Indian Fairy Tales · Chapter
A Lesson for Kings explained
Two righteous kings, Brahma-datta of Benares and Mallika of Kosala, both seeking faultfinders to improve themselves, meet on a narrow road where neither chariot can pass.
What happens
Two righteous kings, Brahma-datta of Benares and Mallika of Kosala, both seeking faultfinders to improve themselves, meet on a narrow road where neither chariot can pass. Their charioteers debate who should yield, ultimately deciding based on the righteousness of each king. The king of Benares is praised for conquering anger with calmness, wickedness with goodness, stinginess with gifts, and lies with truth, leading Mallika to yield and acknowledge his superior virtue.
Themes in this chapter
Justice and Karma
The chapter emphasizes righteous rule and the king's quest for justice, leading to a cessation of lawsuits and a focus on personal virtue.
Cunning and Wisdom
The charioteer uses wisdom to compare the kings' ages, kingdoms, and virtues, ultimately deciding based on righteousness rather than force.
Characters to notice
- Brahmadatta
The righteous king of Benares, a future Buddha, who seeks faultfinders to improve his rule and ultimately demonstrates superior virtue.
- Buddha
The future Buddha reborn as Prince Brahma-datta, who rules with righteousness and seeks self-improvement.
- Raja Sarkap
Not present in this chapter.
Key passages
“The strong he overthrows by strength, The mild by mildness, does Mallika; The good he conquers by goodness, And the wicked by wickedness too.”
Mallika defeats the strong with strength, the mild with mildness, the good with goodness, and the wicked with wickedness.
The charioteer of Mallika describes his king's method of rule, which is later contrasted with the king of Benares' approach.
“Anger he conquers by calmness, And by goodness the wicked; The stingy he conquers by gifts, And by truth the speaker of lies.”
The king of Benares overcomes anger with calmness, the wicked with goodness, the stingy with gifts, and liars with truth.
This stanza highlights the superior virtue of the king of Benares, leading Mallika to yield.