Once upon a time, Brahmadatta king of Benares had two sons. To the elder he gave the viceroyalty, the younger he made commander-in-chief. Afterwards when Brahmadatta was dead, the courtiers were for making the elder son king by the ceremonial sprinkling. But he said, “I care not for a kingdom; let younger brother have it.” They begged and besought him, but he refused; and the younger was sprinkled to be king. The elder cared not for the viceroyalty, or any such thing; and when they begged him to remain, he said, “No. I have nothing to do in this city,” and he departed from Benares.

To the frontier he went; and dwelt with a rich merchant’s family, working with his own hands. These after a while, learning that he was a king’s son, would not allow him to work, but waited upon him as a prince should be attended.

Now after a time the king’s officers came to that village, for taking a survey of the fields. Then the merchant came to the prince, and said, “My lord, we support you; will you send a letter to your younger brother, and procure for us remission of taxes?” to this he agreed, and wrote as follows: “I am living with the family of such a merchant; I pray you remit their taxes for my sake.” The king consented, and so did. Thereupon all the villagers, and the people of the country side, came to him, and said, “Get our taxes remitted, and we will pay taxes to you.” For them too, he sent his petition, and got the taxes remitted. After that the people paid their taxes to him. Then his receipts and honour were great; and with this greatness grew his covetousness also. So by degrees he asked for all the district, he asked for the office of viceroy, and the younger brother gave it all. Then as his greed kept growing, he was not content even with viceroyalty, and determined to seize the kingdom; to which end he set out with a host of people, and taking up a position outside the city, sent a letter to his younger brother, “Give me the kingdom, or fight for it.”

The younger brother thought: “This fool refused once kingdom, and viceroyalty, and all; and now he says, I will take it by battle! If I slay him in battle, it will be my shame; what care I for being king?” So he sent a message, “I have no wish to fight; you may have the kingdom.” The other accepted it, and made his younger brother viceroy.

Then onwards he ruled the kingdom. But so greedy was he, that one kingdom could not content him, but he craved for two kingdoms, then for three, and yet saw no end to his greed.

At that time Sakka, king of the Gods, perceived that this man was subject to greed; He thought, “You fool! You are not satisfied with being king of Benares. Well, I will teach him a lesson.” So in the guise of a young brahmin, he stood at the door of the palace, and sent in word. He was admitted, and wished victory to the king; then the king said, “Why have you come?” “Mighty King!” he answered, “I have a thing to say to you, but I desire privacy.” By power of Sakka, at that very instant the people retired. Then said the young man, “O great king! I know three cities, prosperous, thronged with men, strong in troops and horses; of these by my own power I will obtain the lordship, and deliver it to you. But you must make no delaying, and go at once.” The king being full of covetise gave his consent. (But by Sakka’s power he was prevented from asking, “Who are you? Whence come? And what are you to receive?”) Sakka then returned to his abode.

Then the king summoned his courtiers, and thus addressed them. “The youth who was here, promised to capture and give me the lordship of three kingdoms! Go, look for him! Send the drum–beating about the city, assemble the army, make no delay, for I am about to take three kingdoms!” “O great king!” they said, “did you offer hospitality to the young man, or did you ask where he dwelt?” “No, no, I offered him no hospitality, I did not ask where he dwelt; go, and look for him!” they searched, but found him not; they informed the king, they could not in the whole city find the young man. On hearing this the king became gloomy. “The lordship over three cities is lost,” he thought again and again; “I am shown of great glory. Doubtless the young man went away angry with me, that I gave him no money for his expense, nor a place to dwell in.” Then in his body, full of greed, a burning arose; as the body burnt, his bowels were moved to a bloody flux; as the food went in, so it came out; physicians could not cure him, the king was exhausted. His illness was bruited abroad all through the city.

At that time, the Bodhisatta had returned to his parents in Benares from Takkasila, after mastering all branches of learning. He hearing the news about the king, proceeded to the palace door, with intent to cure him and sent in a message, that a young man was there ready to cure the king. The king said, “All great and most renowned physicians are not able to cure me; what can a young lad do? Pay his expenses, and let him go.” The young man saluted the king and said, “Fear nothing! O king! I will cure you; but tell me the origin of your disorder.” The king answered in wrath, “What is that to you? Make up your medicine.” He said, “O great king! it is the way of physicians, first to learn when the disease arises, then to make a remedy to suit.” “Well, well, my son,” The king said from the beginning where that young man had come, and made his promise, that he would take and give to him the lordship over three cities. “Thus the disease arose from greed; now cure it if you can.” He asked, “can you capture those cities by grieving? Every thing, animate or inanimate, must pass away, and leave all behind, even its own body. Even should you obtain rule over four cities, you could not at one time eat four plates of food, recline on four couches, wear four sets of robes. You ought not to be the slave of desire; for desire, when it increases, allows no release from the four states of suffering.” Thus having admonished him, the Great Being declared the Law:

“He that desires a thing, and then this his desire fulfillment blesses,

Sure a glad-hearted man is he, because his wish he now possesses.

He that desires a thing, and then this his desire fulfilment blesses,

Desires throng on him more and more, as thirst in time of heat oppresses.

As in the horned kine, the horn with their growth larger grows:

So, in a foolish undiscerning man, that nothing knows,

While grows the man, the more and more grows thirst, and craving grows

Give all the rice and corn on earth, slave-men, and kine, and horse,

It is not enough for one: this know, and keep a righteous course.

A king that should subdue the whole world wide,

The whole wide world up to the ocean bound,

With this side of the sea unsatisfied

Would crave what might beyond the sea be found.

Brood on desires within the heart–content will ne’er arise.

Who turns from these, and the true cure descries,

He is content, whom wisdom satisfies.

Best to be full of wisdom: these no lust can set afire;

Never the man with wisdom filled is slave unto desire.

Crush your desires, and little want, not greedy all to win:

He that is like the sea is not burnt by desire within,

But like a cobbler, cuts the shoe according to the skin.

For each desire that is let go a happiness is won;

He that all happiness would have, must with all lust have done.”

The king on his part became whole and well; he arose in joy from his seat, and addressed him thus: “When all those physicians could not heal me, a wise youth has made me whole by the medicine of his wisdom!” and he then offered eight thousand gold coins for which the Bodhisatta said, “Desires died in my heart and even if you give millions I fdo not care.”

More and yet more delighted, the king said in praise of the Great Being:

“Wise and good is indeed this youth, all the lore of all worlds knowing:

All desire in very truth is mother of misery by his showing.”

The Bodhisatta said, “Great king! be circumspect, and walk in righteousness.” Thus admonishing the king, he passed through the air to Himalaya, and living the life of a recluse, while life lasted, cultivated the Excellences, and became destined for the world of Brahma.