Vessantara gives away the elephant, a scene from the next-to-last life of the Buddha (Vessantara Jataka)

Chapter 2, Prince Vessantara gives away the elephant

According to Buddhist tradition, the Buddha lived through hundreds of previous existences before achieving buddhahood. In his next-to-last existence he was a prince named Vessantara, who perfected the virtue of charity through boundless generosity. When brahmans from a drought-stricken neighbor kingdom asked him for his own kingdom's rain-bringing white elephant, he gave it. His people angrily sent him into exile. Before leaving, however, he dispensed enormous riches. Later, on the way to the forest retreat with his wife and children, Vessantara was asked first for their horses, then for their chariot, which of course he readily bestowed. Eventually he gave away his children to the brahman Jujaka, and was only prevented from giving away his wife by a gentle trick played by the god Indra. Meanwhile the children were ransomed from Jujaka by their grandfather, and Jujaka, enjoying a new life of wealth and luxury, died from overindulgence. Grandparents and grandchildren were reunited with Vessantara and his wife, and all returned to the capital, where Vessantara resumed his royal duties.

Paintings such as this were produced in sets to illustrate the major episodes of the holy story of Prince Vessantara. These paintings were displayed and referred to during elaborate recitations of the story at annual temple festivals.