Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, that the Bodhisatta was born into a trader’s family. Five hundred people of that country, horse-dealers, used to convey horses to Benares, and sell them there.

Now a dealer took the road to Benares with five hundred horses for sale. On this road, not far Benares, there is a town, where had formerly lived a rich merchant. A vast dwelling once was his; but his family had gradually gone down in the world, and only one old woman was left, who lived in the family house. The dealer took up his lodging for a certain hire in that house, and kept his horses.

On that very day, as luck would have it, he found a foal on the way. After three days, he took his horses and went to visit the king. Thereat the old woman asked him for the hire of the house.

“All right, mother, I’ll pay you,” said he

She said then, “When you pay me, give me this foal, and deduct its value from the hire.” The dealer did so. The woman loved the foal like a son; and she fed him upon parched rice drippings, on broken meats, and grass.

Some time after, the Bodhisatta, on his way with five hundred horses, took lodging in this house. But the horses scented this foal, and none of them would enter the place. The Bodhisatta asked the dame, “Mother! There seems to be some horse in the place.”

Old woman said, “I am keeping a foal like my son and he has gone out to graze.”

The Bodhisatta asked, “When will he return?”

The Bodhisatta waited until the foal should come in; and soon the foal returned from his walk. When he saw the fine foal with his belly full of rice powder, the Bodhisatta noted his marks, and thought he, “This is a priceless thoroughbred; I must buy him from the old woman.”

By this time the foal had entered the house and gone to his own stable. At once all the horses were able to go in too.

The Bodhisatta lived there for a few days, and attended his horses. Then as he was ready to go, he said to the old woman, “let me buy this foal from you.”

Old woman cried, “What are you saying! one mustn’t sell one’s own foster child!”

The Bodhisatta told the old lady, “I will raise him as my son and give rice boiled, and rive gruel, and parched rice; broken meats and grass; and rice broth to drink. When he stands, he shall have a cloth awning spread over him; I will give him a carpet to stand on.”

Old woman said, “Then take my child and be happy!”

And the Bodhisatta paid a separate price for the foal. And the foal opened his eyes, and looked upon his mother, and shed tears. She stroked his back, and said, “I have received compensatin for what I have done for you; go, my son!” and then he departed.

Next day the Bodhisatta thought he would make trial of the foal, whether he knew his own power or not. So after preparing common food, he made red dice gruel and poured in a bucket, gave it. But foal refused to touch any such food. Then the Bodhisatta to test him, said:-

“Grass and the scum of gruel you though good

In former times; why don’t you eat your food?”

Oh hearing which, the Foal answered:-

“When people do no know one’s birth and breed,

Rice-scum is good enough to serve one’s need.

“But I am chief off steeds, as you are ware;

Therefore from you I will not take this fare.”

Then answered the Bodhisatta, “I did this to try you; do not be angry”; and he cooked the fine food and offered it to him. When he came to the king’s courtyard, he set the five hundred horses on one side, and on the other an embroidered awning, under which he laid a carpet, with a canopy of stuff over in; and here he lodged the foal.

The king coming to inspect the horses asked why this horse was housed apart.

The Bodhisatta replied, “O king! If this horse be not kept apart, he will let loose these others.”

The king asked, “Show the merits of the foal.”

The owner caparisoned him, and mounted on his back. Then be cleared the courtyard within a second. The whole place appeared to be encircled with lines of horses, without a break!

Then said the Bodhisatta, “See my horse’s speed, O king!” and let him have his head. Not a man could see him at all! Then he fastened a red leaf upon the horse’s flank; and they saw just the leaf. And then he rode him over the surface of a pond in a garden of the city. Over he went, and not even the tips of his hoofs were wet. Again, he galloped over lotus leaves, without even pushing one of them under water.

When his master had thus showed off the foal’s magnificent paces he dismounted, clapped his hands, and held out one, palm upwards. The horse got upon it, and stood on the palm of his master’s hand, with his four feet close together.

The king was so pleased that he gave him the half of his kingdom; the horse he installed as his horse of state. Foal’s stable was decorated well and in the retiring closet was set a golden jar. His food was always fit for a king.

And after he came there, the lordship over all India came into this king’s hand. And the king did good deeds and alms giving according to the Bodhisatta’s admonition, and became destined for paradise.