Texts from the Buddhist canon : commonly known as Dhammapada

172
DHAMMAPAJDA.
of Devas and men, at this time there was in a country
some way to the south a very large elephant of a three-
fold colour, white, blue, and black, which the King very
much desired to capture and to tame, so as to make it one
of his fighting elephants. Accordingly having despatched
his chief hunter foi* the purpose, he waited in expectation
of his command being obeyed. Now there was at this
time in the mountains a certain divine elephant, his body
white as snow, his tail red as vermilion, and his \usks
yellow as gold. Having seen this creature, the hunter re-
turned to the King, and asked him whether the elephant
he had been sent to capture was of this kind. The King
immediately ordered the beast to be taken" and brought to
him. On this the hunter, with thirty men, went in pur-
suit of him. Having come to the spot, and surrounded
the place, the elephant, knowing their purpose, allowed
the men to approach him, and then, fiUed with fury, he
rushed at them and trampled the nearest to death, and
put the others to flight. Now at this time in the side of
the mountain there was a young and lusty hermit, who
had long practised his religious austerities without arriving
at any degree of fixedness. Seeing from a distance the
sad case of these hunters, and pitying their condition,
relying on his strength, he hurried to the spot, hoping to
save them. Meantime Buddha, seeing the danger of this
Bhikshu, and fearing lest the divine elephant should kUl
him, quickly transported himself to the place, and stand-
ing beside the elephant, caused the glory of his person to
exhibit itself. The elephant, seeing the brilliancy of the
body of Buddha, appeased his rage, and gave up the pur-
suit of the men. The Bhikshu also seeing the wonderful
light that shone forth, bowed down at Buddha's feet, who
forthwith repeated these verses :
" Be not so foolishly angry with the divine
elephant as thus to entangle yourself in the certain
calamity that will follow your conduct; the evil
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