Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born as his son, and after acquiring all the arts at Takkasila, on his father’s death, he ruled his kingdom righteously.

At that time a shepherd while tending cattle in the forest, inadvertently left behind a cow. Between this cow and a lioness sprang up a firm friendship. The two animals became fast friends and went about together.

So after a time the cow gave birth a calf and the lioness a cub. These two young creatures also by the force of family ties became fast friends and wandered about together. Then a forester, after observing their affection, caught some animals and went to Benares and presented them to the king. And when the king asked him, “Friend! have you seen any unusual marvel in the forest?”

He answered, “I saw a lion and a bull wandering about together, very friendly with one another.”

The king said, “Should a third animal appear, there will certainly be mischief. Come and tell me, if you see the pair joined by a third animals.”

“Certainly! my lord!” he answered.

A jackal joined with the lion and the bull. When the forester returned to the forest and saw this, he said, “I will tell the king that a third animal has appeared” and departed for the city.

Now the jackal thought, “I have not tasted the flesh of lions and cows. By setting these two at variance, I will get their flesh to eat.” And jackal said to the lion, “This is the way he speaks of you,” and told the cow, “This is the way he speaks of you.” Thus dividing them one from another, he soon brought about a quarrel and reduced them to a dying condition.

Immediately, the forester came and told the king, “My lord, a third animal has turned up.” The king asked, “What is it?”

Forester replied, “A jackal! my lord!”

The king said, “He will cause them to quarrel, and will bring about their death. We shall find them dead when we arrive.” And so saying, he mounted upon his chariot and traveling on the road pointed out by the forester, he arrived just as the two animals had by their quarrel destroyed one another. The jackal highly delighted was eating the flesh of the lion and the cow. The king when he saw that they were both dead, stood just as he was upon his chariot, and addressing his charioteer:

Not in common had this pair,

Neither wives nor food did share;

Yet behold how slanderous word,

Keen as any two-edged sword,

Did devise with cunning art

Friends of old to keep apart.

Thus did bull and lion fall?

Prey to meanest beast of all:

So will all bed-fellows be

With this pair in misery,

If they lend a willing ear

To the slanderer’s whispered sneer.

But they thrive exceeding well,

Even as those in heaven that dwell,

Who to slander never attend–

Slander parting friend from friend.

The king ordered his charioteer to gather together the mane, skin, claws, and teeth of the lion, returned straight to his own city.

The Master, having ended his lesson, thus identified the Birth : “At that time I myself was the king.”