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Kappata

A merchant of Bārāṇasī, the Bodhisatta.

He was a potter and owned a donkey that carried loads of pots and could travel seven leagues a day. Once Kappata took the donkey to Takkasilā, where the latter became so enamoured of a female donkey that he refused to go home until the merchant promised to find him a mate equally beautiful. On reaching home the merchant offered to fulfil his promise, but refused to supply any extra food for the animal’s mate or for the foals if any were born. This opened the donkey’s eyes, and he renounced his desire for a mate. The donkey is identified with Nanda, and the female donkey with Janapadakalyāṇī Nandā (DhA.i.103 f).