The Golden Deer Who Saved His Herd
The King and His Hunt
Long ago, there was a king who was passionately fond of hunting deer. He relished deer meat and made hunting a daily affair.
Almost every day, the king would venture into the forest, compelling hundreds of citizens to accompany him. They would spread out over a vast area, encircling it, then gradually close in, shouting and beating drums. This encirclement would have only one exit, where the king stood poised with his bow and arrows. As the frightened deer attempted to escape, the king would shoot and kill one, if not more.
The Citizens’ Decision
This relentless hunting went on day after day. The citizens grew weary of these expeditions, which forced them to neglect their own work. Many suffered injuries during the hunts. Eventually, they convened to devise a plan to drive all the deer into a park adjacent to the palace compound.
One day, thousands gathered, surrounding the forest with their shouts and the sound of bugles and drums, herding all the deer into the park. Once the deer entered, they closed all openings except for one leading into the palace garden and secured it with a gate that no deer could easily cross.
The spokesman for the citizens approached the king and said, “My lord, we know how fond you are of deer meat. You spend much time hunting, and we waste our time as well. We have taken steps that should please you. We have driven all the deer into the park near your garden, allowing you to kill one deer a day without the hassle of roaming the forest.”
A Golden Deer Encounters the King
The king immediately visited the park to verify the claims of the citizens. He strolled through the park, enchanted by the sight of numerous deer. Soon, his gaze fell upon a particular deer that was larger than the others. Its golden fur shimmered, its horns gleamed like polished silver, and its eyes sparkled like precious jewels.
Realizing that the remarkable deer was the chief of the herd, the king spoke to it, saying, “I marvel at your grandeur! You are indeed a remarkable creature. Though you are a deer, I consider you my friend. You shall never be killed, neither by me nor anyone else. You are free to roam, eat as much grass as you like, and drink from the pool. The gates of my garden will always be open to you.” The king gently patted Bodhisattwa, the deer.
The Plight of the Herd
“Thank you, my lord,” Bodhisattwa replied, though a hint of sadness crossed his face, for his herd remained captive.
Every day, either the king or one of his servants would enter the park and take aim at a deer. The deer, sensing danger, would panic, leading to a stampede. As one fell to the arrow, many others became injured, and some even died in the chaos.
Bodhisattwa addressed his herd, “There is no point in many of us dying or getting injured when the king needs only one deer each day. It would be better for one of us to volunteer to die each day so that the rest may live in peace.” They all agreed to this plan, implementing a method to determine which deer would sacrifice itself.
A Sacrifice for Life
Near the park’s gate lay a stone slab where the kitchen assistant would prepare the deer that had been shot. The deer selected to die would go to the stone, crouch there with its head resting on it, and the kitchen assistant would proceed to kill it and prepare the meat for the kitchen.
This practice continued smoothly, preventing chaos among the deer and eliminating the need for arrows.
A Mother’s Plea
One day, it was the turn of a pregnant doe to die. She expressed her fear, saying, “I am not afraid of dying, but I do not want my fawn to perish with me. I ask that one of you take my place today. After I give birth and my fawn grows a little, I will take someone else’s place.” However, none of her companions were willing to accept her offer. Hearing her anguish, Bodhisattwa approached her and said, “My child, you need not worry. I will take your place so your fawn may live and you shall see it grow.”
With calm determination, Bodhisattwa moved to the stone slab, resting his head upon it. The kitchen assistant was taken aback; he found it difficult to kill the deer whom the king had declared never to be harmed.
The King’s Realization
The kitchen assistant rushed to inform the chief cook, who then brought the matter to the minister, ultimately leading to the king.
The king hurried to the garden, shaking Bodhisattwa as he exclaimed, “My friend, did I not declare you shall never be killed?”
Bodhisattwa replied calmly, “But I must die for the sake of a hind who is soon to give birth.”
Moved by Bodhisattwa’s selflessness, the king insisted, “No one shall take the hind’s life. Get up now.”
“Even then, I am hardly consoled, as I see my friends perish day after day. It is better for me to die,” Bodhisattwa responded.
A Promise of Change
The king was deeply touched by Bodhisattwa’s compassion for his herd. “I assure you that all your deer will be spared. They can return to the forest. No one will harm them,” he promised.
“Yet I still wish not to live, for in the forest, I witness hunters killing other animals and birds,” Bodhisattwa lamented.
“Very well, my friend. I decree right now that hunting shall be banned entirely,” replied the king, feeling a great shift within himself.
Bodhisattwa lifted his head, blessed the king, and departed with his herd for the forest.
(From the Buddha Jataka)