Once upon a time when Brahmadatta ruled Benares, the Bodhisatta was born a deer and dwelled in the forest as the head of deers. His sister brought her son to him, saying, “Brother, this is your nephew; teach him deer’s tactics.” And thus she placed her son under the Bodhisatta’s care. The Bodhisatta said nephew,“Come at such and such a time and I will give you a lesson” but the nephew made no appearance at the time appointed. And for the next seven days, he skipped his lesson and fail to learn the tactics of deer. At last as he was roaming about he was caught in a gin. His mother came and said to the Bodhisatta, ”Brother! was not your nephew taught deer’s tactics?”

The Bodhisatta said, ”your son failed to learn the tactics of deer.” And Continued:

“For when a deer has twice four hoofs to run

And branching antlers armed with countless tines,

And when by seven tricks he’s saved himself,

I teach him then, Kharadiya no more.”

But the hunter killed the self-willed deer that was caught in the snare and departed with its flesh.