It was only much later that the men, too, were ordered by royal decree to wear a garment.  So, ever since, Cambodian men have worn the sampot, or sarong.  As we know from the tales of Enkidu and of Adam and Eve, wearing clothes marks the rite of passage between life in nature’s paradise and the status of civilization.

Among the tales written in Khmer, as in other languages of Indochina, are numerous long narratives, in both prose and poetry, which derive from the famous Sanskrit collection of Jataka legends, narrating events believed to have taken place during the various lives of the Buddha that preceded his life as the historical prince Gautama of Kapilavastu.  These legends, which contain hidden philosophical meaning, are edifying lessons for young Buddhists.  Let me now recount here a few of those tales.

The good king Vesandar

One time the Puthisath (Bodhisattva) was born in the shape of a prince named Vesandar (Vesantara).  After his father died, Vesandar became king.  He was a good ruler and distributed alms to the poor every day.  Vesandar married the lady Metri (Madri). They had a son Chealy (Jali) and a daughter Kreusna (Krishnaa).  They all loved each other very much.

Vesandar also possessed a huge white elephant named Chey Neakeu (Jaya Nagin).  This elephant was magical.  It was the source of the prosperity and happiness of the people. One year the neighboring country of Klonka (Kalinga) suffered a terrible drought.  It devastated the land and caused widespread famine.  As hope dwindled, the king of Klonka sent a delegation of eight Brahmans to Vesandar, begging him to give them his miraculous elephant.

The generous king could not refuse a gift to anybody.  He gave the holy men his precious elephant.  Gratefully the Brahmans accompanied the white elephant back to Klonka.  As soon as it arrived, flowers bloomed again, rain fell in abundance, and the rivers filled.  Rice plants flourished, and all the trees bore fruit.

Alas! At the same time, the rice withered in the fields of Vesandar’s kingdom.  The rivers dried up, flowers wilted, and fruits shriveled on the bough.  In their hunger, Vesandar’s people rebelled. To do penance for his mistake, the king went to live as an ascetic in the forest.  At this time a Brahman, called Jujika (Chuchaok), asked the king to give him the royal children, Chealy and Kreusna.