Once upon a time Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares. In those days the Bodhisatta used to be the king’s director in things temporal and spiritual.

At this time, one man washed his horse at the bathing place of the king’s Royal horse. And when the groom of Royal Horse was for leading it down in to the same water, the animal was so affronted that he would not go in. So the groom went off to the king and said, “Please your Majesty! your Royal Horse won’t take his bath.”

Then the king said to the Bodhisatta, “ Sage! you go and find out why the animal will not go into the water when they lead him down.”

The Bodhisatta, and went his way to the waterside. Here he examined the horse; and finding it was not ailing in any way, he tried to find out what the reason could be. At last he came to the conclusion that some other horse must have been washed at that place, and that the charger had taken such umbrage thereat that he would not go into the water. So he asked the grooms what animal they had washed first in the water. “Another horse, my lord, an ordinary animal.”

Bodhisatta to himself:“Ah, it’s his self – love that has been offended so deeply that he will not go into the water.” So he said to the groom, “A man will tire, my friend, of even the daintiest fare, if he has it always. And that’s how it is with this horse. He has been washed here times without number. Take him to other waters and bathe him there and water him.” Then he said:

“Change thou the spot, and let the charger drink

Now here, now there, with constant change of scene.

For even milk – rice cloys a man last.”

After listening to his words, they led the horse off elsewhere, and there watered and bathed him. And while they were washing the animal down after watering him, the Bodhisatta went back to the king and explained the reasons. The king said: “What a clever fellow he is. He can read the mind even of an animal like this.” And he gave great honour to the Bodhisatta, and when his life closed passed away to fare according to his deserts. The Bodhisatta also passed away to fare likewise according to his deserts.