The Jataka story of the Sarabha Deer
Once in the succession of lives through which the Bodhisattva had to pass on his way to Buddhahood, it is said that he was a Sarabha Deer. He was not one of the kind of common deer, but stronger and statelier than all others and very much wiser. He lived in the forest far away from human habitations, and thick grass covered the edible roots and plants where no tracks of passing vehicles were to be found.
The Bodhisattva had not only a strong and healthy body, but he had also a shining skin, beautiful to look at. He lived like an ascetic on roots, leaves and water, and having a heart full of compassion, he was kind to any animal that was in distress. Although he had the shape of an animal, he had the intellect of a man.
One day a king who was the ruler of this part of the country went out on a hunting expedition. Sitting on his swift horse he had his bow and arrow ready for shooting, when he saw the Bodhisattva in shape of a Sarabha Deer. The Bodhisattva could have withstood the king, but as he had given up all act of violence he took to fly and, being very swift, the king's horse had to run very fast in pursuit.
The king bent on shooting the animal, did not pay any attention to the surrounding forest, and he did not see a great chasm over which the deer jumped as easily, as if it was a small brook. The horse, seeing the chasm before him, cam to a sudden stand-still, while getting ready for the leap, that the king was thrown head over heels into the hole.
When the Sarabha Deer, running away, did not hear the trampling of the horse's hoofs behind him any more, he look around and saw the riderless horse standing on the opposite side of the big hole and looking down into its depths.
The Bodhisattva at once thought that the king must have fallen into the whole, as there was no probability that he would have dismounted in the depth of the forest in order to hunt on foot.: "If the king had not killed himself, falling down that pit," thought the deer, "he will need some help to get out of it and I must help him." And moved by compassion he turned back and looked down into the hole and saw the king struggling there, endeavoring to climb up, in which effort he evidently was not succeeding as the sides of the hole were steep and slippery.
The Bodhisattva entirely forgot that the king was his enemy, who had tried just a little while ago to kill him. , and bent down over the precipice he said with a human voice: "I hope Your Majesty has not got hurt? I hope no bones are broken? I am no goblin, but only a forest animal, living on your grass and leaves and water. You are in your own realm. Do not fear, I have the strength to kelp you out of your distress. Trust me and give me your orders."
The king was very much astonishes and ashamed, when he heard these kind words from the deer, who he had pursued just a little while ago, and he answered very kindly: "My body has not been injured very severely by the fall into this wretched hole, being protected by my armour. The pain I have does not hurt me as much as the pain I feel for mistaking you for an ordinary animal, misguided by your appearance. Pray pardon me."
The deer, being satisfied that the king accepted his offered help, began to try whether he could carry the man's weight by putting a heavy stone on his back and climbing with it. When he found that he was strong enough, he went down to the hole and said to the king: "May Your Majesty deign to use me as your horse for a while. I am strong enough and willing to carry you out of this pit." The king mounted the deer's back and with wonderful strength and skillfulness he carried him up.
The deer now wanted to retire to the forest again, but the king embracing him said: "My life, which have been saved through you, is at your disposal. come with me to my capital and reside there if you like. Here in the forest you may be chased by hunters and molested by beasts."
The Bodhisattva was very much pleased at the words of the king and he said: " I see you are a lover of virtue and justice I thank you for your offer; but the habits of forest animals are different from those of men, and I prefer to stay in the forest. But if Your Majesty would like to do something pleasant to me, then promise me never to hunt any more in all your life. Animals have fear and horror(like human beings) of being hunted. So have compassion on them. Think that animals, just as men, like happiness and quietude, and therefore do not do to them what would be disagreeable to yourself."
"Destroy the evil which yet remains in you. Your meritorious actions have gained you the high office of king. Add more meritorious actions, which are the means of obtaining glory and happiness. Your righteousness will increase the happiness of your subjects and they will become more virtuous also."
The king accepted the teaching of the Bodhisattva and from this time no more hunting was done in his realm.
The Sarabha Deer retired again into the forest where no hunter disturbed his peace.
The Buddha told the the story while residing at Jetavana in Sravasti (after performing the celebrated Miracle of Sravasti and after visiting Sankisa) and ended his discourse by identifying the king as Ananda and the Sarabha Deer as the Master himself.
*Drawn from the Jatakamala and the Sarabha-Miga Jataka, No. 483.