Chapter 39 - The guilty Dogs

[Source: Kah-gyur, iv. f. 212.]

In long-past times, King Brahmadatta came to the throne in Vārāṇasī, at a period when the land was blessed with riches, profusion, prosperity, and crops, and had a large population. Now there were two dogs, Gaṇḍa and Upagaṇḍa by name, which used to gnaw the king’s horse-gear. Once when King Brahmadatta was going to take the field against the Liccavis, he ordered his ministers to inspect the horse-gear. When they had done this, and found that it was all torn and tattered, they said to the king, “O king, the dogs have gnawed the horse-gear to pieces.”

The king said, “Honoured sirs, if this is the case, I give up the dogs altogether.”

Thereupon some of them were killed and others ran away. A dog, which came from another country, seeing them running off, asked them what had frightened them so much. They gave a full account of all that had occurred. It said, “Why do not you implore the king?”

They replied, “We who are running away have no power of imploring the king, and the others have been rendered mute.”

It said, “Wait awhile, I will implore the king in your behalf.”

Encouraged by him they turned back; and after they had made a halt they expressed their prayer in a verse, uttered at a distance from which they could be heard, saying—

“These two dogs, Gaṇḍa and Upagaṇḍa, full of force and health, living in the king’s stronghold, ought to be put to death. We are not deserving of death. O king, it is not right to let the innocent be put to death.”

Having heard this, the king said next day to his ministers, “Honoured sirs, find out those who implored me yesterday in verse.”

The ministers gave orders to the body-guards, saying, “Find out those who implored the king yesterday in verse.”

The guards said, “It was the dogs of the land that did so.”

The king said, “Honoured sirs, find out whether the horse-gear was devoured by Gaṇḍa and Upagaṇḍa, or by other dogs.”

The ministers assembled, and began to take counsel together, saying, “Honoured sirs, the king has ordered us to find out about the dogs. How shall we manage it?”

Then some of them said, “There is only one way of finding out. What need is there to seek out others? The dogs must be given a hair-pellet and made to vomit.”

When the pellet of hair had been given to the dogs, and they had been made to vomit, Gaṇḍa and Upagaṇḍa brought up fragments of leather. When the king had been informed of this, he delivered those dogs over to death. But he rendered the others free from fear.