan was astonished at

the reply, and she sent again for him, saying: "Vasavadatta desires

love, not gold, from Upagutta." But Upagutta made the same enigmatic

reply and did not come.

  A few months later Vasavadatta was having a love intrigue with the

chief of the artisans. But at that time a wealthy merchant came to

Mathura, and fell in love with Vasavadatta. Seeing his wealth, and

fearing the jealousy of her other lover, she contrived the death of

the chief of the artisans, and concealed his body under a dung-hill.

When the chief of the artisans had disappeared, his relatives and

friends searched for him and found his body. Vasavadatta was tried

by a judge, and condemned to have her ears and nose, her hands and

feet cut off, and flung into a graveyard. Vasavadatta had been a

passionate girl, but kind to her servants, and one of her maids

followed her, and out of love for her former mistress ministered to

her in her agonies, and chased away the crows.

  Now the time had arrived when Upagutta decided to visit Vasavadatta.

When he came, the poor woman ordered her maid to collect and hide

under a cloth her severed limbs; and he greeted her kindly, but she

said with petulance: "Once this body was fragrant like the lotus,

and I offered thee my love. In those days I was covered with pearls

and fine muslin. Now I am mangled by the executioner and covered

with filth and blood."

  "Sister," said the young man, "it is not for my pleasure that I

approach thee. It is to restore to thee a nobler beauty than the

charms which thou hast lost. I have seen with mine eyes the

Tathagata walking upon earth and teaching men his wonderful

doctrine. But thou wouldst not have listened to the words of

righteousness while surrounded with temptations while under the

spell of passion and yearning for worldly pleasures. Thou wouldst

not have listened to the teachings of the Tathagata, for thy heart was

wayward, and thou didst set thy trust on the sham of thy transient

charms. The charms of a lovely form are treacherous, and quickly

lead into temptations, which have proved too strong for thee. But

there is a beauty which will not fade, and if thou wilt but listen

to the doctrine of our Lord, the Buddha, thou wilt find that peace

which thou wouldst have found in the restless world of sinful

pleasures."

  Vasavadatta became calm and a spiritual happiness soothed the

tortures of her bodily pain; for where there is much suffering there

is also great bliss. Having taken refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma,

and the Sangha, she died in pious submission to the punishment of

her crime.