Page:Buddhist Birth Stories, or, Jātaka Tales.djvu/365

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No. 24.

ĀJAÑÑA JĀTAKA.

The Thoroughbred War Horse.

"At every time, in every place." — This also the Master told, while at Jetavana, about that monk who lost heart.[1] But when he had addressed the monk with the words, "The wise in former times, O monk, continued their exertion, even though in the struggle they received a blow," he told this tale.


Long ago, when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, seven kings, as before, surrounded the city. Then a warrior who fought from a chariot harnessed two Sindh horses, who were brothers, to his chariot, issued from the city, broke through six lines and took six kings prisoners.

At that moment the eldest of the horses received a wound. The charioteer drove on till he came to the king's gate, took the elder horse out, loosened his harness, made him lie down on his side, and began to harness another horse.

  1. See the last Introductory Story.