The Bodhisatta was born as Prince of Kosala. King of Benares invaded Kosala and killed the king and queen. Now prince Dighavu, having found the king of Benares in the forest, seized him by his top-knot and said, “Now will I cut into fourteen pieces the murderer who slew my father and mother.” And at the very moment when he drew his sword, he recalled the advise given him by his parents and he thought, “Though I should sacrifice my own life, I will not trample under foot their counsel. I will content myself with frightening him.”

And the prince said:

Thou art within my power, O king,

As prone thou lie here:

What stratagem hast thou to bring

Deliverance from thy fear?

Then the king said:

Within thy power, my friend, I lie

All helpless on the ground,

Nor know I any means whereby

Deliverance may be found.

Then the Bodhisatta said:

Good deeds and words alone, not wealth, O king,

In hour of death can any comfort bring?

This man abused me, that struck me a blow,

A third overcame and robbed me long ago.”

All such as harbour feelings of this kind,

To mitigate their wrath are ne’er inclined.

“He did abuse and buffet me of yore,

He overcame me and oppressed me sore.”

They who such thoughts refuse to entertain,

Appease their wrath and live at one again.

Not hate, but love alone makes hate to cease:

This is the everlasting law of peace.

After these words the Bodhisatta said, “I will not do you a wrong, Sir. But do you slay me.” And he placed his sword in the king’s hand. The king too said, “Neither will I wrong you.” And he swore an oath, and went with him to the city, and presented him to his councilors and said, “This, Sirs, is prince Dighavu, the son of the king of Kosala. He has spared my life. I may not do him any harm.” And so saying he gave him his daughter in marriage, and established him in the kingdom that had belonged to his father. Then onwards the two kings reigned happily and harmoniously together.

The Master here ended his lesson and identified the Birth : “The father and mother of those days are now members of the royal household, and prince Dighavu was myself.”