182. The Bodhisatta And The Horses
Once upon a time, while Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta was his a courtier who advised him on all things, temporal and spiritual. Now this king was of a somewhat covetous nature; and he had a brute of a horse, named Mahasona, or Big Chestnut.
Some horse dealers from the north country brought down five hundred horses; and word was sent to the king that these horses had arrived. Until then the Bodhisatta had always asked the dealers to fix their own price, and then paid it in full. But now the king, being displeased with him, summoned another of his court, to whom he said,”Friend, make the men name their price; then let loose Mahasona so that he goes amongst them; make him bite them, and when they are weak and wounded get the men to reduce their price.”
181. The Bodhisatta And The Grief
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born to him as the son of his queen-consort. And they called him prince Ghata. He afterwards acquired knowledge of the arts at Takkasila and ruled his kingdom righteously.
Now a minister misconducted himself in the royal harem. The king, after witnessing the offence with his own eyes, banished him from his kingdom. At that time a king named Vanka ruled in Savatthi. The minister went to him and entering his service, gained the king’s goodwill induced him to invade on the kingdom of Benares.
180. The Bodhisatta And The Grey Hair
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was conceived in the womb of his priest’s wife. On the day of his birth, the king also had a son born. On the naming day they called the Great Being Susima-Kumara, and the king’s son Brahmadatta-Kumara. The king, seeing the two were born on the same day, had the Bodhisatta given to the nurse and brought up together with his own son. They both grew up fair, like sons of gods: they both learned all sciences at Takkasila and came home again. The prince became viceroy, eating, drinking, and living along with the Bodhisatta; at his father’s death he became king, appointed the Bodhisatta as his priest.
179.The Bodhisatta And The Greedy Crow
Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, a greedy Crow was not content with the food and corpses of animals in Benares. Thinking that plenty of food is available in forest, he went to the forest; but neither was he satisfied with the wild fruits that he found there, and proceeded to the Ganges. As he passed along the bank of the Ganges, seeing a pair of Ruddy Geese, he thought, “here, birds are very beautiful; I suppose they find plenty of meat to eat on this Ganges bank. I will question them, and if I too can eat their food doubtless I shall have a fine colour like them.”
