A Collection of Buddhist Wisdom Verses - Ancient Buddhist Texts

27: Advice
Jā 334 Rājovādajātakaṁ
People follow their Leaders
A King rules justly and travels incognito through
his Kingdom to find out if anyone blames him. He
meets the Bodhisatta, an ascetic, who explains
that when the King rules justly everyone follows
suit.
523. Gavaṁ ce taramānānaṁ jimhaṁ gacchati puṅgavo,
Sabbā gāvī jimhaṁ yanti, nette jimhaṁ gate sati.
If a bull while crossing a stream
Goes on a crooked, rambling course,
All the cows also go crooked,
Led by one who goes crookedly.
524. Evam-eva manussesu, yo hoti seṭṭhasammato,
So ce adhammaṁ carati, pageva itarā pajā,
Sabbaṁ raṭṭhaṁ dukhaṁ seti, Rājā ce hoti adhammiko.
Even so with men, if the King,
Who is agreed upon as best,
Lives contrary to the Dhamma,
Much more so will other people,
The whole of the country suffers,
If the King does not have Dhamma.
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