Pāli Dictionary

Piṅgiyānī2

Person

The wife of King Brahmadatta who was caught in adultery with a royal groom and stripped of her rank, her tale being one told by Kuṇāla; the same name also belongs to a sutta on the Buddha’s praise before the Licchavī.

Wife of Brahmadatta. One day when opening her window she saw a royal groom, with whom she fell in love, and when the king fell asleep, she climbed down through the window, lay with the groom, and climbed back again, after which she perfumed herself and lay down beside the king. The king eventually discovered her misdemeanour and proclaimed it to his ministers, depriving her of her royal rank.

The story is one of those related by Kuṇāla, who is identified with Brahmadatta (J.v.444). It is perhaps this story which is referred to as the Cūḷakuṇāla Jātaka.

Piṅgiyānī Sutta.– The story of the brahmin Piṅgiyānī uttering the Buddha’s praises before the Licchavī. When Piṅgiyānī ended his song of praise, the Buddha told the Licchavī of the five kinds of rare treasures: the Tathāgata, one who can teach the Dhamma-vinaya, one who recognises the Dhamma, one who follows the Dhamma, and one who is grateful. A.iii.239 ff.

AN 5.195

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