Once upon a time when Brahmadatta reigned in Benares, the Bodhisatta came to life in a brahmin family in a town of the Kasi country. When he was grownup, his mother died. And after due performance of her funeral rites, at the end of six weeks he gave away in alms all the money that was in the house, and taking his father and younger brother with him he put on the bark garment, and adopted the religious life of an ascetic in the Himalayas. And there he lived in a pleasant grove, supporting himself by gleaning in the fields and living on roots and wild fruits.

During the rainy season, due to unavailability of food, the ascetics come down from the Himalayas, and take up their abode amidst the haunts of men. And at this time the Bodhisatta, after living here with his father and younger brother, as soon as the Himalayas country began to blossom again and bear fruit, took his two companions and returned to his hermitage in the Himalayas. And at sunset when they were not far from his hut he left them, saying, “You can come slowly, while I go forward and set the hermitage in order.”

Now the young hermit coming on slowly with his father kept butting him in the waist with his head. The old man said, “I do not like the way in which you are taking me home.” So he turned back and started afresh from the point. And while they were thus quarreling, darkness set in. But the Bodhisatta as soon as he had swept out leaves, and got ready some water, took a torch and returned on the way back, and when he found them he asked why they had taken such a long time. And the boy ascetic told him what his father had done. But the Bodhisatta brought them, quietly home, and having stowed safely away all the Buddhist requisites, he gave his father a bath, and washed his feet. Then he set out a pan of charcoal and when his father had recovered from his fatigue, he sat near him and said, “ Father, young boys are just like earthen vessels: they are broken in a moment, and whey they are once broken, it is impossible to mend them again. Old men should bear with them patiently, when they are abusive.” The Bodhisatta admonished his father Kassapa.

Should foolish youth in word or deed offend?

“It is wisdom’s part long -suffering to display;

Quarrels of good men find a speedy end,

Fools part asunder, like untempered clay.

Men wise to learn, of their own sins aware,

Friendship can prove that suffers no decay;

Such are a brother’s burden strong to bear,

And strife of neigh bours skilful to allay.

Thus did the Bodhidatta admonish his father. And he from that time forward exercised self-restraint.

The Master, having brought his lesson to an end, identified the Birth: “At that time the old priest was the father hermit, the novice was the boy hermit, and I myself was the son who admonished his father.”