Once upon a time, a king named Yasapani, the Glorious reigned at Benares. His chief captain was named Kalaka, or Blackie. At that time the Bodhisatta was his chaplain, and had the name of Dhammaddhaja, the Banner of the Faith. There was also a man Chattapani, maker of ornaments to the king. The king was a good king. But his chief captain was a backbiter; he took bribes, and defrauded the rightful owners.

On a day, one who had lost his suit was departing from the court, weeping and stretching out his arms, when he fell in with the Bodhisatta as he was going to pay his service to the king. Falling at his feet, the man cried out, telling how he had lost the suit; “Although such as you, my lord, instruct the king in the things of this world and the next, the Commander in Chief takes bribes, and defrauds rightful owners!”

The Bodhisatta pitied him and taking the suitor along with him and went to the court house. A great company gathered together. The Bodhisatta reversed the sentence, and gave judgement for him that had the right. The spectators applauded. The sound was great. The king heard it, and asked “What sound is this I hear?”

they answered, “My lord! King! it is a case wrongly judged that has been judged aright by the wise Dhammaddhaja; that is why there is this shout of applause.”

The king was pleased and sent for the Bodhisatta. He began, “They tell me that you have judged a cause?”

“Yes! great king! I have judged that which Kalaka did not judge aright.”

The King ordered, “You be the judge from this day. It will be a joy for my ears, and prosperity for the world!” He was unwilling, but the king begged him “In mercy to all creatures, sit you in judgement!” and so the king won his consent.

From that time Kalaka received no presents; and losing his gains he spoke calumny of the Bodhisatta before the king, saying, “O! mighty King! the wise Dhammaddhaja covets your kingdom!” But the king would not believe; and ask him say not so.

“If you do not believe me,” said Kalaka, “look out of the window at the time of his coming. Then you will see that he has got the whole city into his own hands.”

The king saw the crowd of those that were about him in his judgement hall. King thought, “There is his retinue” and asked, “What are we to do, Captain?”

“My lord, he must be put to death.”

“How can we put him to death without any charges of wickedness?”

“There is a way,” said the other.

“What way?”

“Tell him to do what is impossible, and if he cannot, put him to death for that.”

“But what is impossible to him?”

“My lord king! It takes two or four years for a garden with good soil to bear fruit, being planted and tended. You call him ask to create a garden within 2 days. He cannot do this and we will slay him for that fault.”

The king addressed to the Bodhisatta: “Wise Sir! We have sported long enough in our old garden; now we crave to sport in a new. Make us a garden within two days! If you cannot make it, you must die.”

The Bodhisatta reasoned, “It must be that Kalaka has set the king against me, because he gets no presents. He said to the king, “O mighty king! If I can, I will see to it.” And he went home. After a good meal he lay upon his bed, thinking. Sakka’s palace grew hot. Sakka understood the Bodhisatta’s difficulty. He hurried to him, and asked him “Wise Sir! what are you thinking in mid air?”

“Who are you?” asked the Bodhisatta.

“I am Sakka.”

“The king ordered me to make a garden in two days; that is what I am thinking upon.”

“Wise Sir! do not worry; I will make you a garden like the groves of Nandana and Cittalata! In what place shall I make it?”

The Bodhisatta told a place. Sakka made the garden, and returned to the city of the gods.

Next day, the Bodhisatta requested the king to come to the new garden. And said, “O! King! the garden is ready; go to your sport!”

The king came to the place, and saw a garden girt with a fence of eighteen cubits, vermilion tinted, having gates ponds, beautiful with all manner of trees laden heavy with flowers and fruit! King said to Kalaka, “The sage has completed the task; now what to do?”

Kalaka replied, “O mighty King! if he can make a garden in one night, can he not seize upon your kingdom?”

“Well, what are we to do?”

“We will make him perform another impossible thing. we will ask him make a lake possessed of the seven precious jewels!”

The king agreed, and told the Bodhisatta to make a lake possessed of the seven precious jewels.

the Bodhisatta answered, “Very good; great King! I will make it if I can.”

