Once on a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born a rat, perfect in wisdom, and as big as a young boar. He lived in the forest and many hundreds of other rats lived with him.

Now there lived a jackal who planned to hunt and eat them. And he stood near their home with his face to the sun, snuffing up the wind, and standing on one leg. Seeing this, the Bodhisatta mistook him to be a saintly being, went to him and asked his name.

The jackal said, “Godly’ is my name.”

the Bodhisatta asked, “Why do you stand only on one leg?”

The jackal said, “If I stand on all four legs at once, the earth could not bear my weight. That is why I stand on one leg only.”

The Bodhisatta asked, “And why do you keep your mouth open?”

The jackal said, “To take the air. I live on air; it is my only food.”

The Bodhisatta asked, “And why do you face the sun?”

The jackal said, “To worship him.”

“What uprightness!” thought the Bodhisatta and then onwards the Bodhisatta along with other rats went to the jackal to pay his respects. And the jackal used to seize and gulp the hindermost rat, wiped his lips, and looked as though nothing had happened. In consequence of this, number rats decreased. Wondering why this was so, asked the Bodhisatta the reason. He could not make it out, but suspecting the jackal, resolved to put him to the test. So next day he let the other rats go out first and he himself brought up the rear. The jackal made a spring on the Bodhisatta who, seeing him coming, faced round and cried, “So this is your saintliness, you hypocrite!”

The king of the rats sprang at the jackal’s throat and bit his windpipe and the jackal died. And ever after the rats lived happily in peace and quiet.