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Vāsabhakhattiyā

Daughter of Mahānāma the Sakyan by a slave-woman named Nāgamuṇḍā (J.i.133). When Pasenadi asked for a Sakyan girl in marriage, she was given to him. Mahānāma went through the pretence of eating with her in order to allay Pasenadi’s suspicions. It is said (J.iv.145) that Mahānāma sat down to eat with her, but that as he was about to take the first mouthful, a messenger arrived, as prearranged, and brought him an urgent letter. He, thereupon, left the food uneaten in order to read the letter, and asked Vāsabhakhattiyā to finish her meal.

Viḍūḍabha was the son of Vāsabhakhattiyā. It was this deceit practised on Pasenadi that made Viḍūḍabha take his revenge on the Sākyā (DhA.i.345 f; J.iv.145 f).

It is said that when Pasenadi discovered Vāsabhakhattiyā’s servile origin, he degraded both her and her son from their rank, and that they never went outside the palace (J.i.133 f; iv.148; aft also M.ii.110, where she is called Vāsabhā).

When the Buddha heard of this, he visited the king, taught him the Kaṭṭhahāri Jātaka, and had the queen restored to honour.

See also Vāsabhakhattiyā in the topic on Pasenadi.