Once upon a time, Brahmadatta the king of Benares, had four sons. One day they sent for the charioteer, and said to him, “We want to see a Judas tree; show us one!”

The charioteer replied, “Very well! I will show.” But he did not show it to them all together. He took them to forest in the chariot, and showed him the tree at the time when the buds were just sprouting from the stem. To the second he showed it when the leaves were green, to the third at the time of blossoming, and to the fourth when it was bearing fruit.

After this it happened that the four brothers were sitting together, and some one asked, “What sort of a tree is the Judas tree?” Then the first brother answered, “Like a burnt stump!” And the second cried, “Like a banyan tree!” And the third “Like a piece of meat!” And the fourth said, “Like the acacia!”

They were vexed at each other’s answers, and ran to find their father. “My lord,” they asked, “what sort of a tree is Judas tree?”

“What did you say to that?” he asked. They told him what princes said. The king said, “All four of you have seen the tree. Only when the charioteer showed you the tree, you did not ask him “What is the tree like at such a time?” You made no distinctions, and that is the reason of your mistake.”