Great King Goodness

Once on a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in
Benares, the Bodhisatta came to life again as the child
of the queen; and on his name-day they gave him the
name of Prince Goodness (Silava). At the age of sixteen
his education was complete; and later he came at his
father's death to be king, and ruled his people righteously
under the title of the great King Goodness. At each of
the four city-gates he built an almonry, another in the
heart of the city, and yet another at his own palace-gates,
-six in all; and at each he distributed alms to poor
travellers and the needy. He kept the Commandments
and observed the fast-days ; he abounded in patience,
loving-kindness, and mercy ; and in righteousness he ruled
the land, cherishing all creatures alike with the fond love
of a father for his baby boy.

Now one of the king's ministers had dealt treacherously
in the king's harem, and this became matter of common
talk. The ministers reported it to the king. Examining
into the matter himself, the king found the minister's guilt
to be clear. So he seat for the culprit, and said, "O
blinded by folly ! you have sinned, and are not worthy to
dwell in my kingdom ; take your substance and your wife
and family, and go hence." Driven thus from the realm,
that minister left the Kasi country, and entering the
service of the king of Kosala, gradually rose to be that
monarch's confidential adviser. One day he said to the
king of Kosala, "Sire, the kingdom of Benares is like a
goodly honeycomb untainted by flies ; its king is feebleness
itself; and a trifling force would suffice to conquer the
whole country."

Hereon, the king of Kosala reflected that the kingdom
of Benares was large, and, considering this in connexion
with the advice that a trifling force could conquer it, he
grew suspicious that his adviser was a hireling suborned
to lead him into a trap. "Traitor," he cried, "you are
paid to say this ! "

"Indeed I am not," answered the other; "I do but
speak the truth. If you doubt me, send men to massacre
a village over his border, and see whether, when they are
caught and brought before him, the king does not let
them off scot-free and even load them with gifts."

" He shews a very bold front in making his assertion,"
thought the king ; " I will test his counsel without delay."
And accordingly he sent some of his creatures to harry
a village across the Benares border. The ruffians were
captured and brought before the king of Benares, who
asked them, saying, "My children, why have you killed
my villagers?"

" Because we could not make a living," said they.

" Then why did you not come to me ? " said the king.
"See that you do not do the like again."

And he gave them presents and sent them away. Back
they went and told this to the king of Kosala. But this
evidence was not enough to nerve him to the expedition ;
and a second band was sent to massacre another village,
this time in the heart of the kingdom. These too were
likewise sent away with presents by the king of Benares.
But even this evidence was not deemed strong enough ;
and a third party was sent to plunder the very streets of
Benares. And these, like their forerunners, were sent
away with presents ! Satisfied at last that the king of
Benares was an entirely good king, the king of Kosala
resolved to seize on his kingdom, and set out against him
with troops and elephants.

Now in these days the king of Benares had a thousand
gallant warriors, who would face the charge even of a rut
elephant, whom the launched thunderbolt of Indra could
not terrify, a matchless band of invincible heroes ready
at the king's command to reduce all India to his sway !
These, hearing the king of Kosala was coming to take
Benares, came to their sovereign with the news, and
prayed that they might be despatched against the invader.
" We will defeat and capture him, sire," said they, " before
he can set foot over the border."

" Not so, my children," said the king. " None shall
suffer because of me. Let those who covet kingdoms
seize mine, if they will." And he refused to allow them
to march against the invader.

Then the king of Kosala crossed the border and came
to the middle-country ; and again the ministers went to
the king with renewed entreaty. But still the king refused.
And now the king of Kosala appeared outside the city,
and sent a message to the king bidding him either yield
up the kingdom or give battle. "I fight not," was the
message of the king of Benares in reply ; " let him seize
my kingdom."

Yet a third time the king's ministers came to him and
besought him not to allow the king of Kosala to enter,
but to permit them to overthrow and capture him before
the city. Still refusing, the king bade the city-gates be
opened, and seated himself in state aloft upon his royal
throne with his thousand ministers round him.

Entering the city and finding none to bar his way, the
king of Kosala passed with his army to the royal palace.
The doors stood open wide; and there on his gorgeous
throne with his thousand ministers around him sate the
great King Goodness in state. "Seize them all," cried
the king of Kosala ; " tie their hands tightly behind their
backs, and away with them to the cemetery! There dig
holes and bury them alive up to the neck, so that they
cannot move hand or foot. The jackals will come at
night and give them sepulchre ! "

At the bidding of the ruffianly king, his followers bound
the king of Benares and his ministers, and hauled them
off. But even in this hour not so much as an angry
thought did the great King Goodness harbour against the
ruffians ; and not a man among his ministers, even when
they were being marched off in bonds, could disobey the
king, so perfect is said to have been the discipline among
his followers.

So King Goodness and his ministers were led off and
buried up to the neck in pits in the cemetery, the king
in the middle and the others on either side of him. The
ground was trampled in upon them, and there they were
left. Still meek and free from anger against his oppressor,
King Goodness exhorted his companions, saying, "Let
your hearts be filled with naught but love and charity,
my children."

