Long ago, when King Brahmadutta ruled Benares, the Bodhisattva was born among apack of dogs in a cemetery on the outskirts ofthe city. By virtue of his wisdom, the Bodhisattvasoon became the leader of the pack.
One day, the king went on a tour of the city,riding his chariot. By the time he returned to thepalace, the sun had set. His servants untied thehorses and took them to the stables. The chariotwas left in the open ground.
That night, it rained heavily and the chariotwas soaked. The king's pet dogs came out ofthe palace, got into the chariot and chewed upthe damp leather seats and hangings.
Next morning, the servants informed the kingabout the damage to the royal chariot. The angryking ordered, "How dare dogs damage mychariot! Catch and kill every dog you see.
"A veritable massacre of dogs in the city began. A few of them managed to escape. Theywent to the Bodhisattva and informed him howthe king had ordered the slaughter of all thedogs just because a few dogs had chewed upthe leather fittings in his chariot.
The Bodhisattva was sad on hearing the news.He thought, ‘It's impossible for the dogs outsideto enter the fortress and damage the chariot.Obviously, the palace dogs themselves must havedone this mischief. It is my duty as the dogs'leader to hand over the culprits to the king, sothat my innocent friends are spared.
'He reassured the dogs, "Don't worry. I shall meet the king rightaway. Wait here till I return."He then set out for the palace. He boldly walked into the durbar and exclaimed, "May the Truth triumph! The king must be fair and just."
On seeing a dog at the foot of the king'sthrone, the guards rushed forward to catch him.But the king stopped them. The Bodhisattva bowed to the king and said,"My lord, I understand that you've ordered allthe dogs in the city to be slaughtered. May Iknow the reason?"
The king answered, "Dogs had chewed upthe leather fittings of my chariot."
"Did you identify the dogs who had done themischief?" asked the Bodhisattva. "No," said the king, shaking his head.
"Is it then fair to punish all the dogs withoutascertaining the actual culprits' identity?" asked the Bodhisattva. "And have your men been instructed to kill every dog? Are any dogs to bespared?"
"I've instructed them to kill all the dogs in the city, except the palace dogs," answered theking.
"O King! You don't know the identity of the culprits, still you ordered all dogs, except yourpets, to be killed. You're guilty of favouritismand rash action, both of which do not befit amonarch," said the Bodhisattva.
