Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born in a brahmin family. He was trained in all the arts, and adopting the ascetic life he developed all the Faculties and Attainments, and took up his abode in a quarter of the Himalayas, living on wild fruits and roots.

At this time the king being anxious to find out his defects, went about inquiring if there was any one who would tell him his faults. And not finding any one to speak to his dispraise, either within doors or without, either within the city or outside it, he wandered about the country side in disguise till he reached the hermitage of the Bodhisatta. After saluting him, and addressing him in a friendly manner he took a seat on one side.

At that moment the Bodhisatta was eating some ripe figs which he had brought from the wood. They were luscious and sweet, like powdered sugar. He addressed the king and said, “Your Excellency, please eat this ripe fig and drink some water.”

The king did so, and asked the Bodhisatta, “Why, Reverend Sir! Is this ripe fig so exceedingly sweet?”

He replied, “Your Excellency! The king now exercises his rule with justice and equity. That is why it is so sweet.”

“In the reign of an unjust king, does it lose its sweetness, Sir?”

“Yes, Your Excellency, in the time of unjust kings, oil, honey, molasses, fruits etc., lose their sweetness and flavour, and the whole realm becomes bad and flavourless; but when the rulers are just, these things become sweet and full of flavour, and the whole realm recovers its tone and flavour.”

The king returned to Benares. And thinking to prove the words of the ascetic, he ruled unjustly, saying to himself, “Now I shall know all about it,” and after the lapse of a short time he went back and saluting the Bodhisatta, sat respectfully on one side. The Bodhisatta using exactly the same words offered him a ripe fig, which proved to be bitter to his taste. Finding it to be bitter he spat it out, saying, “It is bitter, Sir.”

The Bodhisatta said, “Sir! The king must be unjust, for when rulers are unjust, everything beginning with the wild fruits in the wood, lose all their sweetness and flavour.” And he spoke:

The bull through floods a devious course will take,

The herd of kine all straggling in his wake:

So if a leader tortuous paths pursue,

To base ends will he guide the vulgar crew,

And the whole realm an age of license rue.

But if the bull a course direct should steer,

The herd of kine straight follow in his rear.

So should their chief to righteous ways be true,

The common folk injustice will eschew,

And through the realm shall holy peace ensue.

The king after hearing the Bodhisatta’s exposition of the Truth, let him know he was the king and said, “Holy Sir! formerly it was due to me alone that the figs were first sweet and then bitter, but now I will make them sweet again.” Then he saluted the Bodhisatta and returned home, and ruling righteously restored everything to its original condition.