Verses on Dhamma 2.7.p15

2.7.p15

Te disvā gāmabhojako cintesi – ‘‘ime manussā ayoge yuttā, sace ime araññato macchamaṃsādīni vā āhareyyuṃ. Suraṃ vā katvā piveyyuṃ, aññaṃ vā tādisaṃ kammaṃ kareyyuṃ, ahampi kiñci kiñci labheyya’’nti. Atha ne pakkosāpetvā pucchi – ‘‘kiṃ karontā vicarathā’’ti? ‘‘Saggamaggaṃ, sāmī’’ti. ‘‘Gharāvāsaṃ vasantehi nāma evaṃ kātuṃ na vaṭṭati, araññato macchamaṃsādīni āharituṃ, suraṃ katvā pātuṃ, nānappakāre ca kammante kātuṃ vaṭṭatī’’ti. Te tassa vacanaṃ paṭikkhipiṃsu, evaṃ punappunaṃ vuccamānāpi paṭikkhipiṃsuyeva. So kujjhitvā ‘‘nāsessāmi ne’’ti rañño santikaṃ gantvā, ‘‘core te, deva, vaggabandhanena vicarante passāmī’’ti vatvā, ‘‘gaccha, te gahetvā ānehī’’ti vutte tathā katvā sabbe te bandhitvā ānetvā rañño dassesi. Rājā avīmaṃsitvāva ‘‘hatthinā maddāpethā’’ti āṇāpesi. Magho sesānaṃ ovādamadāsi – ‘‘sammā, ṭhapetvā mettaṃ añño amhākaṃ avassayo natthi, tumhe katthaci kopaṃ akatvā raññe ca gāmabhojake ca maddanahatthimhi ca attani ca mettacittena samacittāva hothā’’ti. Te tathā kariṃsu. Atha nesaṃ mettānubhāvena hatthī uppasaṅkamitumpi na visahi. Rājā tamatthaṃ sutvā bahū manusse disvā maddituṃ na visahissati? ‘‘Gacchatha, ne kilañjena paṭicchādetvā maddāpethā’’ti āha. Te kilañjena paṭicchādetvā maddituṃ pesiyamānopi hatthī dūratova paṭikkami.

Finally the village headman became angry. "I will destroy them," said he. So he went to the king and said to him, "Your majesty, I see a band of thieves going about committing depredations." The king replied, "Go catch them and bring them before me." So the village headman arrested the thirty-three youths and haled them before the king. Without instituting an inquiry into their conduct, the king gave the following order, "Cause them to be trampled to death by an elephant." Thereupon Magha admonished his companions as follows, "Friends, we have no refuge but love. Therefore let your hearts be tranquil. Cherish anger towards no one. Let your hearts be full of love for the king and the village headman and the elephant that tramples you under his feet." The thirty-three youths followed the admonition of their leader. Such was the power of their love that the elephant dared not approach them.

When the king heard of this, he said, "If the elephant sees so many men, he will not venture to trample them under his feet. Have the men covered with heavy matting, and then order the elephant to trample them." So the village headman had the men covered with heavy matting and drove the elephant forwards to trample them. But when the elephant was yet a long way off, he turned round and went back. When the king heard what had happened, he thought to himself, "There must be some reason for this." So he caused the thirty-three youths to be brought before him and asked them, "Friends, is there anything which you have failed to receive at my hands?" "Your majesty, what do you mean?" "I am informed that you are a band of thieves and that you rove about the forest committing depredations." "Your majesty, who said that?" "Friends, the village headman so informed me." "Your majesty, it is not true that we are thieves. The fact is, we are clearing a Path to Heaven for ourselves, and we do this and that. The village headman tried to persuade us to adopt an evil mode of life, and when we refused to follow his suggestions, he became angry at us and determined to destroy us. That is why he said this about us." "Friends, this animal knows your good qualities; but I, who am a man, was unable to discern them. Pardon me." So saying, the king made the village headman their slave, together with his children and wife, gave them a riding-elephant, and presented that village to them to do with as they saw fit. Thought the thirty-three youths, "Even in this life the advantage to be derived from the performance of works of merit is clearly to be seen." And mounting the elephant by turns, they rode about the village.