Now at midnight the jackals came trooping to the
banquet of human flesh ; and at sight of the beasts the
king and his companions raised a mighty shout all to-
gether, frightening the jackals away. Halting, the pack
looked back, and, seeing no one pursuing, again came
forward. A second shout drove them away again, but
only to return as before. But the third time, seeing that
not a man amongst them all pursued, the jackals thought
to themselves, "These must be men who are doomed to
death." They came on boldly ; even when the shout was
again being raised, they did not turn tail. On they came,
each singling out his prey, the chief jackal making for
the king, and the other jackals for his companions. Fertile
in resource, the king marked the beast's approach, and,
raising his throat as if to receive the bite, fastened his
teeth in the jackal's throat with a grip like a vice! Unable
to free its throat from the mighty grip of the king's jaws,
and fearing death, the jackal raised a great howl. At his
cry of distress the pack conceived that their leader must
have been caught by a man. With no heart left to ap-
proach their own destined prey, away they all scampered
for their lives.

Seeking to free itself from the king's teeth, the trapped
jackal plunged madly to and fro, and thereby loosened
the earth above the king. Hereupon the latter, letting
the jackal go, put forth his mighty strength, and by plung-
ing from side to side got his hands free ! Then, clutching
the brink of the pit, he drew himself up, and came forth
like a cloud scudding before the wind. Bidding his
companions be of good cheer, he now set to work to
loosen the earth round them and to get them out, till
with all his ministers he stood free once more in the
cemetery.

Now it chanced that a corpse had been exposed in
that part of the cemetery, which lay between the respective
domains of two goblins ; and the goblins were disputing
over the division of the spoil.

"We can't divide it ourselves," said they; "but this
King Goodness is righteous ; he will divide it for us. Let
us go to him." So they dragged the corpse by the foot
to the king, and said, " Sire, divide this man and give us
each our share." " Certainly I will, my friends," said the
king. " But, as I am dirty, I must bathe first."

Straightway, by their magic power, the goblins brought
to the king the scented water prepared for the usurper's
bath. And when the king had bathed, they brought him
the robes which had been laid out for the usurper to
wear. When he had put these on, they brought his
majesty a box containing the four kinds of scent. When
he had perfumed himself, they brought flowers of divers
kinds laid out upon jewelled fans, in a casket of gold.
When he had decked himself with the flowers, the goblins
asked whether they could be of any further service. And
the king gave them to understand that he was hungry.
So away went the goblins, and returned with rice flavoured
with all the choicest flavours, which had been prepared
for the usurper's table. And the king, now bathed and
scented, dressed and arrayed, ate of the dainty fare.
Thereupon the goblins brought the usurper's perfumed
water for him to drink, in the usurper's own golden bowl,
not forgetting to bring the golden cup too. When the
king had drunk and had washed his mouth and was
washing his hands, they brought him fragrant betel to
chew, and asked whether his majesty had any further
commands. " Fetch me," said he, " by your magic power
the sword of state which lies by the usurper's pillow."
And straightway the sword was brought to the king. Then
the king took the corpse, and setting it upright, cut it in
two down the chine, giving one-half to each goblin. This
done, the king washed the blade, and girded it on his
side.

Having eaten their fill, the goblins were glad of heart,
and in their gratitude asked the king what more they
could do for him. " Set me by your magic power," said
he, " in the usurper's chamber, and set each of my ministers
back in his own house." " Certainly, sire," said the goblins ;
and forthwith it was done. Now in that hour the usurper
was lying asleep on the royal bed in his chamber of state.
And as he slept in all tranquillity, the good king struck
him with the flat of the sword upon the belly. Waking
up in a fright, the usurper saw by the lamp-light that it
was the great King Goodness. Summoning up all his
courage, he rose from his couch and said: "Sire, it is
night ; a guard is set ; the doors are barred ; and none
may enter. How then came you to my bedside, sword in
hand and clad in robes of splendour ? " Then the king
told him in detail all the story of his escape. Then the
usurper's heart was moved within him, and he cried, " O
king, I, though blessed with human nature, knew not
your goodness ; but knowledge thereof was given to the
fierce and cruel goblins, whose food is flesh and blood.
Henceforth, I, sire, will not plot against such signal virtue
as you possess." So saying, he swore an oath of friendship
upon his sword and begged the king's forgiveness. And
he made the king lie down upon the bed of state, while
he stretched himself upon a little couch.

On the morrow at daybreak, when the sun had risen,
his whole host of every rank and degree was mustered by
beat of drum at the usurper's command; in their presence
he extolled King Goodness, as if raising the full-moon on
high in the heavens ; and right before them all, he again
asked the king's forgiveness and gave him back his king-
dom, saying, "Henceforth, let it be my charge to deal
with rebels ; rule thou thy kingdom, with me to keep
watch and ward." And so saying, he passed sentence on
the slanderous traitor, and with his troops and elephants
went back to his own kingdom.

Seated in majesty and splendour beneath a white
umbrella of sovereignty upon a throne of gold with legs
as of a gazelle, the great King Goodness contemplated
his own glory and thought thus within himself: "Had
I not persevered, I should not be in the enjoyment of this
magnificence, nor would my thousand ministers be still
numbered among the living. It was by perseverance that
I recovered the royal state I had lost, and saved the lives
of my thousand ministers. Verily, we should strive on
unremittingly with dauntless hearts, seeing that the fruit
of perseverance is so excellent." And therewithal the
king broke into this heartfelt utterance:

Toil on, my brother; still in hope stand fast;

Nor let thy courage flag- and tire.
Myself I see, who, all my woes o'erpast,

Am master of my heart's desire.

Thus spoke the Bodhisatta in the fulness of his heart,
declaring how sure it is that the earnest effort of the
good will come to maturity. After a life spent in right-
doing he passed away to fare thereafter according to his
deserts.