Abstract:
This thesis aims to study Mahachat of King Mongkut comparing with the story of Vessantara both in Tipitaka and Atthakatha as well as with prior versions of Mahachat of King Mongkut in order to point out characteristics of the latter. The research concludes that 5 chapters of Mahachat of King Monkut: Vanappaves, Jullapon, Mahapon, Sakkabap and Chokasat follows the story of Atthakatha, however; King Monkut researches several Buddhist Canon especially the Jataka Book and the Cariyapitaka Book of the Suttantapitaka Khuddakanikaya to recheck for the correctness. This reflects that King Monkut gives more importance to the primary Pali Canon than the Atthakathas as the secondary one. Although The story of Mahachat of King Mongkut is agreed to the story of Mahachat Khamluang, Kap Mahachat, Mahachat of Phra Thepmoli (Klin) and Mahachat of H.S.P. Prince Paramanujitajinorasa, it obviously contains several differences especially the numerous details emphasizing on explanations how characters, situations, customs, rituals and natural phenomenon found in King Monkut version of Mahachat are. He also explains a lot of significant Pali words and adds general knowledge into his work. This reflects that King Mongkut did his research very well when he composed his Mahachat. In his Mahachat, King Mongkut also presents the ideas about administrative principles. He gives suggestions that good governors should listen to peoples opinions and think of the peaceful of the country not their own happiness. They should also love justice, kindness, intelligence and avoid exceeded infatuation. For literary characters, the beauty in Mahachat of King Mongkut is a result of numerous words which King Mongkut formed himself. A certain number of them do not appear in other works. It is more apparent due to the use of alliteration: consonant, vowel and tone, the use of figures of speech, images, and the use of simple but effectively clear expressions. The mentioned characteristics of Mahachat of King Mongkut make it distinctively different from other versions of Mahachat and be one of the masterpieces among Thai literary works. Above all, Mahachat of King Mongkut highly reflects King Mongkuts genius characters both in poetry, academic and administration.