Once upon a time, Brahmadatta the king of Benares had a son named Prince Brahmadatta. Kings of former times, though there might be a famous teacher living in their own city, often used to send their sons to foreign countries for their education, and by this means they might learn to quell their pride and high-mindedness, and endure heat or cold, and be made acquainted with the ways of the world. Brahmadatta calling his boy to him, gave him one-soled sandals, a sunshade of leaves, and a thousand pieces of money, and said, “My son! go to Takkasila and study there.”

The boy obeyed and went to Takkasila reached the teacher’s house. At the time the teacher finishing his lecture, was walking up and down at the door of the house. When the lad saw the teacher, with a respectful greeting stood at the door. The teacher saw that he was weary, and welcomed the new-comer. The lad ate, and rested a little. Then he returned to the teacher, and stood respectfully by him.

“Where are you from?” he asked.

“From Benares.”

“Whose son are you?”

“I am the son of the king of Benares.”

“What brings you here?”

“I come to learn” replied the lad.

“Well, have you brought a teacher’s fee? Or do you wish to attend on me in return for teaching you?”

“I have brought a fee with me” and with this he laid at the teacher’s feet his purse of a thousand pieces.

The resident pupils attend on their teacher by day, and at night they learn of him: but they who bring a fee are treated like the eldest sons in his house, and thus they learn. And this teacher like the rest, gave schooling to the prince on every light and lucky day! Thus the young prince was taught.

Now one day, he went to bathe along with his teacher. There was an old woman, who had prepared some white seeds, and strewed them out before her; there she sat, watching them. The youth looked upon these white seeds, and desired to eat; he picked up a handful, and ate them.

She thought, “This lad must be hungry.” She said nothing, and sat silent.

Next day the same thing happened at the same time. Again the woman said nothing to him. On the third day, he did it again; then the old dame cried out, “The great Teacher is letting his pupils rob me!” and uplifting her arms she raised a lamentation.

The Teacher turned back and asked, “What is it, mother?”

“Master! I have been parching some seeds, and your pupil took a handful and ate them! This he has done to-day he did it yesterday, and he did it the day before! Surely he will eat me out of house and home!”

“Don’t cry, mother: I will see that you are paid.”

“Oh! Master! I want no payment. Only teach your pupil not to do it again.”

The teacher said, “See here! Mother! he made two lads to take the young fellow by his two hands, and smote him thrice upon the back with a bamboo stick, bidding him take care not to do it again.

The prince was very angry with his teacher. With a reddish eye he stared at the teacher. The teacher observed how angry he was, and how he stared at him.

The youth applied himself to his work, and finished his courses. But the offence he hid away in his heart, and determined to murder his teacher. When the time came for him to go away, he said to him,

“O! my Teacher! when I receive the kingdom of Benares, I will send for you. Then come to me, I pray.” And so he exacted a promise most affectionately.

He returned to Benares, and visited his parents, and showed proof of what the had learnt. Said the king, “I have lived to see my son again, and while I yet live, I will see the magnificence of his rule.” So he made his son king.

When the prince enjoyed the splendour of royalty, he remembered his grudge, and anger rose within him. “I will be the death of that fellow!” he thought he could appease him then; and he came, and stood at the king’s door, and sent to say that the teacher from. Takkasila had arrived. The king was glad, and caused the Brahmin to be led in. Then his anger rose, and his eyes grew bloodshot. He beckoned to those about him. ” Ha, the place which my teacher struck still hurts me to-day ! He has come here with death written upon his forehead, to die; Today his life must end!”

Thus he threatened him with death. As he heard, the teacher said, “I have taught desciplin; the wise all know it well.”

“And so, great king! understand this yourself. If you had not been taught this lesson by me, you would have gone on taking cakes and sweets, fruit, and the like, until you became covetous through these acts of theft; then by degrees you would have been lured on to house-breaking, highway robbery, and murder about the villages; the end would have been, that you would have been taken red-handed and haled before the king for a public enemy and a robber; and you would have come in fear of public punishment, when the king should say, ‘Take this man, and punish him according to this crimes. When could have come all this prosperity which you now enjoy? Is it not through me that you have attained to such magnificence?”

Thus did his teacher talk over the king. And the countries, who stood round, said when they heard his speech, “Of a truth, my lord, all your magnificence really belongs to your teacher!”

At once the king recognized the goodness of his teacher, and said to him.

“All my power I give to you, my teacher! receive the kingdom!”

But the other refused, saying , “No, my lord king, I have no wish for the kingdom.”

And the king sent to Takkasila for the teacher’s wife and family; he gave them great power, and made him the royal priest; he treated him like a father, and obeyed his admonitions; and after bestowing gifts and doing good deeds he became destined for paradise.