🧚 Opening, part 7 · page 2

The Future Buddha thought: “Since I have been ruling righteously, no men at all have come for litigation, the hubbub has ceased, the place of litigation has become abandoned.93 The time has come for me to find out whether I have any fault.94 If I know, ‘This, for example, is a fault in me,’ I will get rid of it and have to do with good qualities only.”95 From that time on he mingled with indoor-folk and tested them with the question, “Is there anybody who says I have a fault?”96 He met with no one who said he had a fault, but heard mentioned only his own good qualities.97 “It may be because these people are afraid of me that they refrain from mentioning faults in me and speak only of my good qualities.”98

He tested the outdoor-folk, but among them also met no one.99 He tested those who dwelt within the city.100 He took his stand in the settlements at the four gates and tested those who dwelt without the city.101 Among them also he met with no one who said he had a fault, but heard mentioned only his good qualities.102 “I will test the countryside,” thought he.103 So turning over the kingdom to his ministers, he mounted his chariot, departed from the city in disguise, accompanied only by his charioteer, and went as far as the frontier testing the countryside.104 Meeting with no one who said he had a fault, but hearing mentioned only his good qualities, he turned back from the frontier and started back for the city on the highway.105

Now at this time a king of Kosala named Mallika, a righteous ruler, was also trying to find out whether he had any faults.106 Meeting with no one among either indoor-folk or others who said he had a fault, but hearing mentioned only his own good qualities, he went to that region testing the countryside.107 Both kings met face to face in a single wagon-track leading through a swamp.108 There was no room for either chariot to turn out.109

Now King Mallika’s charioteer said to the charioteer of the king of Benāres: “Get your chariot out of the way!”110 Said the charioteer of the King of Benāres: “Master charioteer, get your chariot out of the way!111 In this chariot sits the lord of the realm of Benāres, the mighty king Brahmadatta!”112 Retorted King Mallika’s charioteer: “Master charioteer, in this chariot sits the lord of the realm of Kosala, the mighty king Mallika!113 Get your chariot out of the way!114 Make room for the chariot of our king!”115 Thought the charioteer of the king of Benāres: “He also is every inch a king, to be sure.116 What’s to be done?”117 He came to the conclusion: “This is the way: I will find out the ages of the two kings and cause the chariot of the younger to turn out and make room for the chariot of the older.”118

Accordingly the charioteer of the king of Benāres asked the other charioteer the age of the king of Kosala.119 Comparing the ages of the two kings, he discovered that both kings were of exactly the same age.120 He then made inquiry regarding the extent of his kingdom, his army, his wealth, his reputation, and his position in respect of caste, race, and family.121 He discovered: “Both are lords of kingdoms three hundred leagues in extent; they are equals as regards army, wealth, and reputation; they are in the same position in respect of caste, race, and family.”122 Then he thought: “I will make room for that king who is more advanced in the practice of morality.”123 Accordingly the charioteer of the king of Benāres asked the charioteer of the king of Kosala: “What is your king’s practice of morality like?”124 The charioteer of the king of Kosala replied: “Such-and-such is our king’s practice of morality.”125 And proclaiming, as though they were good qualities, only the faults of his own king, he uttered the first stanza:126

Firmness he flings in the face of the firm; Mallika overcomes kindly with kindness, Good with good, evil with evil.127 Such is this king.128 Charioteer, turn out of the road.129

But the charioteer of the king of Benāres said to him: “What!130 Are these the good qualities of your own king which you have just recited?”131 “Yes.”132 “Well!133 If these are his good qualities, what must his faults be like?134 Now then, listen.”135 So saying, the charioteer of the king of Benāres uttered the second stanza:136

He overcomes anger with kindness, He overcomes evil with good, The stingy with gifts, the liar with truth.137 Such is this king.138 Charioteer, turn out of the road.139

Hearing these words, King Mallika and his charioteer both got down from the chariot, unharnessed the horses, removed the chariot, and gave the road to the king of Benāres.140

The king of Benāres admonished King Mallika, saying: “Thus and so must one do.”141 Having so said, he went to Benāres, gave alms and performed the other works of merit, and when his term of life was come to an end, fulfilled the Path to Heaven.142

As for King Mallika, he accepted the admonition of the king of Benāres, tested the countryside, met with no one who said he had a fault, and went to his own city.143 Having given alms and having performed the other works of merit, when his term of life was come to an end, he also fulfilled the Path to Heaven.144

_9.145 A Buddhist Tar-Baby.146

_Keep the Precepts.147

Jātaka 55: i. 272-275.148

_The man whose heart clings not.149 _ This parable was related by the Teacher while he was in residence at Jetavana with reference to a monk who relaxed effort.150 For, addressing that monk, the Teacher asked: “Monk, is it true, as they allege, that you have relaxed effort?”151 “True, Exalted One!”152 “Monk,” said the Teacher, “in former times wise men exerted themselves on an occasion when it was necessary for them to exert themselves, and by so doing attained the glory of dominion.”153 So saying, he related the following Story of the Past:154

In times past, when Brahmadatta ruled at Benāres, the Future Buddha received a new existence as the child of the chief consort of that king.155 On the day when he received his name, his parents, after delighting eight hundred Brahmans with all of the Pleasures of Sense, inquired regarding the signs.156 The Brahmans, skilled in the discernment of signs as they were, seeing that he possessed the signs of a Great Man, made the following prediction: “Great king, the prince possesses merit; upon your decease he will attain the sovereignty; he will become the foremost man in the Land of the Rose-apple, and will be celebrated, will be renowned, for his deeds with the five weapons.”157 His parents, hearing these words of the Brahmans, in selecting a name for the prince, gave him the name Prince Five-weapons.158

Now when he reached the age of discretion, when he was about sixteen years of age, the king addressed him.159 “Son,” said the king, “acquire the arts and crafts.”160 “Under what teacher shall I acquire them, your majesty?”161 “Son, go acquire them under a world-renowned teacher who resides in the city of Takkasilā in the kingdom of Gandhāra; here is the fee for you to give to this teacher.”162 So saying, he gave him a thousand pieces of money and sent him on his way.163