The Little Prince through the lens of Buddhism

Under the gentle shade of Bodhi trees at Wat Phra Chetuphon, better known as Wat Pho, a small prince has found a new voice — this time in Pali, an ancient language long associated with Buddhist teachings.

On March 24, The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint‑Exupéry’s world‑famous novella, was officially launched in a Pali edition, bringing together French literature, Buddhism and Thai cultural craftsmanship in a uniquely cross‑cultural collaboration.

The book launch was not just about unveiling another translation of a global classic. It was a moment when language, spirituality, and imagination intersected—prompting readers to see The Little Prince not only as a beloved children’s tale, but as a contemplative journey resonating deeply with Buddhist thought.

The Pali edition of The Little Prince (in Thai and Roman scripts) is the result of a collaboration between the Little Prince in Thai Dialects Project, the Association of French Teachers of Thailand under Royal Patronage, and Wat Phra Chetuphon, one of Thailand’s most important centres of Buddhist learning.

Book Cover of the special edition

The event was held at Sukhumala Dhammuthit School within the temple complex, reinforcing the educational and spiritual significance of the occasion.

Pali—traditionally reserved for Buddhist scriptures—has long been regarded in Thailand as sacred, scholarly, and distant from everyday literary consumption.

Translating a modern, secular work into this classical language was therefore a bold and thoughtful experiment: an attempt to make Pali more accessible while honouring its intellectual depth.

The Pali version marks a significant step—both for its symbolic weight and its educational potential. Copies will be distributed to temples and monastic schools, offering students of the Pali language an alternative way to study it through literature.

It is published with two different cover designs. The first was created by Somchai Supparak-aumpaiporn, a master craftsman of the Fine Arts Department, who also designed the royal funeral urns for King Rama IX and the Queen Mother.

The second cover, titled Sokant, is the work of Hatai Bunnag, an artist renowned for his expertise in traditional Thai and Buddhist art.

A collaborative project bringing The Little Prince into Pali, in both Thai and Roman scripts.

The book launch was marked by a multilingual reading of the text in French, Thai and Pali, followed by a panel discussion titled “The Little Prince in the Light of Buddhism”, moderated by Zcongklod Bangyikhan, editor-in-chief of The Cloud.

The conversation brought together speakers from both Buddhist and academic backgrounds, including Phra Maha Sathirawit Sambhavo, the monk‑translator of the Pali edition; Thanpuying Sirikitiya Jensen, historian at the Department of Fine Arts; Assoc. Prof Dr. Chutarat Bencharit, a former French literature professor at Silpakorn University; and Supoj Lohkhunsombat, founder of the Little Prince in Thai Dialects Project.

A story reinterpreted through Dhamma

A special Le Petit Prince collection created by the Ramathibodi Foundation in support of charity.

For Phra Maha Sathirawit, the journey began not as a spiritual exercise, but as a linguistic one.

He first encountered The Little Prince two decades ago as a university student studying Japanese, seeing it simply as a whimsical tale of adventure. Only later, after ordaining as a monk and completing advanced Pali studies, did he return to the story and discover its deeper philosophical resonance.

What emerged was a reinterpretation of the book through the lens of Buddhist teachings.

Characters in the story, he explained, can be understood as embodiments of human defilements.

The king represents conceit and delusion of power; the businessman counting stars symbolises greed; and the geographer, who speaks only of places he has never seen, reflects ignorance.

Even the fox — one of the story’s most memorable figures — takes on new meaning as a kalyāṇamitta, or spiritual friend, guiding the prince towards wisdom and contentment.

“The little prince left Asteroid B-612 because he was dissatisfied with the single rose he had, and so he kept searching for fulfilment elsewhere,” Phra Maha Sathirawit noted. “But the fox taught him that actually what he already had was the most important.”

Translating meaning, not just words

Speakers at a talk entitled “Le Petit Prince à la lumière du bouddhisme.”

Rendering such ideas into Pali posed its own challenges. Rather than translating directly from the original French, the monk worked from a Thai version known for being faithful to the source text, focusing on conveying meaning rather than literal wording.

Some of the most difficult terms were surprisingly mundane — such as “hour” and “minute”, concepts not traditionally used in ancient Indian timekeeping. After consultation with a Sri Lankan Pali expert, he adopted hora for hour and muhuttang for minute.

The title itself became Cullarajaputtavatthu, meaning “The Story of the Little Prince”.

What makes this edition particularly distinctive is that it is not derived from Buddhist scripture. Instead, it represents a rare instance of a secular, modern literary work being translated into Pali — a move that some initially viewed with hesitation, given the language’s sacred status.

Yet for those involved, that was precisely the point.

A journey inward

Assoc. Prof. Chutarat framed the story as an allegory — a spiritual journey rather than a simple narrative.

Each character, she explained, represents an aspect of human behaviour or mindset, while the prince’s travels from planet to planet mirror an inward quest for understanding.

Viewed through a Buddhist lens, the story presents two worlds: the external, physical world, and the internal world of the mind.

The prince himself, she suggested, embodies a pure state of consciousness. His eventual departure — often interpreted as death — can also be seen as a release from attachment, in line with Buddhist teachings that regard the body as a burden shaped by clinging.

The rose, central to the story, becomes a symbol of impermanence. The desert reflects the harshness of the external world, while the well represents inner nourishment and clarity.

“In the end, it may be about letting go of the self,” she said, “and returning to a natural state of emptiness.”

A project rooted in giving

For Mr Supoj, the Pali edition is part of a larger mission. Over the past decade, the Little Prince in Thai Dialects Project has published the book in five languages, including Lanna, Pwo Karen, Surin Khmer, Jawi Malay, and Moken.

Each edition supports education, creativity, and cultural pride, with all proceeds going toward scholarships and aid for underprivileged communities.

Looking ahead, the project is already preparing its next chapter: a Braille edition of The Little Prince, expanding access to visually impaired readers.

As the event at Wat Pho drew to a close, what lingered was not just the novelty of a new translation, but the enduring power of a simple yet profound story — one that continues to evolve, inviting each generation to rediscover what truly matters.

After all, as the little prince himself reminds us, the essential things are invisible to the eye.

For those interested in purchasing The Little Prince Pali edition (Thai–Roman scripts), priced at 590 baht per copy, orders can be placed via the Line ID @thelittlep.th of the Little Prince in Thai Dialects Project.