Ja 91 min read

King Makhadeva

Maghadevajātaka

“Lo! these grey hairs.”—This story was told by the Master while at Jetavana about the Great Renunciation, which has already been related in the Nidana-Katha.

Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral

0.1JātakaStories of Past Lives 9
0.2EkakanipātaThe Book of the Ones
0.3ApaṇṇakavaggaSure Bet

0.49. MaghadevajātakaMaghadeva: a past life story

1.1PTS 1.138“Uttamaṅgaruhā mayhaṁ,Growing on top of my head,¹1.2ime jātā vayoharā;these thieves of life have sprouted.²1.3Pātubhūtā devadūtā,Messengers of the gods have appeared—1.4pabbajjāsamayo mamā”ti.it is time for me to go forth.

2.1Maghadevajātakaṁ navamaṁ.

Translator’s notes

For Maghadeva, see MN 83 and notes there.
↩ ja9:1.1
The verse avoids speaking of “grey hair”, showing its reliance on the story.
↩ ja9:1.2