Dīghīti, Dīghati
A king of Kosala. His kingdom was captured by Brahmadatta, king of Kāsi, and he and his wife fled to Bārāṇasī, where they lived in disguise in the house of a potter. His wife bore a son named Dīghāyu (v.l. Dighāvu). Before his birth, his mother had a craving to see the army drawn up in battle array, its swords tempered. Dīghīti appeased her craving with the help of his friend, the chaplain of Brahmadatta. Dīghāyu was sent away from the city lest harm should befall him, Later, Dīghīti’s place of refuge was discovered and he and his wife were being led to the place of execution when Dighāyu, who was on a visit to the city, saw them. Dīghīti, recognising his son, called to him his dying advice “do not look too far nor too near (mā dīghaṃ passa mā rassaṃ). Dīghāyu heard and understood; he entered the service of Brahmadatta, first as an elephant-