In ancient time there was a king in Baranasi
named Brahmadatta. At that time there was a village in Kasi Kingdom named
Dharmapal. A learned Brahman lived in this village. He practiced ten good
creeds (Dasa Kusala Dhamma). He was called Dharmapal by the people. His family
members and the servants were charitable. They observed precepts (Sila) and
fasting vow.
Badhisattva was born in this race as a son of
the learned Brahman. He was assumed Dharmapal Kumar. When he came to age, his
father sent him to a teacher in Taxila for education. The teacher had five hundred
pupils. Gradually Bodhisattva became the best of all among the pupils.
One day the elder son of the teacher died. The
teacher, kinsmen, friends and the pupils were crying. Only Dharmapal Kumar, the
Bodhisattva did not cry. He laughed.
The teacher wanted to know the reason of his
laughing. Then Dharmapal said, nobody died in tender age in his race. To know
the genuineness of his words, one day the teacher went to Dhamapal’s house with
a bone of dead-goat. The teacher said to his father that Dharmapal died. But
Dharmapal’s did not trust. The teacher showed the bone of goat and said, this
is the bone of Dharmapal. By no means, the father of Dharmapal trusted it. The
teacher acknowledged the truth.
Now the teacher said with joy, ‘Oh Brahmin!
Your son is alive. He is my chief disciple. I have come here to give him charge
to teach the other pupils. Your son told me that-nobody dies in your race in
the young-age. I want to know from you the causes of this. Then the Brahman
hearing his words described the causes by which virtues nobody in his race does
not die untimely. He said that they were never addicted to bad deed. We give up
the bad and always worship the good. So, in our race, nobody dies in young age.
Our mind is pleased before giving. We give with
pleasure and respect, we do not after giving repents. So no young man dies.
Sraman, Brahman, wayfarer, mendicant, poor, beggar, whoever comes to our house
we satisfy them with food and drink. We give them according to our capacity.
‘The husbands are honest and the wives are
devoted to their husbands in our race. We follow Brahmacharya in equal virtues.
In this race, who is born in the womb of an honest wife, is to be meritorious,
pious, wise, well versed in all scriptures and devotions. All members follow
the path of virtue hoping to attain heaven after death. The servants also
follow the path of virtue.’
Then the Brahman told, ‘He who follows the path
of virtue, the virtue (Dharma) protects him. As an umbrella protects man from
rain and sun, the Dharma protects also the pious. Never any harm is done to
pious. So I say, which bone you have brought belonged to other. It is
impossible that my son will die in young-age. Hearing this words, the teacher
prayed with joy forgiveness of the Brahman. He said to the Brahman, ‘I brought
a goat-bone to you to examine. Your son is well. Now, kindly say to me which
Dharma (virtue) you have observed.’
We observe Ariyadharma, Four Noble Truths;
Eightfold Paths, Brahmavihara, fasting and five precepts. The teacher returned
Taxila after some days. Then he taught Dharmapal Kumar all kinds of education
and then sent him to his house with many attendants.
Moral : Dhamma protects him who is pious.