Then Sakka made a lake of great splendour, having an hundred landing places, a thousand inlets, covered over with lotus plants of five different colours, like the lake in Nandana.

Next day, the Bodhisatta told the king; “See, the lake is made!” And the king saw it, and asked of Kalaka what was to be done.

He said, Ask him to make a house to suit the lake and garden.”

The king ordered the Bodhisatta, “Make a house all of ivory, to suit with the park and the lake: if you do not make it, you must die!”

Then Sakka made him a house likewise. The Bodhisatta told the king that the hose is ready. When the king had seen it, he asked Kalaka again, what was to do. Kalaka told him to ask the Bodhisatta make a jewel to suit the house. The king said to him, “Wise Sir! make a jewel to suit with this ivory house; I will go about looking at it by the light of the jewel: if you cannot make one, you must die!” Then Sakka made a jewel too. Next day the Bodhisatta told the king. When the king had seen it, he again asked Kalaka what was to be done.

Kalaka said, “Mighty king! I think there is some sprite who does each thing that the Brahmin Dhammaddhaja wishes. Now bid him make something which even a divinity cannot make. Not even a deity can make a man with all four virtues; therefore bid him make a keeper with these four.” So the king said, “Teacher, you have made a park, a lake, and a palace, and a jewel to give light. Now make me a keeper with four virtues, to watch the park; if you cannot, you must die.”

the Bodhisatta said, “So be it. If it is possible, I will see to it.” He went home, had a good meal, and lay down. When he awoke in the morning, he sat upon his bed, and thought thus. “What the great king Sakka can make by his power, that he has made. He cannot make a park keeper with four virtues. This being so, it is better to die in the woods, than to die at the hand of other men.” So saying, he went to the woods, where he sat down beneath a tree. Sakka perceived it; and in the form of a forester he approached the Bodhisatta, saying,

“Brahmin, you are young and tender; why are you sitting here in this wood, as though you had never seen pain before?”

To this Bodhisatta answered, “The king requires a park keeper with four good qualities; such an one cannot be found; so I thought Why perish by the hand of man? I will go to the woods, and die a lonely death. So here I came, and here I sit.”

Then Sakka replied, “Brahmin, I am Sakka, king of the gods. By me was your park made, and those other things. A park keeper possessed of four virtues cannot be made; but in your country there is one Chattapani, who makes ornaments, and he is such a man. If a park keeper is wanted, go and make this workman the keeper.” With these words Sakka departed to his city divine, after consoling him.

The Bodhisatta went Chattapani’s home, took him by the hand, and asked him “Is it true, as I hear, Chattapani, that you are endowed with the four virtues?”

Chattapani asked, “Who told you so?”

“Sakka, king of the gods.”

“Why did he tell you?” He recounted all, and told the reason. Then Chattapani said, “Yes, I am endowed with the four virtues.” The Bodhisatta taking him by the hand led him into the king’s presence. “Here, mighty monarch, is Chattapani, endowed with four virtues. If there is need of a keeper for the park, make him keeper.”

The king asked him, “Is it true that you have four virtues?”

“Yes, mighty king.”

“What are they?” he asked.

Chattapani said, “I do not envy and drink no wine; no strong desire, no wrath.”

The king crried, “did you say you have no envy?”

Chattapani said, “Yes, I have no envy.”

“What are the things you do not envy?”

Chattapani said, “Listen, my lord!

A chaplain once in bonds I threw

Which thing a woman made me do;

He built me up in holy lore;

Since when I never envied more.”

Then the king said, “Dear Chattapani, why do you abstain from strong drink?”

Chattapani answered:

“Once I was drunken, and I ate

My own son’s flesh upon my plate;

Then, touched with sorrow and with pain,

Swore never to touch drink again.”

Then the king said, “But what makes you indifferent, without love ?”

Chattapani explained:

“King Kitavasa was my name;

A mighty king was I;

My boy the Buddha’s basin broke

And so he had to die.”

The king asked, “What was it that made you to be without anger?”

Chattapani explained the reason.

Then the king gave suitable respect to Chattapani and Kalaka was driven away from the capital.

Then onwards the king ruled in righteousness, until he passed away according to his deserts.