Once upon a time, in Benares in northern India, the Enlightenment Being was born into the royal family. When he became king, he was called Goodness the Great. He earned this title by striving to do good always, even when it brought him no personal benefit. He spent much of the royal treasury building and maintaining six houses of charity, offering free aid to the poor, needy, and even unknown travelers. He became renowned for his patience, loving-kindness, and compassion, loving all beings as a father loves his children.
King Goodness observed holy days by fasting and practiced the 'Five Training Steps,' abstaining from: destroying life, taking what is not given, sexual misconduct, false speech, and intoxication. His kindness grew ever purer. He refused to imprison or injure wrongdoers.
Knowing this, one of his highest ministers schemed to cheat women in the royal harem. When discovered, King Goodness summoned him: "You have committed a crime and dishonored yourself. It is best you leave Benares. Take your wealth and family, go wherever you wish, and learn from this."
The minister moved to Kosala and, through cleverness, rose to become the most trusted adviser to its king. He said, "My lord, Benares is like a beehive with stingless bees. Its king is tender and weak. A small army could easily conquer it."
Skeptical, the King of Kosala sent spies. They reported that when robbers were caught, King Goodness gave them money, advised them against stealing, and set them free. To test this, the King of Kosala sent robbers to raid a Benares border village. Captured and brought before King Goodness, the robbers pleaded poverty. The king gave them money, advised reformation, and freed them. The King of Kosala then sent bandits into Benares itself; they looted and killed, yet received the same merciful treatment.
Convinced of Benares's vulnerability, the King of Kosala marched his army toward the city. King Goodness possessed a mighty army with giant soldiers capable of conquering all India. They begged for permission to attack, but he refused: "My children, do not fight merely to keep me as king. Destroying others destroys our own peace. Let them have the kingdom if they desire it so greatly. I will not fight."
Despite his ministers' pleas to defend the city, King Goodness remained steadfast: "Even if you do not intend to kill, fighting causes injury and accidental death. I will not harm, or cause others to harm, any living being." He ordered the city gates opened for the invaders.
The King of Kosala entered unopposed, captured King Goodness and his ministers, tied their hands, and buried them up to their necks in a cemetery outside the city, leaving them for jackals. At midnight, jackals arrived. King Goodness and his ministers shouted, scaring them away twice. Realizing the men were trapped, the jackals approached fearlessly. The jackal king went for King Goodness's throat, but the king seized its chin with his teeth. The jackal king thrashed, loosening the earth around the king's neck and shoulders. King Goodness released it, freed himself, and then freed his ministers.
Nearby, two rival demons argued over dividing a dead body. One suggested seeking King Goodness's famed righteousness to settle the dispute. They dragged the body to him. King Goodness agreed to help but requested to clean himself first. Using magic, the demons brought scented water, perfumes, royal robes, ornaments, and flowers from his palace. After bathing and dressing, he said he was hungry; they brought delicious rice and water from the palace. Finally, he asked for the state sword from the pillow of the sleeping King of Kosala. With the sword, he fairly divided the body along the spine for the demons, who gratefully ate.
In return, King Goodness asked the demons to magically transport him to his bedroom next to the sleeping King of Kosala and return his ministers to their homes. They complied.
King Goodness gently touched the sleeping king's belly with the sword. The King of Kosala awoke in fright. Astonished, he asked how the king, who had been buried and filthy, was now spotlessly clean, sweet-smelling, and royally adorned. King Goodness recounted his escape and the demons' aid.
Overcome with shame, the King of Kosala bowed and cried, "Even flesh-eating demons recognized your supreme goodness, while I, a civilized human, was too foolish to see it. I promise never to plot against you again and to serve you as your truest friend. Please forgive me." He gave up his own bed for King Goodness.
The next day, the King of Kosala publicly praised King Goodness, returned his kingdom, promised eternal protection, punished the treacherous minister, and returned to Kosala with his troops.
Seated majestically on his golden throne, King Goodness taught his subjects: "Wholesomeness begins with abandoning the five unwholesome actions. The highest qualities are loving-kindness and compassion. Filled with these, one cannot harm another, no matter the reason or cost. No matter the danger, one must persevere until the good heart prevails."
For the rest of his reign, Benares lived in peace and happiness. King Goodness continued his wholesome works until his death and deserved rebirth.
The moral is: Refusing to harm others, the good heart wins over all.