The Dasavara (Thatsaphon), the ten blessings, is the first episode of the 13 episodes of the Vessantara Jataka which contains 16 fascicles. While residing in Kapilavatthu the Buddha delivered a sermon to his father, King Suddhadana, Princess Sakya and the Sangha. He described his last existence as Prince Vessantara and the story of his mother, Queen Phusati who was the queen of Indra. Before finishing her time in heaven for being born as a human being in the world, she asked Indra for the ten blessings, and he gave her the ten blessings by pouring holy water on the palms of the queen’s hands.
Colophon:
I, Monk Surin, wrote the manuscript by myself last night. My handwriting is not beautiful and only readable because I am not good at writing palm-leaf manuscripts. Please correct any mistakes left. [The writing of this manuscript was completed in] CS 1225, a ka khai year, on the eleventh waning-moon day of the twelfth [lunar] month, the fifth day of the week. May the merit derived from writing this manuscript reward me with the threefold happiness of which Nibbāna is the ultimate one in every future life. May I possess sharp wisdom to know the 84,000 collections of Dhamma. I, Surinda, wrote the manuscript during my stay of assistance to Sawathu Cao Luang Chaiwut at Wat Ban Hong Kaeo Kwang Si Bun Rüang.
Other notes:
The date corresponds to Thursday, 8 October 1863 (1225 Bhadrapada 26).