Chuchok’s story comes from Wesandorn Jatarka, the last life of great worthiness or so-called Poramat Barami (the ultimate worthiness) of the Buddha. At that time, he was born as Prince Wesandorn. It was a preparation for his enlightenment in the future. Wesandorn is one of the stories of the former incarnations of the Lord Buddha. There are 13 chapters. It is believed that listening to all 13 chapters in one day brings about great merit.
According to the sermon, Chuchok was a Brahmin living in Kalingkarat Province. He went about begging donations and was able to collect a small fortune. He was very stingy and knew how to save and gradually saved his money until he had 100 Kasap. At that time, he was considered as a rich man. He took all money to entrust to a friend who was also a Brahmin, and departed once again to travel the country begging. As for his friend who was looking after the money, he grew poorer, so he took Chuchok's money which he had entrusted to him, and spent it all. When Chuchok remembered, he returned to claim his money. The Brahmin couple did not have any money to repay him so they offered their daughter, Amittada, to be Chuchok's wife. Amittada was a young beautiful girl. She told Chuchok that “My life belongs to you. From now on, you can keep me as a maid at home or as a wife. I can sleep at your feet and do everything for you.” It is said that Chuchok had a very beautiful wife, in that life, because he had offered a cloth with a bunch of lotus flowers to the Lord Buddha in a previous life. Whereas Amittada had offered a blooming lotus that she had smelt with her own nose before giving to to the Lord Buddha. As a consequence she had an old husband, Chuchok. Chuchok was a very old and ugly man. When he took Amittada to his village named Tunawit, Amittada cared for Chuchok her husband in the proper manner. Many Brahmin men in that district became dissatisfied with their own wives because their behaviour did not match that of Amittada. All the Brahmin women were cursed because of Amittada. As a result the women went to curse her in return. When Amittada had gone down to the waters edge she was cursed and repelled. The Brahmin women cursed and mocked her, saying that her husband was ugly. She felt ashamed and heartbroken, and returned home. She told her husband Chuchok the events of that day and said that from now on she was not going to work; Chuchok said he would have to do the work himself, but Amittada would not accept that because her family had never used a husband as a slave. Finally, she asked Chuchok to find a slave for her otherwise she would not live with him.
Chuchok had no idea where to get the servant. Amitada told him that the Prince Wetsandon (Vessantara) was out of palace and practiced in the jungle. He was generous and loved to donate for charity.
Therefore it was possible to ask for his children to work as
servant for them. As what they had expected, Prince Wetsandon
agreed to donate his children to Chuchok.
On his way home, they passed by the palace and the King saw them.
He recognized the two children were his grandchildren and instructed
Chuchok to enter the palace.
Chuchok told the King that Prince Wetsandon had given him the
two children as servants. The King bought his two grandchildren
back from Chuchok and offered him a sumptuous feast.
Chuchok had never eaten such a great meal and he ate non-stop
until his stomach was blown and died.
From the story, it shows that Chuchok was old and ugly,
but he was a good "taker" that no one would refuse to give,
even the parents were willing to give their children to him.
He only needed to use a mouth and held out his hand to get
what he wanted without using any strength or brain. Furthermore,
men are jealous of his wife who is pretty and hardworking.
