The Noble Stag

This is an old Indian Story about King Brahmadatta and a very noble stag. A stag is a male deer.

Discover the King’s favourite sport. Hear how he meets the stag. Follow the chase into the forest. Find out what happens to the King. Hear what the stag does. Enjoy how the whole town changes. Find out what Sakka of Heaven thinks. Has the king really changed? Follow the final test.

Download this mp3 Jataka Tale audio story of The Noble Stag now!

The Noble Stag

A Tales of Time adaptation of the Jataka Tale.

As we all know, King Brahmadatta of Benaras was extremely fond of hunting. He liked to hunt deer. This was considered a sport and the meat from the deer was quite delicious. Luckily for him, on the outskirts of the city was a huge forest filled with deer and a mighty stag.

One fine day, he went out hunting with his courtiers. He told them not to allow a single deer to escape. So the courtiers made a circle around the group of deer and started herding them towards the King so that he could shoot them!

Clustered together in fright, the deer found themselves all within reach of the Kings arrow as he slowly raised it to shoot. The stag noticed that the only way out of this circle, was not away from the King, but towards him. So the stag looked him straight in the eye and made a dash in his direction.

The King was completely taken aback! He panicked and shot out his arrow. But of course it missed. Something you must know about this stag, is that he had excellent instincts and was extremely good at dodging arrows. Whether shot from the right, the left, above, below, in front or behind.the stag would move quickly aside at the last minute. And if by chance, an arrow came extremely close to its tummy, the stag would roll over and pretend be shot, until the shooter put down his bow and arrow - then he'd be up and leaping off to safety.

So when the stag suddenly fell to the floor. The King thought the arrow had found its mark. He smiled and as the courtiers all clapped. Lowering his weapon, he took a long deep bow feeling rather proud of himself. While his head was still down by his toes, the stag suddenly jumped up and ran passed all the men. The King lifted his proud head to see an empty field and all courtiers laughing at him.

This made the King very angry. He grabbed his sword and set off into the forest in order to catch the stag.

It was much darker in the forest as the trees were tightly packed together, not letting much sunlight in. But the King didn't stop.  He swung his sword about in front of him, clearing a path. He followed the stag’s hoof-prints. Now something you must know about the King is that he was an excellent hunter.  He knew exactly which way the stag had gone and chased him with speed. He was also very strong and he followed the trail for hours and hours and covered miles of forest.

The stag was leaping through the forest with ease. He found it quite easy to twist his way round the trees. Suddenly he could smell dirty water and he was careful not to fall into it. The water was in a hole in the ground which was hidden by a broken, rotting tree. It was so dirty and old, that it had turned into slime!

He continued his journey, but after a short time, he noticed that he was no longer being followed. Perhaps the King had fallen into the dirty water! So he went back the hole and sure enough, there was the King struggling for his life! The stag felt very sorry for him and decided to save his life. He told the King not to worry and to be brave a while longer. Then he found a large, heavy rock and while holding on to it with his hind legs, he walked his front legs down into the hole. The King was able to hold onto the stag's neck, while the stag pulled the King to safety.

When they had both caught their breaths, the King turned to the stag and thanked him profusely. He asked the stag if he would return with him to Benaras and rule beside him.

But the stag had no interest in a Kingdom and simply requested the King to rule his Kingdom wisely and well, with kindness and compassion. And then the noble stag disappeared into the forest.

With a grateful heart the King returned to Benaras and announced that from this day on all his subjects were to live a life of goodness, kindness and generosity. He promised to live a virtuous life and to give regularly to the poor. The King's people followed his good example and the city of Benaras become wealthy and prosperous.

Now, Sakka, the King of heaven, was very surprised to see a great number of good souls arriving to heaven. He noticed that they had all lived in Benaras which was under King Brahmadatta's reign. He remembered the incident where the King's life was transformed by the stag and realised that all his subjects has been transformed too! So Sakka, now decided to test the King's goodness one last time.

On that very morning, the King was in the royal park with his bow and arrow. He was practising his aim. And just as the King was ready to release his arrow, Sakka made a stag appear in front of the target. The King immediately put down his weapon. So Sakka made the King's priest talk. He was trying to encourage the King to shoot the stag, saying what wonderful meat he would make. But the King wouldn't kill the stag. So Sakka made the priest say that if he did shoot, he would be made the King of gods! But the King Brahmadatta would not shoot. So the priest said that if he did NOT shoot he would be sent to hell along with his children and queen!

But the King chose hell over hurting his beloved friend who had saved his life and he smiled as the stage leapt off into the forest. Sakka was highly impressed and appeared before the King.  He blessed him with a long life and happiness. Sakka promised that when King Brahmadatta came to heaven he would reign among the gods.

The End.

©Tales of Time 2009