Jataka Tales 22: Kukkura

Kukkura Jataka This story about acting for the good of relatives was told by the Buddha when he was residing at Jetavana.

Story from the past Once long ago Brahmadatta was the ruling king in Benares. At that time the Bodhisatta was born as a wild dog in a great cemetery where there were several hundred of them. One day, the king set out on a picnic in his chariot drawn by milk-white horses. After enjoying himself the whole day he came back to the city at sunset.

The carriage harness was left hitched to the chariot and it rained that night. It not only got wet but was damaged by the king's dogs that were set loose at night.

Frightened by their carelessness the men told the king that wild dogs had sneaked in and bitten it to bits.

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Angered by this news the king ordered his men to kill all of them. A great number were slaughtered and those that escaped ran to the Bodhisatta in the cemetery. On being told the reason for their agitation he thought to himself: "It is impossible for any wild dog to get into a closely guarded palace. It must be the work of the dogs kept in the palace." He told the dogs that he will save them. They would wait till he could see the king.

Preparing himself with thoughts of love and calling to mind the Ten Perfections he went into the city. Miraculously no one raised a hand against him. The king was attending court and as he approached the throne he leapt under it.

The king's men tried to get rid of him but the king stopped them.

Encouraged by this he came out from under the throne, bowed to the king and said: "Is it you who have ordered the dogs to be killed?" "Yes, it is I."

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"What is their offence, king of men?" "They bit the harness of my carriage to bits." The king then admitted that he did not know which dogs did the mischief, but he still wanted the dogs killed except the ones in the palace.

Thus he was reminded that he was following the four evil courses of partiality, dislike, ignorance, and fear for he spared his own dogs. Kings ought to be as unbiased as the beam of a balance.

The order for all dogs to be killed and yet sparing the royal ones is not the impartial doom of dogs but the slaughter of poor dogs. Thus it was not justice that was being performed. Then the following was spoken: " Dogs of the King's palace are free. Only the poor the dogs are slaughtered. This is discrimination- not impartial justice."

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The king asked: "Do you know who did it?" "The well-bred dogs in the palace." "Can you prove it?" And this was shown.

The dogs were brought in and each ate a little of a mixture of kusa grass and butter-milk.

Immediately afterwards they threw out the mixture and bits of leather.

The king realized his mistake, and gave the Bodhisatta his royal white umbrella. Then he heard ten stanzas on righteousness (Tesakuna-Jataka). After he was established in the five precepts and reminded to be steadfast the umbrella was handed back to him.

He stopped harming creatures after this and lived a life of doing good deeds. All dogs were provided with regular good food. The dog's Teaching' lasted a long time. After the king passed away he was reborn in a heavenly realm. The Bodhisatta lived long, and passed away to fare according to his deeds.

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End of story of the past The Buddha said: "Not only now Brethren that the Tathagata benefits his kindred; but in times past he also did the same." Then he identified the connection. He said: "Ananda was the king, the Brethren were the other dogs, and I was the dog who spoke for them."

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