Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta came to life as a thoroughbred Sindh horse and was made the king’s horse fully decorated. He was fed on exquisite three-year old rice. He was given all the comforts.

All the kings round coveted the kingdom of Benares. Once seven kings encompassed Benares, and sent a missive to the king, saying, “Either yield up your kingdom to us or fight.”

When the King consulted the ministers, they said, “You need not go to battle. Send the bravest knight to fight them; and later on, if he fails, we will decide what to do.”

Then the king sent for that knight and said to him, “Can you fight the seven kings?”

He said, “Give me your noble horse and then I could fight not only seven kings, but all the kings in India.”

“Take my Royal horse or any other horse; Win the battle.”

The knight mounted the Royal horse and defeated the enemies one by one. After capturing the sixth king, he saw his horse was wounded. He was thinking of changing the horse for the next battle.

As the Bodhisatta lay at full length on his side, he opened his eyes, and gathered what the knight was doing. The Bodhisatta thought he to himself, “Knight is arming another horse. That other horse will never be able to break down the seventh camp and capture the seventh king; he will lose all that I have accomplished. This peerless knight will be slain; and the king, too, will fall into the hands of the foe. I alone, and no other horse, can break down that seventh camp and capture the seventh king.”

So, as he lay there, he called to the knight, and said, “Sir! there is no horse but I who can break down the seventh camp and capture the seventh king. I will not throw away what I have already done; only have me set upon my feet and clad again in my armour.” And so saying, he repeated this stanza:-

Though prostrate now, and pierced with darts, I lie,

Yet still no hack can match the destrier.

So harness none but me, O charioteer.

The knight had the Bodhisatta set upon his feet, bound up his wound, and armed him again in proof. Mounted on the destrier, he broke down the seventh camp, and brought back alive the seventh king, whom he handed over to the custody of the soldiers. They led the Bodhisatta too up to the king’s gate, and the king came out to look upon him.

The Bodhisatta, then said to the king, “Great king, do not kill these seven kings; bind them by an oath, and let them go. Let the knight enjoy all the honour due to us both, for it is not right that a warrior who has presented you with seven captive kings should be brought low. And as for yourself, exercise charity, keep the Commandments, and rule your kingdom in righteousness and justice.” When the Bodhisatta had thus exhorted the king, he passed away.

The king had the body burned with all respect, and bestowed great honour on the knight, and sent the seven kings to their homes after exacting from each an oath never to war against him any more. And he ruled his kingdom in righteousness and justice, passing away when his life closed to fare thereafter according to his deserts.