Part 04-This is known as the Perfection of Wisdom (*Paññā-pāramī*). The Perfection of Wisdom is divided

 This is known as the Perfection of Wisdom (*Paññā-pāramī*). The Perfection of Wisdom is divided into three categories: detaching the mind from worldly possessions and family (spouse and children) while discerning what is beneficial and what is not for all beings constitutes the Perfection of Wisdom (*Paññā-pāramī*); detaching the mind from one's own limbs and body parts while making such a discernment constitutes the Superior Perfection of Wisdom (*Paññā-upapāramī*); and detaching the mind from one's own life while discerning what is beneficial and what is not for all beings constitutes the Ultimate Perfection of Wisdom (*Paññā-paramattha-pāramī*). While residing at the Jetavana Monastery, the Supreme Teacher—the Blessed One—initiated a discourse on the Perfection of Wisdom by recounting the Mahosadha Jātaka, beginning with the verse "Pañcālo sabbasenāya..." The Blessed One addressed the monks, saying: "Monks, in the past, there was a king named Videha who reigned over the city of Mithilā in the kingdom of Videha. He had four wise counselors named Senaka, Pukkusa, Kāminda, and Devinda." One day, just before dawn, the King had a dream in which four massive bonfires blazed at the four corners of the royal palace, rising as high as the great walls. Amidst these four fires, a tiny flame—no larger than a firefly—suddenly flared up, shining more brilliantly than the other four; its radiance spread across the four great continents and reached even the realm of Brahma. People carrying offerings walked right over the glowing embers without suffering any burns. The King summoned four wise men to interpret the dream. They predicted that a fifth wise man would be born that very day. At that time, in a village named Pacinavayamajjha-gama—located east of the city of Mithila—there lived a wealthy merchant named Sirivaddhana and his wife, Sumanadevi. The Bodhisatta descended from the Tavatimsa heaven to be born into this merchant's family. Upon his birth, Indra placed a divine medicine in the infant's hand. Sumanadevi gave the medicine to her husband, who had been ill for seven years; upon consuming it, he was instantly cured. For this reason, his parents named him Mahosadha. When Mahosadha was seven years old, he observed the difficulties children faced regarding recreation, as well as the hardships local residents endured during the rainy season and the dry season—when clean water was scarce. He rallied his one thousand young companions, and together they pooled their resources—contributing one *damleung* each—to construct a magnificent public facility. Once sufficient funds were secured, Mahosadha drafted the plans and hired artisans and laborers to level the land and erect five distinct structures: one for merchants traveling from near and far to lodge; one for Brahmin teachers to instruct their students; one for destitute women to give birth and for the general public to receive medical care; one as a meeting place to discuss public affairs and social development; and one as a recreational area where children of all kinds could play various games. All the magnificent halls were fully equipped to meet every need and adorned with exquisite paintings and statues that were a delight to behold. Additionally, Mahosadha commissioned the excavation of one thousand lotus ponds, complete with sturdy embankments and convenient access points. These ponds teemed with white, red, and blue lotuses, as well as various water lilies, all blooming in magnificent splendor. Furthermore, he established parks filled with fragrant flowers and shady trees, creating a paradise-like atmosphere where people could relax and where ascetics and Brahmins could dwell in peaceful contemplation. Once these water facilities and parks were completed, crowds flocked to enjoy them, ceaselessly praising Mahosadha as a truly extraordinary being and offering him their blessings day and night. Even the animal kingdom benefited, and the deities in the celestial realms ceaselessly proclaimed great blessings and auspicious praise for Mahosadha. Subsequently, King Videha recalled the prophecies made by the four sages and dispatched ministers to seek out Mahosadha. The King summoned the sage Senaka and asked if the time was right to bring Mahosadha to court and appoint him as a royal sage. Driven by jealousy and the fear of losing his own status and gains, Senaka objected, arguing that a man who merely built a schoolhouse was not yet qualified to be a sage. The King instructed the ministers to subject the candidate to further tests. Senaka carried out the royal command, conducting nineteen distinct trials; after each test, he would report the results to the King—sometimes recommending Mahosadha’s appointment—yet the four sages would repeatedly raise objections. Eventually, however, the King appointed Mahosadha as a sage of the realm, just as he had desired, and even regarded him as his own son. One day, while strolling through the royal gardens, the King noticed a lizard bobbing its head atop the gateway. He asked Mahosadha what the lizard was doing, and Mahosadha replied that it was paying homage to the King. Pleased, the King ordered a courtier to purchase meat for the lizard to eat every day. One day—a holy day of observance—the courtier could not find any meat to buy, so he tied a sum of money equivalent to the cost of the meat around the lizard's neck instead. Adorned with this ornament, the lizard became arrogant and ceased to show respect to the King. Puzzled, the King asked Mahosadha about the change in behavior; the Bodhisatta explained that the lizard now held the King in contempt. Hearing this, the King became angry and ordered the courtier to drive the lizard away. Later, while out hunting in the forest, the King spotted a woman stranded atop a *udumbara* (cluster fig) tree, unable to climb down; her husband—a wicked man—had strewn thorns around the base of the tree and fled. The King was captivated by her, took her back to the palace, and made her his queen, bestowing upon her the name Udumbara Devi. One day, he had her board the royal chariot. Upon seeing the young man Binkuttara weeding the ground, she smiled. When the King asked the reason for her smile, she replied that she was laughing at her former husband. The King consulted the teacher Senaka, who suggested that the woman was harboring a secret scheme. The King grew angry and questioned Mahosadha; the Bodhisatta explained that, by nature, a person lacking merit cannot share a destiny with one who possesses great merit. The King was pleased by this explanation. At the same time, Princess Udumbara Devi asked to adopt Mahosadha as her own younger brother. The King then tested the wisdom of the four sages by posing a riddle involving a goat with a broken back and a dog.

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