A Lesson for Kings
by Unknown · from Indian Fairy Tales
Adapted Version
King Rama was a good king. He wanted to be the best king ever. King Rama lived in his town. He was a fair king. He always did what was right. He loved his people.
King Rama ruled his town well. His town was very peaceful. No one fought there. People were happy. But King Rama felt a worry. Was he a truly good king? Did people tell him everything? Maybe they feared him. He wanted to know his mistakes.
King Rama put on simple clothes. He walked around his town. He asked about his king. Everyone said, "You are good!" He felt a little sad. He wanted to be better.
Another king lived far away. His name was King Strong. He was also a good king. He wanted to be better too. King Strong left his town. He looked for his mistakes.
King Rama rode in his cart. Rama's Driver drove the cart. King Strong rode in his cart. Strong's Driver drove his cart. They met on a small road. The road was very narrow. Two carts could not pass. The carts stopped. They could not move. Who would move first?
Rama's Driver spoke first. "My king is older," he said. Strong's Driver said, "My king is older too." Both kings were good. Both kings were strong. Both kings were rich. Their towns were big. They were the same. They were equal in many ways.
Rama's Driver thought hard. He had an idea. "Let the best king go first," he said. This is a good plan.
Strong's Driver spoke. "My king is very strong," he said. "If mean, my king is mean back. If someone is kind, my king is kind. This is how he rules. My king is good."
Rama's Driver then spoke. "My king is different," he said. "If someone is angry, my king is calm. If someone is mean, my king is kind. If someone is selfish, my king gives gifts. If someone lies, my king tells truth. This is how he rules."
King Strong heard these words. He thought, "King Rama is good." King Strong got out of his cart. Strong's Driver moved their cart. King Rama's cart went first. King Strong learned a good lesson. King Strong learned that being kind and calm is a very strong way to be good. It is the best way to be a king.
Original Story
A Lesson for Kings
nce upon a time, when Brahma-datta was reigning in Benares, the future Buddha returned to life as his son and heir. And when the day came for choosing a name, they called him Prince Brahma-datta. He grew up in due course; and when he was sixteen years old, went to Takkasila, and became accomplished in all arts. And after his father died he ascended the throne, and ruled the kingdom with righteousness and equity. He gave judgments without partiality, hatred, ignorance, or fear. Since he thus reigned with justice, with justice also his ministers administered the law. Law-suits being thus decided with justice, there were none who brought false cases. And as these ceased, the noise and tumult of litigation ceased in the king's court. Though the judges sat all day in the court, they had to leave without any one coming for justice. It came to this, that the Hall of Justice would have to be closed!
Then the future Buddha thought, "It cannot be from my reigning with righteousness that none come for judgment; the bustle has ceased, and the Hall of Justice will have to be closed. I must, therefore, now examine into my own faults; and if I find that anything is wrong in me, put that away, and practise only virtue."
Thenceforth he sought for some one to tell him his faults, but among those around him he found no one who would tell him of any fault, but heard only his own praise.
Then he thought, "It is from fear of me that these men speak only good things, and not evil things," and he sought among those people who lived outside the palace. And finding no fault-finder there, he sought among those who lived outside the city, in the suburbs, at the four gates. And there too finding no one to find fault, and hearing only his own praise, he determined to search the country places.
So he made over the kingdom to his ministers, and mounted his chariot; and taking only his charioteer, left the city in disguise. And searching the country through, up to the very boundary, he found no fault-finder, and heard only of his own virtue; and so he turned back from the outer-most boundary, and returned by the high road towards the city.
Now at that time the king of Kosala, Mallika by name, was also ruling his kingdom with righteousness; and when seeking for some fault in himself, he also found no fault-finder in the palace but only heard of his own virtue! So seeking in country places, he too came to that very spot. And these two came face to face in a low cart-track with precipitous sides, where there was no space for a chariot to get out of the way!
Then the charioteer of Mallika the king said to the charioteer of the king of Benares, "Take thy chariot out of the way!"
But he said, "Take thy chariot out of the way, O charioteer! In this chariot sitteth the lord over the kingdom of Benares, the great king Brahma-datta."
