The Ungrateful King
King Brahmadutta of Varanasi had a son who was so wicked that he was hated by one and all. He would take hold of innocent passers-by and torture them for fun. He never spoke a kind word to anybody; never showed any respect to the learned or the aged. One day he was bathing in the river in the company of his pals. Although he did not know swimming, he was attended upon by a number of servants who were expert swimmers. Suddenly a storm broke forth. It grew dark The prince looked up at his servants and said, "Come on, carry me into the midstream. I wish to have a dip there." The swimmers jumped in and did as ordered. The pals of the prince waited in the shallow water. It was raining heavily. They could not see what was happening in the river even a few yards away. Now, the servants thought that it was a golden opportunity to do away with the wicked prince. They abandoned him in the midstream and swum back. "Where is the prince?" asked the prince' s pals. "He slipped off our hands. We thought that he was eager to return home!" answered the servants.
Back in the palace, they told the same story to the king. Immediately the king sent hundreds of soldiers to search for the prince in the river and along the banks. The search continued till late in the night. But the prince was not to be found. The strong current swept the prince away. Luckily for him. he found a floating log. That saved him from drowning. Three other creatures had already taken shelter on the log. They were a serpent, a mouse, and a parrot. They did not mind the prince sharing their shelter. The storm continued and the prince shouted from time to time, "Save me! Save me!" When, in the evening, the log floated by a forest, a hermit happened to hear the prince's cry. He was none other than the compassionate Bodhi, the soul that was to incarnate as the Buddha in a later birth. Bodhi was strong enough to brave the storm and enter the river and drag the log ashore. He led the prince as well as the other three creatures into his hut. In the warmth of fire he nursed them and prepared food for them. He saw to it that the serpent, the mouse, and the parrot were fed first. Being weaker creatures, they claimed the greater share of his care. But he never neglected the prince. He fed him well and made him sleep by the fire. They remained with Bodhi for two days. The storm had passed and they had recovered their strength. Preparing to depart, the parrot said, "O my Savior, I used to live in a tree which fell into the river. I could not fly due to the terrible storm. Had you not saved me, I would have perished. I have a number of friends in the Himalayas. If you ever call me standing at the foot of the hill on the other side of the forest, I shall come down and if you need, I shall ask my Himalayan friends to bring you some rare corn."
"I shall remember your promise," said Bodhi. The serpent said, "I was a merchant in my previous life. I kept several crores of gold coins hidden on the river bank. My attachment to the buried treasure made me take birth as a serpent. I am passing my days guarding it. But I should be happy if you can put my treasure to good use." The mouse too had a similar tale to tell. Bodhi promised to meet them in the future. "I am to succeed with my father as the king. If you visit Varanasi, I shall receive you with due honor," said the prince. Years later Bodhi paid a visit to Varanasi. By then King Brahmadutta was dead and the prince has ascended the throne. The young king was out for a ride, mounting an elephant. As soon as he saw Bodhi coming from the opposite direction, he told his bodyguards, "Take hold of that fellow bind him to a pillar and whip him hard. Thereafter lead him to the execution ground and behead him! The fellow had the audacity to neglect me and pay attention to a serpent, a mouse, and a bird!" At once the bodyguards swooped down upon Bodhi and began torturing him. A large number of people gathered around the king's victim and asked him, "Had you by any chance ever done a good turn to the king?" "Indeed, I had," said Bodhi and he narrated whatever had happened. The people of Varanasi were seething in agony under the tyrant's rule.
Their patience had come to an end. The king's conduct towards Bodhi suddenly inflamed a wild rage in the crowd. They drove away the royal bodyguards and freed Bodhi. The king had not gone far. The crowd rushed upon him and pulled him down from the elephant's back. He was killed. The people pleaded with Bodhi to sit on the throne. Bodhi conceded to the request and gave the land a glorious rule. In the course of time, he visited the forest and met the serpent and the mouse. They were tired of guarding their treasures. They requested him to take away the treasures. Bodhi obliged them and brought them to his palace, along with their wealth. He did not forget the parrot and brought it along too. The treasures were spent for the welfare of the kingdom. On the top floor of the palace, he built a tunnel of gold for the serpent to live in it. For the mouse, he got a sapphire cave made and for the parrot a golden cage. Everyone was happily spending their time.
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