Kumāra or Kuman (the section on the children) is the eighth of the 13 sections of Vessantara Jataka. It tells of Brahmin Jūjaka who had arrived at Mount Vamka and stayed overnight near the hermitage of the ascetic Vessantara. At dawn on the next morning, Jūjaka waited until Princess Maddī went away to gather fruits. He then came out and begged Vessantara for Prince Jali and Princess Kanha. When the children realized that the Brahmin was asking for them, they were so scared that they hid themselves under the lotus leaves in the pond. Vessantara called them and made them understand his wishes. Then the ascetic gave them to Jūjaka who bound their hands together and dragged them out of there.
Colophon:
สักราศ 1256 ตัว ปลีกาบสง้า สมณสธาอินทรัสสภิกขุ พร้อมกับพ่อแม่พี่น้องชู่ผู้ชู่ฅน ค็บังเกิดด้วยมหากามวจรกุสลญาณสัมปยุตตอสังขาริกจิต ติดในกัมมผละพายหน้า คือเมืองฟ้าแลเมืองฅน มีนิพพานธัมม์เจ้าเปนยอด จิ่งอุปปายขรงขวายหาได้โปฏฐปตะใบลานมาส้างเขียนยังรัสสธัมมคัมภิระเจ้าดวงชื่อว่าปารีเวสสันตระกับนี้ ไว้ค้ำชูพุทธสาสนาตราบ 5000 แท้ดีหลี ฯ
The writing [of this manuscript] was completed in CS 1256, a kap sanga year.
The donors were Phra Intha and his family who had religious faith in accumulated merit and Nibbāna and provided palm leaves to be inscribed with the Pali Vessantara text to ensure the continuation of the five-thousand-year Buddhist era.
Remark: The year corresponds to 1894 CE.
Other notes:
The copying [of this manuscript] was completed in CS 1256. The donors were Phra Inda, his parents, and all his relatives. They desired to gain merit and provided palm leaves to be inscribed with the Vessantara Jātaka to ensure the continuation of the five-thousand-year Buddhist era.
Remark: The year corresponds to 1894 CE.