Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born as an elephant trainer’s son. When he grew up, he was carefully taught all that pertains to the training of elephants. He was in the service of a king who was an enemy to the king of Benares. He trained this king’s royal elephant to perfection.

The king determined to capture Benares. Mounting upon his state elephant, he led a mighty army against Benares, and sieged it. Then he sent a letter to the king of the Benares; “Fight, or yield!” The king of Benares chose to fight. He guarded Walls and gates, towers and battlements with a great army, and defied the foe.

The hostile king fully armed marched on his state elephant. But at sight of the defenders, who cast boiling mud, and stones from their catapults, and all kinds of missiles, the elephant was scared. Then the Trainer came and shouted, “Son! You are a hero at home but it is disgrace to turn tail in the battle field!” And to encourage his elephant, he uttered these two verses.

“O Elephant, a hero thou, whose home is in the field

There stands the gate before thee now; why dost thou turn and yield?

“Make haste! Break through the iron bar, and beat the pillars down!

Crash through the gates, made fast for war, and enter in the town!”

The Elephant listened; one word of advice was enough to turn him. Winding his trunk about the shafts of the pillars, he tore them up, he beat against the gateway, broke down the bars, and forcing his way through entered the city and won it for his king.