Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born into an acrobat’s family. When he grew up, he was a very wise and clever fellow. From another acrobat he learned the javelin dance, and with his master used to travel about exhibiting his skill. Now this master of his knew the four javelin dance but not the five; but one day when performing in a village, he, being in liquor, had five javelins set up in a row and gave out that he would dance through the lot.

The Bodhisatta said, “You can’t manage all five javelins, master. Take one away. If you try the five you will be run through by the fifth and die.”

The drunken fellow said, “You don’t know what I can do.” And paying no attention to Bodhisatta’s words, he danced through four javelins and finally fell on the fifth and died. The Bodhisatta said, “This calamity comes of your disregarding the counsels of the wise and good.”

So saying, he lifted his master from the javelin point and duly performed the last offices to his body.