Kamanita

Vasitthi

Kamanita and Vasitthi are deeply in love, their bond enduring across lifetimes and spiritual trials.

The Master

Kamanita is a devoted disciple of The Master, learning spiritual teachings and seeking enlightenment under his guidance.

The Lord Buddha

Kamanita reveres The Lord Buddha as the ultimate teacher and seeks his direct guidance on the path to liberation.

Brahma

Brahma appears to Kamanita as a celestial being, offering guidance and insight during his spiritual journey.

Angulimala

Angulimala and Kamanita are former enemies, with Angulimala having once threatened Kamanita's life before his conversion.

Ananda

Ananda and Kamanita are fellow disciples of the Buddha, sharing a warm camaraderie and mutual respect.

Satagira

Kamanita and Satagira are adversaries, with Satagira often acting as an obstacle or threat to Kamanita's goals.

The Master

Kamanita is a devoted disciple of The Master, learning spiritual teachings and seeking enlightenment under his guidance.

Vasitthi

Kamanita and Vasitthi are deeply in love, their bond enduring across lifetimes and spiritual trials.

The Lord Buddha

Kamanita reveres The Lord Buddha as the ultimate teacher and seeks his direct guidance on the path to liberation.

The Master

Kamanita is a devoted disciple of The Master, learning spiritual teachings and seeking enlightenment under his guidance.

Angulimala

Angulimala and Kamanita are former enemies, with Angulimala having once threatened Kamanita's life before his conversion.

The Pilgrim Kamanita

The central figure of the legendary romance, a pilgrim on a spiritual path.

II: The Meeting

The young pilgrim who has already taken up quarters in the potter's hall; he is a noble youth and a seeker after truth, and begins to tell his story to the Buddha.

To the Banks of the Gunga

Narrates his own background, education, and first merchant journey to Kosambi.

IV: The Maiden Ballplayer

The narrator, who becomes infatuated with the maiden ballplayer and spends days seeking her.

The Magic Portrait

Paints Vasitthi's portrait and writes a cryptic verse; desperately seeks to delay his departure.

On the Terrace of the Sorrowless

Narrates the secret meeting on the terrace, confesses his love to Vasitthi, and recalls his passion for arms and past lives.

VII: In the Ravine

Narrates the attack, his wounds, and his longing for Vasitthi; refuses to leave without seeing her alone.

The Paradise Bud

Narrates the secret meeting with Vasitthi, staging his departure to deceive Satagira and returning at night to the temple.

Under the Constellation of the Robbers

Narrates his captivity among the robbers, his longing for Vasitthi, and his interactions with the band.

XI: The Elephant's Trunk

Narrates his captivity, ransom, return home, and journey to Kosambi where he sees Vasitthi as Satagira's bride.

At the Grave of the Holy Vajaçravas

Narrates his despair after seeing Vasitthi, his flight from Kosambi, and his reflections on robbers and fate.

XIII: The Boon Companion

Narrates his life in Ujjeni, indulging in pleasures, recovering from a theft, reforming, and becoming a wealthy merchant.

XIV: The Husband

Narrates his experience of a second marriage arranged by his father, the ensuing household strife, and his vow never to marry again.

XV: The Bald-Pated Monk

Kamanita is now a wealthy merchant who stays home in Ujjeni, instructing a caravan leader. He intervenes in his wives' quarrel, shows respect to the ascetic, and experiences terror upon recognizing Angulimala.

XVI: Ready for Action

Takes decisive action to defend his home from Angulimala, organizing defenses and sending his family away.

XVII: To Homelessness

The protagonist who, after a night of reflection and fear, decides to renounce his worldly life and become a homeless pilgrim.

In the Hall of the Potter

Concludes his narrative and expresses deep agreement with the Master's words on suffering; recounts his search for a teacher and his resolve to reach the Buddha.

XIX: The Master

The pilgrim being instructed by the Master, addressed throughout the discourse as 'brother' and 'pilgrim'.

XX: The Unreasonable Child

Challenges the Buddha's silence on the afterlife, expressing skepticism and a desire for eternal bliss; compares the Buddha's teaching unfavorably to Brahmanical promises of heavenly joy.

In Mid Career

Fatally wounded by a cow; dies after expressing desire to see the Buddha and recalling a vision of the heavenly Gunga.

In the Paradise of the West

Awakens in Sukhavati, seated on a lotus, and begins to explore his new surroundings.

XXIII: The Roundelay of the Blest

Newly awakened in Sukhavati, learning to move by desire and exploring the paradise.

The Coral Tree

Explores the paradise, is drawn to the Coral Tree, and experiences a vision of his past lives.

XXV: The Bud of the Lotus Opens

Observes the lotus bud and learns about souls aspiring to Paradise; leads Vasitthi to the Coral Tree, where she remembers him.

The Chain with the Tiger-Eye

Believed dead after Angulimala's confession; his tiger-eye chain is presented as proof.

XXVII: The Rite of Truth (Saccakiriya)

Referenced as the beloved whose death is confirmed by Angulimala's confession and the Rite of Truth.

On the Shores of the Heavenly Gunga

Leads Vasitthi away from the Coral Tree to the hill, then to the heavenly Gunga; expresses fear of losing her to the infinite stream.

XXIX: Amid the Sweets of the Coral Blossom

Reclines under the Coral Tree with Vasitthi, experiencing visions of their shared past lives, from heroic warrior to stag to eagle.

To Be Born Is to Die

Distressed by the fading of his lotus and the paradise around him; recalls his failed attempt to see the Buddha before his death.

XXXI: The Apparition on the Terrace

Believed dead by Vasitthi; Angulimala reveals he is alive and offers to bring him to her.

Satagira

Kamanita is alive in Vasitthi's thoughts, and she imagines his judgment of her marriage to Satagira. His memory fuels her hatred and her longing for freedom.

Buddha and Krishna

Mentioned in Vasitthi's memory of their mutual vow to meet in the Paradise of the West.

The Blossoms of Paradise Wither

Kamanita initially despairs at the decay of Sukhavati but is revived by Vasitthi's teaching and resolves to seek existence among the star gods.

In the Kingdom of the Hundred-Thousandfold Brahma

Reborn as a star-god, guiding a binary star with Vasitthi in the Brahma-world.

XXXIX: The Dusk of the Worlds

Observes the decay of the Brahma-world with growing anxiety and turns to Vasitthi for understanding.

XLII: The Sick Nun

Reported by Angulimala to be alive and living in opulence in Ujjeni with wives, though Vasitthi's hopes of reunion are dashed.

XLIV: Vasitthi’s Bequest

Longs to see the Buddha, struggles with regret over his past ignorance, and finally recognizes the old ascetic as the Perfect One.

Night and Morning in the Spheres

Alone in the universal night, Kamanita recalls the Master's discourse, rejects the Brahma existence, and resolves to tread the path to the eternal, ultimately going out like a lamp.