The Elephant-Trainer's Luck

Once on a time, when Brahmadatta reigned in Benares,
the Bodhisatta was born into a Brahmin family in the
realm of Kasi. On growing up, he was educated at
Takkasila, and lived among his family ; but when his
parents died, much distressed he retired to the life of a
recluse in the Himalaya, and there he cultivated the
Attainments.

A long time passed, and he came down to inhabited
parts for salt and savouring, and took up his quarters in
the gardens of the king of Benares. Next day, on his
begging rounds, he came to the door of an elephant-
trainer. This man took a fancy to his ways and manners,
fed him, and gave him lodging in his own grounds, waiting
upon him continually.

Now it happened just then that a man whose business it
was to gather firewood failed to get back to town from
the woods in time. He lay down for the night in a
temple, placing a bundle of sticks under his head for
a pillow 7 . At this temple there were a number of cocks
quite free, which had perched close by on a tree. Towards
morning, one of them, who was roosting high, let fall a
dropping on the back of a bird below. " Who dropt that
on me?" cried this one. "I did," cried the first. "And
why?" "Didn't think," said the other; and then did it
again. Hereupon they both began to abuse each other,
crying " What power have you ? what power have you ? "
At last the lower one said, " Anybody who kills me, and
eats my flesh roasted on the coals, gets a thousand pieces
of money in the morning ! " And the one above answered
-" Pooh, pooh, don't boast about a little thing like that !
Anybody who eats my fleshy parts will become king ; if
he eats my outside, he'll become commander-in-chief or
chief queen, according as he's man or woman ; if he
eats the flesh by my bones, he'll get the post of royal
Treasurer, if he be a householder ; or, if a holy man, will
become the king's favourite ! "

The stick-picker heard all this, and pondered. "Now
if I become king, there'll be no need of a thousand pieces
of money." Quietly he climbed the tree, caught the top-
most cock and killed him : he fastened him in a fold of
his dress, saying to himself " Now I'll be king ! " As
soon as the gates were opened, in he walked. He plucked
the fowl, and cleaned it, and gave it to his wife, bidding
her make the meat nice for eating. She got ready the
meat with some rice, and set it before him, bidding her
lord eat.

" Goodwife," said he, " there's great virtue in this meat.
By eating it I shall become king, and you my queen ! "
So they took the meat and rice down to the Ganges
bank, intending to bathe before eating it. Then, putting
meat and rice down upon the bank, in they went to bathe.

Just then a breeze stirred up the water, which washed
away the meat. Down the river it floated, till it came in
sight of an elephant-trainer, a great personage, who was
giving his elephants a bath lower down. "What have we
here ? " said he, and picked it up. " It's fowl and rice, my
lord," was the reply. He bade wrap it up, and seal it, and
sent it home to his wife, with a message not to open it till
he returned.

The stick-picker also ran off, with his belly puffed out
with sand and water which he had swallowed.

Now a certain ascetic, who had divine vision, the family
priest of the elephant-trainer, was thinking to himself,
" My patron friend does not leave his post with the
elephants. When will he attain promotion ? " As he thus
pondered, he saw this man by his divine insight, and per-
ceived what was a-doing. He went on before, and sat in
the patron's house.

When the master returned, he greeted him respect-
fully and sat down on one side. Then sending for the
parcel, he ordered food and water to be brought for the
ascetic. The ascetic took the rice which was offered ; but
not the meat, and said, "I will divide this meat." The
master gave him leave. Then separating the meat into
portions, he gave to the elephant-trainer the fleshy parts,
the outside to his wife, and took the flesh about the bones
for his own share. After the meal was over, he said, " On
the third day from this you will become king. Take care
what you do ! " and away he went.

On the third day a neighbouring king came and
beleaguered Benares. The king told his elephant-trainer
to dress in the royal robes, bidding him go mount his
elephant and fight. He himself put on a disguise, and
mingled with the ranks ; swift came an arrow, and pierced
him, so that he perished then and there. The trainer,
learning that the king was dead, sent for a great quantity
of money, and beat the drum, proclaiming, "Let those who
want money, advance, and fight ! " The warrior host in a
twinkling slew the hostile king.

After the king's obsequies the courtiers deliberated
who was to be made king. Said they, "While our king
was yet alive, he put his royal robes upon the elephant-
trainer. This very man has fought and won the kingdom.
To him the kingdom shall be given ! " And they conse-
crated him king, and his wife they made the chief queen.
The Bodhisatta became his confidant.