Yet the other replied, "In this chariot, O charioteer, sitteth the lord over the kingdom of Kosala, the great king Mallika. Take thy carriage out of the way, and make room for the chariot of our king!"
Then the charioteer of the king of Benares thought, "They say then that he too is a king! What is now to be done?" After some consideration, he said to himself, "I know a way. I'll find out how old he is, and then I'll let the chariot of the younger be got out of the way, and so make room for the elder."
And when he had arrived at that conclusion, he asked that charioteer what the age of the king of Kosala was. But on inquiry he found that the ages of both were equal. Then he inquired about the extent of his kingdom, and about his army, and his wealth, and his renown, and about the country he lived in, and his caste and tribe and family. And he found that both were lords of a kingdom three hundred leagues in extent; and that in respect of army and wealth and renown, and the countries in which they lived, and their caste and their tribe and their family, they were just on a par!
Then he thought, "I will make way for the most righteous." And he asked, "What kind of righteousness has this king of yours?"
Then the chorister of the king of Kosala, proclaiming his king's wickedness as goodness, uttered the First Stanza:
"The strong he overthrows by strength,
The mild by mildness, does Mallika;
The good he conquers by goodness,
And the wicked by wickedness too.
Such is the nature of this king!
Move out of the way, O charioteer!"
But the charioteer of the king of Benares asked him, "Well, have you told all the virtues of your king?"
"Yes," said the other.
"If these are his virtues, where are then his faults?" replied he.
The other said, "Well, for the nonce, they shall be faults, if you like! But pray, then, what is the kind of goodness your king has?"
And then the charioteer of the king of Benares called unto him to hearken, and uttered the Second Stanza:
"Anger he conquers by calmness,
And by goodness the wicked;
The stingy he conquers by gifts,
And by truth the speaker of lies.
Such is the nature of this king!
Move out of the way, O charioteer!"
And when he had thus spoken, both Mallika the king and his charioteer alighted from their chariot. And they took out the horses, and removed their chariot, and made way for the king of Benares!
Story DNA
Moral
True righteousness lies in conquering evil with good, anger with calmness, and stinginess with generosity, rather than meeting like with like.
Plot Summary
King Brahma-datta of Benares, a righteous ruler, finds his court silent due to lack of disputes, prompting him to seek out his own faults. Disguised, he travels his kingdom but finds only praise. Meanwhile, King Mallika of Kosala, on a similar quest, encounters Brahma-datta on a narrow road. Their charioteers compare their kings' status, finding them equal, then debate their kings' definitions of righteousness. Brahma-datta's philosophy of conquering evil with good, anger with calmness, and stinginess with gifts is deemed superior, leading Mallika to yield the path, acknowledging Brahma-datta's greater virtue.
Themes
Emotional Arc
self-satisfaction to enlightened understanding
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Jataka tales are a voluminous body of literature native to India concerning the previous births of Gautama Buddha in both human and animal form. The stories often convey moral lessons.
Plot Beats (10)
- Prince Brahma-datta, the future Buddha, is born and raised to become a just king of Benares.
- King Brahma-datta rules so righteously that his court has no lawsuits, leading him to question if he has become complacent or if people fear telling him his faults.
- He searches extensively within his palace, city, and kingdom, disguised, but finds only praise and no one to tell him his faults.
- King Mallika of Kosala, also a righteous ruler on a similar quest for self-critique, travels to the same remote road.
- The two kings' chariots meet on a narrow path where neither can pass, leading to a standoff.
- The charioteers attempt to determine who should yield based on the kings' age, kingdom size, army, wealth, renown, caste, and family, but find them equal in all respects.
- The charioteer of Benares suggests yielding to the 'most righteous' king.
- Mallika's charioteer describes his king's 'righteousness' as conquering strength with strength, mildness with mildness, good with good, and wickedness with wickedness.
- Brahma-datta's charioteer then describes his king's true righteousness: conquering anger with calmness, wickedness with goodness, stinginess with gifts, and lies with truth.
- Upon hearing this, King Mallika and his charioteer alight, move their chariot, and yield the way to King Brahma-datta, acknowledging his superior virtue.
Characters
Brahma-datta
Of average height and build for a man of his region, with a dignified bearing. His features are refined, reflecting a life of comfort and learning, but not ostentatious.
