The king of Benares had two sons. And of these two sons the elder went to Benares, and became king; the younger one became the viceroy. He that was king was given over to the desire of riches, and the lust of the flesh, and greedy of gain.

At the time, the Bodhisatta was Sakka, king of the gods. And as he looked out upon India, and observed that the king of it was given over to these lusts, he said to himself, “I will chastise that king, and make him ashamed.” So taking the form of a young Brahmin, he went to the king and looked at him.

“What wants this young fellow?” the king asked.

He said, “Great king, I see three towns, prosperous, fertile, having elephants, horses, chariots and infantry in plenty, full of ornaments of fine gold. These may be taken with a very small army. I have come here to hep you to get them all!”

The king asked, “When shall we go, young man?” “Tomorrow, Sir.”

“You can go now. You will go tomorrow morning.”

“Good, my king; hasten to prepare the army!” And so saying Sakka went back again to his own place.

Next day, the king ordered to beat the drum, and an army was made ready; and having summoned his courtiers, he thus spoke:-

“Yesterday a young Brahmin came and said that he would conquer three cities Uttarapancala, Indapatta, and Kekaka for me. Now we will go along with that man and conquer those cities. Call him immediately!”

“What place did you assign him, my lord, to dwell in?”

“I gave him no place to dwell in,” said the king.

“Then how shall we find him?”

“Seek him in the streets of the city,” said the king.

They sought, but could not find him not. So they came before the king, and told him, “O! King! we cannot see him.”

Great sorrow fell upon the king. “What glory has been snatched from me!” he groaned; his heart became hot; his blood became disordered; dysentery attacked him; the physicians could not cure him.

After three or four days, Sakka meditated, and was aware of his illness. He said, “I will cure him” and in the form of a Brahmin he went and stood at his door. He left a message to be told the king, “A brahmin physician is come to cure you.”

On hearing it, the king answered, “All the great physicians of the court have not been able to cure me. Give him a fee, and let him go.”

Sakka listened, and made reply: “I did not get money for my lodging. I won’t accept free money. I will cure him; let the king see me!”

“Then let him come in,” said the king. Then Sakka went in, and wishing victory to the king, sat on one side.

“Are you going to cure me?” the king asked.

He replied, “Even so, my lord.”

“Cure me, then!” said the king.

“Very good. Sir! Tell me the symptoms of your disease, and how it came about, what you have eaten or drunken, to bring it on, or what you have heard or seen.”

“Dear friend, my disease was brought upon me by something that I heard.”

Then the other asked, “What was it?”

“Dear Sir! there came a young Brahmin who offered to win and give me power over three cities; and I gave him neither lodging, nor money to pay for lodging. He must have grown angry with me, and gone away to some other king. So when I thought how great glory had been snatched away from me, this disease came upon me; cure, if you can, this which has come upon me for my covetousness and greed.”

Then Sakka said, “O king! you cannot be cured by medicine, but you must be cured with the medicine of knowledge.”

Sakka told, “O king! After conquering those three cities, will you wear four pairs of robes at once, eat out of four golden dishes, lie on four state beds? O king! One ought not to be mastered by desire. Desire is the root of all evil; when desire is increased, he that cherishes her is cast into the eight great hells, and the sixteen lowest hells, and into all kinds and manner of misery.”

So the great Being terrified the king with fear of hell and misery. And the king, by hearing these words, the king realised the truth and he was cured of his disease. And Sakka after giving him instruction, and establishing him in virtue, went away to the world of gods. And the king then onwards gave alms and did good, and he passed away to fare according to his deserts.