In those days, there was a king of Varanasi named Phrommadatta. His queen had a son named Mahissasa. One of his concubine also gave a birth to a son named Chanta.

When the queen passed away, he appointed his most favourite concubine as a new queen. The new queen also had a son named Suriya. At the time Suriya was born, the king said to his queen that he will give anything she want as gift fore the new child. The queen replied that she would ask him when she want.

When Suriya grew up, the new queen told the king “When I gave a birth to Suriya, you said that you will give anything I want. Now I beg that you give the throne to my son please.”

The king discouraged “My first two sons are already shining. I can’t give the throne to your son.”

However, the queen still begged the king for many times. He thought that the queen may had malice against his first two sons. He called his first two sons and ordered his two sons to went away from the country for their safety.

Suriya was playing at the royal courtyard and saw his brothers were going. Because they were familiar, Suriya also followed his two brothers. Therefore, three boys were traveling together and they are heading to Himmapan forest.

After traveling for a while, they stopped and had a rest under a big tree. The eldest brother, Mahissasa, said to Suriya “Suriya, please go to that pond, take a bath and bring us some water to drink.”

Unfortunately, the pond was owned by a water demon. The water demon had a permission from Vessawan, the king of ogres, to eat all people who went into the pond except the people who know Deva Dharma (Dharma of god).

Not knowing that the pond was owned by a water demon, Suriya went into the pond and was caught by the water demon. The water demon asked “Do you know Deva Dharma ?”

“I know,” Suriya said, “The moon and the sun are Deva Dharma !”

“You don’t know Deva Dharma.” The water demon said and brought Suriya to it’s place.

Feeling that Suriya left too long, Mahissasa sent out Chanta to find Suriya.

Chanta went to the pond and found the water demon. The water demon asked “Do you know Deva Dharma ?”

“Yes, I know,” Chanta said, “The north, the south, the east and the west are Deva Dharma.”

“You don’t know Deva Dhama.” The water demon said and brought Suriya to it’s place.

After a while, Mahissasa feel that there may be something wrong, so he went to the pond by himself. He noticed footsteps of his two brothers and thought that the pond may be owned by a demon. He armed his bow and stood there.

[To be continue ...]

At the time new son was born, the king told the queen that she could ask him for anything. The queen asked him to give the throne to her son but the king disagreed with her.

The queen kept asking the king for many times. Unavoidably, the king had to keep his promise.  So, he told Mahissasakumara and Chantakumara about this and ordered them to leave the city and come back to reign the throne when he died.

Sawing his brothers leaving the palace sadly, Suriyakumara insist on accompanying with his brothers.

When the three boys went near the Himmapan forest, they had a rest. Suriyakumara was thirsty, so he left his brothers to find some water to drink. Few minutes later, Suriyakumara found a swamp and quickly get into the swamp.

Unfortunately, this swamp was owned by a water demon. This demon was allowed by Wessuwan, the king of ogre, to eat all human who enter the swamp except the one know the Dharma of god.

The water demon appeared and asked Suriyakumara, “Do you know the Dharma of god?”

Suriyakumara answered “Yes, I know. The Dharma of god is the moon and the sun!”

The water demon said that was wrong, so he caught Suriyakumara and imprisoned him.

Thought that Suriyakumara may be lost, Mahissasakumara told Chantakumara to find Suriyakumara.

Chantakumara entered the swamp and was asked the same question. He answered wrong and was caught by the demon also.

Felt that his brothers went too long; Mahissasakumara followed them until he arrived at the swamp. He noticed that there were only footprints that head into the swamp and knew that the swamp must be owned by a water demon.

The water demon transformed into a woodcutter, persuade Mahissakumara to enter the swamp and drink some water. Knew that the woodcutter actually be a water demon, Mahissakumara said “The demon, I know that you have caught my brothers. Where did you imprison my brothers?”

“I keep them in my living place.” the water demon replied.

“Why did you catch my brothers?” Mahissakumara asked.

“I get permission from King Wessuwan that I can eat all human who can’t tell me what the Dharma of god is.” The water demon said.

“If I know what the Dharma of god is, will you release my brothers?” Mahissakumara asked.

“Sure, so tell me what the Dharma of god is” the water demon said.

“Calm nobleman normally has a shame of committing sins, has a fear of committing sins, and persists in moral. Such nobleman has a Dharma of god.” Mahissakumara answered.

The water demon like the answer and release only Chantakumara.
Mahissakumara said “Suriyakumara is my brother of different mother, if I come back with Chantakumara, people will think that I killed Suriyakumara. So that you should release Suriyakumara also.”

Admired by Mahissakumara’s answer, the water demon released Suriyakumara and asked for being a follower of Mahissakumara.

One day, all three brothers heard that the king had died, so they went back to the city with the water demon. At last, Mahissakumara became a king; Chantakumara became a grand regent; Suriyakumara became a prime minister; the water demon became a city guard.

The water demon finally reincarnated as an old monk. Mahissakumara finally reincarnated as the Buddha. Chantakumara finally reincarnated as Saribudra, a famous Buddhist saint. Suriyakumara finally reincarnated as Anon, a famous Buddhist saint.