# A Lesson for Kings explained — Indian Fairy Tales

> Chapter companion for Indian Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se/chapters/a-lesson-for-kings
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se/chapters