Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta became a Green Frog. At the time people set wicker cages in all pits and holes of the rivers, to catch fish. In one cage were a large number of fish. And a Water snake, eating fish, went into the trap himself. A number of the fish thronging together bit him, until he was covered with blood.

In fear of his life he slipped out of the mouth of the cage, and lay down on the edge of the water with pain. At the same moment, the Green Frog took a leap and fell into the mouth of the trap. The Snake, not knowing to whom he could appeal, asked the Frog, “Friend Frog! are you pleased with the behaviour of yonder Fish?”

Then the Frog answered him, “Yes, friend Snake, it does; why not? If you eat fish which get into your place, the fish eat you when you get into theirs. In his own place, and district, and feeding ground no one is weak.”

The Bodhisatta having pronounced his opinion, all the fish observing the Snake’s weakness pounced on him and killed it.