This manuscript is about a story of a Bodhisattva who was born as a prince Brāhmadatta-kumāra. He had a wife named “Khemādevī.” One day, Brāhmadatta, together with his royal officer named “Jittasenā” went to study with a saint. The saint could teach astral subjects. If they were successful, they could take the spirit off and then reside in dead bodies of humans and animals. During the way back to the city, Brāhmadatta took off his spirit to reside in the dead deer. When Jittasenā saw that, with the bad thought he replaced his spirit in the body of Brāhmadatta. When Jittasenā in the form of Brāhmadatta arrived at the palace, he lied to Khemādedī that Jittasenā was lost in the forest. However, Khemādevī did not believe it because the characters of Brāhmadatta that she stayed with were too different. After the real Brāhmadatta knew that he resided his spirit in the dead cockatoo and flew to the palace and told the true story.
Colophon:
ปริปุณณะแล้วยามกองงายแก่ข้าแล ธัมมสิทธิภิกขุ ริขิตตะตนเองแล ไว้ค้ำชูสาสนาถาบเช่นใบรานนี้แล สักกราชได้ 1219
(เขียนด้วยดินสอ) “ธัมมสิทธิภิมอร ยาวิเศียรช่างเฅี่ยน” ฯ
[The writing of this manuscript] was completed at the time of the morning drum by Monk Dhammasiddhi to ensure the continuation of Buddhism to be as long as the age of this palm-leaf manuscript, dated CS 1219.
(Written with a pencil) “Dhammasiddhibhimara”
Remark: The date corresponds to 1857 CE.
Other notes:
(Left side of the first folio) “Front cover of Braḥmadatta Jātaka, first fascicle”.