Tag Archives: The Bodhisatta – Goodness

99. The Bodhisatta – Goodness

Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was his chaplain. He was a man of charity and other good works, whose mind was set on righteousness, always keeping unbroken the Five Commandments. And the King honoured him beyond the other Brahmins.

Suspecting the Bodhisatta was captured by soldiers and as he was being brought in bonds, he saw some snake charmers were exhibiting a snake, which they laid hold of by the tail and the throat, and tied round their necks. Seeing this, the Bodhisatta begged the them no to do this, for the snake might bite them and cut their lives short. “Brahmin,” replied the snake charmers, “this is a good and well behaved cobra; he’s not wicked like you, who for your wickedness and misconduct are being hauled off in custody.”