Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta became his lord justice. The king’s chaplain went to a village where he was attacked by headman. The chaplain came and complained about this to the king. When the king heard the priest’s story, he summoned the headman and himself sat in judgment, and without examining into the matter he said, “You have beaten my priest and raised a bump on his forehead,” and ordered all your property to be taken from you. Then said the Bodhisatta to him, “Sir! Without even investigating the matter you passed on the judgement. But some men after inflicting wounds on themselves declare that they have been wounded by another.

Therefore it is wrong for one who bears rule to act thus without trying the case. He ought not to act till he has heard everything.” And then he said:

Wounding another, his own wound he shows,

Himself the smiter, he complains of blows.

Wise men, O king, of partial views beware,

Hear both sides first, then judgment true declare.

The idle sensual layman I detest,

A bad king will a case unheard decide,

Wrath in the sage can ne’er be justified.

The warrior prince a well-weighed verdict gives,

Of righteous judge the fame for ever lives.

The king on hearing the words of the Bodhisatta judged righteously, and when the case was duly tried, the blame was found to rest with the brahmin alone.

The Master, his lesson ended, identified the Birth: “The Brahmin played the same part in both stories, and I myself was the wise minister in those days.”