Vessantara's wife encounters a lion, tiger, and leopard, and then rejoins her husband, a scene from the next-to-last life of the Buddha (Vessantara Jataka)

According to Buddhist tradition, the Buddha lived through hundreds of previous existences before achieving buddhahood. In his nextto- last existence he was a prince named Vessantara who perfected the virtue of charity through boundless generosity. When brahmans from a drought-stricken neighbor kingdom asked him for his own kingdom's rain-bringing white elephant, he gave it. His people angrily sent him into exile. Before leaving, however, he dispensed enormous riches. Later, on the way to the forest retreat with his wife and children, Vessantara was asked first for their horses, then for their chariot, which of course he readily bestowed. Eventually he gave away his children to the brahman Jujaka, and was only prevented from giving away his wife by a gentle trick played by the god Indra. Meanwhile the children were ransomed from Jujaka by their grandfather, and Jujaka, enjoying a new life of wealth and luxury, died from overindulgence. Grandparents and grandchildren were reunited with Vessantara and his wife, and all returned to the capital, where Vessantara resumed his royal duties.
The painting on the left [2006.27.81.11] includes two scenes just after Vessantara has given away his children. On the right side of the painting, Vessantara's wife has been out gathering food. Three gods have taken the form of wild animals to delay her return to her family's forest hut so that she will not see her children being led off. The gods were concerned that if the mother saw this she would try to rescue her children and be harmed in the attempt. On the left she has returned and discovered that her children are gone. She collapses in her husband's lap, weeping bitterly. In the painting on the right, [2006.27.81.7] the god Indra is afraid that Vessantara, in his limitless generosity, will give away his wife. Indra (who is shown as green in color) decides to ask Vessantara for his wife himself, as a protective measure. He takes the form of an old man, and appeals to Vessantara for his wife. Vessantara grants the wish, solemnizing the gift by pouring water over the old man's hands. Paintings such as this were produced in sets to illustrate the major episodes of the holy story of Prince Vessantara. These paintings were displayed and referred to during elaborate recitations of the story at annual temple festivals.