Ajanta Cave 1
The subject was identified by Dieter Schlingloff (1987, 59f.).
A great king, Mahāsudarśana, ruled over the ancient and prosperous city of Kuśāvatī (Kuśinagara). The king was known for his sense of justice and was loved by the people. Once, some citizens went to him and offered him gold, jewels, and other precious objects. The king hesitated to accept the gifts, still the people left behind the riches. Later, the king consulted his vassals and built a magnificent temple open to all religions. This temple became a daily banquet hall for migrant Brahmins and ascetics. The king went there for meditation and spread his goodness, compassion, rejoice, and calmness among the people and animals of his kingdom.—King Mahāsudarśana was none other than the Buddha in a former existence.
—Source: Singh 2019, 19-20; cf. Schlingloff 2013, I, 214-216 .
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