THE FOUR SILLY PRINCES AND THE TESU TREE

ROYALTY has been on show all week in the UK, and the ceremonies very visibly upheld the continuity of the British monarchy.

It took me back to an amusing Jataka about the education of princes. Teaching good sense and responsibility is a favourite theme in old Indian stories, which probably explains why they are still around.

The tale goes that King Brahmadatta of Kashi was fed up with his four sons, each one of whom seemed more doltish than the other. They were getting on into their teens, almost men by Indian reckoning. But they still fought like babies and paid no attention to their teachers. Nor did they seem aware of their impending duties as princes of the realm although they were fully acquainted with each and every one of their many rights. Their father wanted to teach them some common sense and jolt them out of their stupidity. To this end, he conspired with the 'Bodhisattva', born this time as the king's trusty charioteer. 'Bodhisattva' means the Buddha in his previous births.

The Bodhisattva noticed a tesu tree at some distance from the palace and made his plans accordingly. The tesu is also called dhak and palash (and Butea monosperma, in case of surpassing interest). Its common English name is 'flame of the forest'. Its brilliant orange flowers are used even today to make a coloured dye to smear on everyone at Holi. The tree also has its uses in traditional medicine, especially the bark, which is said to treat as many as fifteen bodily disorders, from eye trouble and nasal bleeding to stomach upsets and joint pain.

Its Sanskrit name is 'kimshuka' and it is mentioned in both the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. In the Ramayana, the bleeding wounds left by Indrajit's magic arrows are compared to kimshuka flowers.