saying, "Brethren, Sāriputta the Venerable, not possessing the knowledge of hearts and motives, ignored the disposition of the monk under his charge; but the Master, having that knowledge, procured in one day for that very man the blessing of Arahatship, with all its powers! Ah! how great is the might of the Buddhas!"
When the Teacher had come there and had taken his seat, he asked them what they were talking about. And they told him.
"It is not so very wonderful, O monks," said he, "that I now, as the Buddha, should know this man's disposition; formerly also I knew it."
And he told a tale.
Once upon a time Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, and the Bodisat was his adviser in things spiritual and temporal.
Now somebody took a common hack to be rubbed down at the ford where the king's state charger used to be bathed. The charger was offended at being led down into the water where a hack had been rubbed down, and refused to step into it.
The horsekeeper went and said to the king, "Your majesty! the state charger won't enter the water."
The king sent for the Bodisat, and said, "Do you go, Paṇḍit, and find out why the horse won't go into the water when he is led down to the ford."
"Very well, my Lord!" said he; and went to the ford, and examined the horse, and found there was nothing the matter with it. Then, reflecting what might be the reason, he thought, "Some other horse must have
