Nārada is a Jātaka tale about King Angkhati of Mithilā who saw the halo moon and asked his royal noblemen what to do in such an auspicious time. One nobleman suggested to the king that he should head his troops to a nearby city. Another nobleman suggested the king celebrating with recreations. Another nobleman suggested to the king to listen to the Dhamma to gain wisdom. The king wanted to listen to the Dhamma, and a nobleman invited a naked priest to deliver a sermon to him. He taught the king to enjoy recreations because of our short and futile lives. The king’s daughter knew about the sermon and thus made a wish that an excellent priest coming to teach her father. At that time, the was born as Mahā Brahma named Nārada. He transformed himself into a priest and taught the king to make merit, give alms-offering, observe the precepts, and do meditation as long as being humans. The good habits could make present and future lives full of happiness. The king followed the Teaching.
Colophon:
นะวัน 3 สระเด็ฌแล้วยามตูดช้ายแก่ข้าแล ฯ นโสภติ ร้ายนัก ฯ สักราช 1258 ตัว ปลีรวายสัน ฯ
[I] finished copying [the manuscript] on a Tuesday, in the afternoon, Cuḷasakarāja 1258,
The handwriting is not beautiful.
Other notes:
Seven textual lines per side.
(The left-hand side of the first folio) “Nārada Jātaka, the eighth birth”.