Attire: Simple but high-quality garments suitable for travel in disguise, likely made of fine, undyed cotton or linen. Perhaps a plain, long tunic (kurta) and loose trousers (pajama), with a simple shawl or wrap (dupatta) to cover his royal attire, allowing him to blend in with common folk.
Wants: To rule with perfect righteousness and eliminate all injustice from his kingdom, and to constantly improve himself.
Flaw: Perhaps an excessive self-scrutiny, leading him to believe there must be a fault even when there isn't one readily apparent.
He begins the story as an already righteous king, but his journey of self-reflection and the encounter with King Mallika solidify his understanding of true virtue and the power of compassionate leadership.
Righteous, introspective, humble, just, wise.
Brahma-datta's Charioteer
A sturdy, practical man, likely with a strong build from his profession. His hands would be calloused from holding reins, and his face weathered from exposure to the elements.
Attire: Functional, durable clothing suitable for a charioteer in ancient India. This would include a simple, short-sleeved cotton tunic (kurta) in an earthy tone, perhaps a dhoti or loose trousers, and a practical head covering like a turban (pagri) to protect from sun and dust.
Wants: To serve his king faithfully and uphold his king's honor and righteousness.
Flaw: Initially, he relies on conventional markers of status (age, kingdom size) before realizing true righteousness is the ultimate measure.
He learns that true superiority lies not in worldly power or age, but in moral righteousness, as demonstrated by his king's philosophy.
Loyal, observant, intelligent, articulate, quick-witted.
Mallika
Similar in age and general build to Brahma-datta, reflecting his equal status. He likely has a more assertive or perhaps slightly less serene countenance, indicative of his 'strength for strength' philosophy.
Attire: Similar to Brahma-datta, he would wear simple, high-quality garments for travel in disguise, likely made of fine cotton or linen in muted colors, such as a plain tunic and trousers, possibly with a simple shawl or wrap.
Wants: To rule his kingdom effectively and maintain order, believing that a king must meet force with force and wickedness with wickedness.
Flaw: His definition of righteousness is flawed; he equates effective rule with a tit-for-tat approach rather than true virtue and compassion.
He begins by believing his 'strength for strength' approach is virtuous, but through the encounter with Brahma-datta's charioteer, he recognizes a higher form of righteousness and yields, indicating a shift in his understanding.
Assertive, pragmatic, conventional, somewhat proud, initially misguided in his definition of righteousness.
Mallika's Charioteer
A sturdy, practical man, similar to Brahma-datta's charioteer, with a strong build and weathered features from his profession.
Attire: Functional, durable clothing suitable for a charioteer in ancient India. This would include a simple, short-sleeved cotton tunic (kurta) in an earthy tone, perhaps a dhoti or loose trousers, and a practical head covering like a turban (pagri).
Wants: To serve his king faithfully and assert his king's superiority.
Flaw: Initially, he believes his king's 'strength for strength' approach is the highest form of virtue, failing to see a more compassionate path.
He begins by proudly proclaiming his king's 'strength for strength' approach as virtue, but ultimately yields to Brahma-datta's charioteer's superior definition of righteousness, indicating a shift in his understanding.
Loyal, assertive, proud of his king, articulate in defending his king's methods.
Locations
Royal Palace of Benares
The grand residence of King Brahma-datta, likely featuring architecture typical of ancient Indian palaces, with courtyards, audience halls, and royal chambers. The Hall of Justice is a specific area within, which becomes unusually quiet.
Mood: Initially bustling with legal activity, later becomes eerily quiet and reflective due to the king's just rule.
King Brahma-datta rules from here, and later realizes the Hall of Justice is empty, prompting his journey of self-reflection.
Country Road with Precipitous Sides
A narrow, low cart-track in the countryside, likely unpaved and dusty, with steep, unyielding banks on either side, making it impossible for two chariots to pass each other. The surrounding landscape is rural, possibly with fields or sparse vegetation.
Mood: Tense and confined, as the two kings' chariots are stuck, leading to a verbal confrontation.
The two kings, Brahma-datta and Mallika, meet here and their chariots get stuck, leading to the pivotal discussion about their respective virtues.