Tag Archives: The Bodhisatta And The Old Doctor

229. The Bodhisatta And The Old Doctor

When Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born in the family of a village householder. When he was young he played with other boys at the foot of a banyan tree, at the entrance of the village. A poor old doctor at that time who had no practice came to this spot, and saw a snake asleep in the fork of a tree, with its head tucked in. He thought, “There is nothing to be got in the village I will cajole these boys and make the snake bite them, and then I shall get somewhat for curing them.” So he did to the Bodhisatta, “If you were to see a young hedgehog, would you seize it?” “Yes, I would,” said he.