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:
[The writing of this manuscript] was completed at the time of the evening drum, on the fifth waning-moon day of the tenth [lunar] month, the third day of the week, CS 1265, a ka mao year. Khanan (ex-monk) Chaiyamongkhon wrote the manuscript at Ban San, located near the dam of Ban Hong. My handwriting is not beautiful and unstably big and small. Please be very careful when using the manuscript. “I lost concentration and was really anxious” (Thai script).
Other notes:
The date corresponds to Tuesday, 14 July 1903 (1265 Ashadha 20).