[128] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Rājagaha, in the Veḷuvana, the Squirrels' Feeding Ground. Now at that time Vesālī was prosperous and flourishing, populous, thronged with people, and abundant in food; and there were seven thousand, seven hundred, and seven mansions; seven thousand, seven hundred, and seven peaked houses; seven thousand, seven hundred, and seven parks; and seven thousand, seven hundred, and seven lotus ponds. And there was the courtesan Ambapālī, beautiful, lovely to behold, graceful, endowed with the highest beauty of complexion, skilled in dancing, singing, and instrumental music, frequented by men who desired her, and she went for fifty a night. And through her Vesālī shone forth all the more.
Then the merchant guild of Rājagaha went to Vesālī on some business or other. And the merchant guild of Rājagaha saw Vesālī prosperous and flourishing, populous, thronged with people, and abundant in food; with its seven thousand, seven hundred, and seven mansions; seven thousand, seven hundred, and seven peaked houses; seven thousand, seven hundred, and seven parks; and seven thousand, seven hundred, and seven lotus ponds; and the courtesan Ambapālī, beautiful, lovely to behold, graceful, endowed with the highest beauty of complexion, skilled in dancing, singing, and instrumental music, frequented by men who desired her, going for fifty a night; and Vesālī shining forth all the more through her. Then the merchant guild of Rājagaha, having concluded that business in Vesālī, returned again to Rājagaha, approached King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha, and having approached, said this to King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha: "Sire, Vesālī is prosperous and flourishing, populous, thronged with people, and abundant in food; and there are seven thousand, seven hundred, and seven mansions; seven thousand, seven hundred, and seven peaked houses; seven thousand, seven hundred, and seven parks; and seven thousand, seven hundred, and seven lotus ponds. And there is the courtesan Ambapālī, beautiful, lovely to behold, graceful, endowed with the highest beauty of complexion, skilled in dancing, singing, and instrumental music, frequented by men who desire her, and she goes for fifty a night; and through her Vesālī shines forth all the more. It would be good, sire, if we too were to install a courtesan."
"Well then, sirs, find such a girl whom you might install as courtesan."
Now at that time in Rājagaha there was a girl named Sālavatī, beautiful, lovely to behold, graceful, endowed with the highest beauty of complexion. Then the merchant guild of Rājagaha installed the girl Sālavatī as courtesan. Then before long the courtesan Sālavatī became skilled in dancing, singing, and instrumental music, frequented by men who desired her, and she went for a hundred a night. Then before long the courtesan Sālavatī became pregnant. Then it occurred to the courtesan Sālavatī: "A pregnant woman is displeasing to men. If anyone comes to know of me, 'The courtesan Sālavatī is pregnant,' all my patronage will fall away. Suppose I were to have it announced that I am ill." Then the courtesan Sālavatī commanded the doorkeeper: "Good doorkeeper, let no man enter; and whoever asks for me, announce to him that I am ill."
"Yes, my lady," that doorkeeper assented to the courtesan Sālavatī.
Then the courtesan Sālavatī, when that pregnancy came to maturity, gave birth to a son. Then the courtesan Sālavatī commanded a slave woman: "Come, girl, place this infant in a worn-out winnowing basket, carry it out, and discard it on a rubbish heap."
"Yes, my lady," that slave woman, having assented to the courtesan Sālavatī, placed that infant in a worn-out winnowing basket, carried it out, and discarded it on a rubbish heap.
Now at that time the royal prince named Abhaya, going early in the morning to attend upon the king, saw that infant surrounded by crows. Having seen it, he asked the people: "What is that, sirs, surrounded by crows?"
"An infant, Your Highness."
"Is it alive, sirs?"
"It is alive, Your Highness."
"Then, sirs, take that infant to our inner palace and give it to the nurses to rear."
"Yes, Your Highness," those people, having assented to Prince Abhaya, took that infant to the inner palace of Prince Abhaya and gave it to the nurses, saying, "Rear him." Because of "he is alive" (jīvati), they gave him the name Jīvaka; because "he was reared by the prince" (kumārena posāpito), they gave him the name Komārabhacca.
Then before long Jīvaka Komārabhacca attained the age of discretion. Then Jīvaka Komārabhacca approached Prince Abhaya, and having approached, said this to Prince Abhaya: "Who, Your Highness, is my mother? Who is my father?"
"I too, dear Jīvaka, do not know your mother; but I am your father, for you were reared by me."
Then it occurred to Jīvaka Komārabhacca: "These royal households are not easy to live upon without a craft. Suppose I were to train in a craft."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.