Tag Archives: The Bodhisatta – As Sakka

90. The Bodhisatta – As Sakka

The king of Benares had two sons. And of these two sons the elder went to Benares, and became king; the younger one became the viceroy. He that was king was given over to the desire of riches, and the lust of the flesh, and greedy of gain.

At the time, the Bodhisatta was Sakka, king of the gods. And as he looked out upon India, and observed that the king of it was given over to these lusts, he said to himself, “I will chastise that king, and make him ashamed.” So taking the form of a young Brahmin, he went to the king and looked at him.

89. The Bodhisatta – As Sakka, King Of The Gods

Once upon a time, when king Brahmadatta reigned in Benares, the Bodhisatta became Sakka, king of the gods.

Brahmadatta could not endure to look upon anything old or decrepit, whether elephant, horse, ox, or what not. He was full of pranks, and whenever he saw any such, he would chase them away; he destroyed old carts; any old women that he saw he sent for, and beat upon the belly, then stood them up again and gave them a scare; he made old men roll about and play on the ground like tumblers. If he saw none, but only heard that there was a greybeard in a town, he sent for him and took his sport with him.