English Original
Once upon a time, King Brahmadatta ruled Benares in northern India. His son, the prince, was an Enlightenment Being. Intelligent and educated by sixteen, he was made second in command.
The people of Benares were deeply superstitious, believing gods controlled their fate. To gain favors like marriage, children, or wealth, they prayed and promised offerings. They thought gods desired animal sacrifices, so they killed goats, lambs, chickens, and pigs when they believed their prayers were answered.
The prince observed this and thought, "These helpless animals are also the king's subjects and deserve protection. People act this way from ignorance and superstition; this is not true religion. True religion respects life and brings peace, not killing and cruelty."
"They cling too strongly to superstition to abandon it," he reflected. "But perhaps their beliefs can be used for good. When I become king, I must devise a plan. If they must sacrifice, let them kill their own greed and hatred instead of helpless animals. Then the whole kingdom will benefit."
Thus, the prince devised a long-term plan. Periodically, he rode his grand chariot to a popular banyan tree outside the city, where people prayed to a tree god. He dismounted and made offerings of incense, flowers, perfumes, and water—but never animals. This public display led people to believe he was a devout follower of the banyan tree god.
In due time, King Brahmadatta died, and the prince became king. He ruled righteously, earning his subjects' trust and respect.
One day, he decided to execute the next phase of his plan. He summoned Benares's leading citizens and asked, "Worthy ministers and loyal subjects, do you know how I ensured I would become king?" No one answered.
"Do you recall my frequent offerings to the great god of the banyan tree?" he asked. "Yes, our lord," they replied.
The king continued, "Each time, I promised the powerful tree god: 'Oh mighty one, if you make me King of Benares, I will offer a special sacrifice far greater than flowers and perfumes.' Now that I am king, you see the god answered my prayers. I must keep my promise."
The assembly agreed, asking, "We must prepare this sacrifice at once. What animals do you wish to kill?"
The king said, "My dear subjects, I am glad you are willing to cooperate. I promised the great god I would sacrifice anyone who fails to practice the Five Training Steps: those who destroy life, take what is not given, engage in sexual misconduct, speak falsely, or lose their mind from alcohol. I vowed to offer their guts, flesh, and blood on the great god's altar!"
Steeped in superstition, everyone agreed this must be done to avoid divine punishment.
The king thought, "Such is superstition's power that they've lost all common sense! They don't see that if I sacrificed a subject for killing—the first training step is to avoid killing—I'd be next on the altar. And such is its power that I can make this promise and never fulfill it!"
Confident in superstition's hold, the king instructed the leaders, "Go throughout the kingdom and announce my promise to the god. Proclaim that the first one thousand who break any training step will have the honor of being sacrificed to keep the king's word."
Lo and behold, the people of Benares became famous for diligently practicing the Five Training Steps. The wise king, who understood his subjects well, sacrificed no one.
The moral is: Sacrifice your own wrongdoing, not some helpless animal.
中文翻译
从前，布拉玛达塔国王统治着印度北部的贝拿勒斯。他的儿子，王子，是一位觉者。他聪慧过人，十六岁便完成了全部学业，因此被任命为副指挥。
贝拿勒斯的人们非常迷信，认为神灵掌控着他们的命运。为了求得姻缘、子嗣或财富，他们向神祈祷并许诺供奉。他们认为神灵渴望动物祭品，因此当觉得祈祷应验时，便会宰杀山羊、羔羊、鸡、猪等动物。
王子目睹这一切，心想：“这些无助的动物也是国王的子民，必须受到保护。人们因无知和迷信而行此恶业；这绝非真正的宗教。真正的宗教尊重生命，带来内心安宁，而非杀戮与残忍。”
“他们迷信太深，难以放弃，”他思忖道，“但或许他们的信仰能被引向善用。等我成为国王，必须制定一个计划。如果他们必须献祭，就让他们牺牲自己的贪婪与憎恨，而非无助的动物。这样，整个王国都将受益。”
于是，王子制定了一个长远的计划。他时常乘坐华丽的战车前往城外一棵受人朝拜的菩提树，人们向他们认为居住在那里的树神祈祷。王子下车后，会像其他人一样供奉香、花、香水和水——但从不献祭动物。这番公开表演让人们相信他是菩提树神的虔诚信徒。
时机成熟时，布拉玛达塔国王去世，王子继位为王。他公正地统治国家，赢得了臣民的信任与尊敬。
一天，国王决定实施计划的下一步。他召集贝拿勒斯的所有显要公民，问道：“尊贵的臣子、忠实的子民，你们可知我是如何确保自己成为国王的吗？”无人能答。
“你们可记得我常向伟大的菩提树神献上精美祭品？”他问。“记得，我们的主上，”他们回答。
国王继续说道：“每次献祭时，我都向那强大的树神许诺：‘哦，伟大的神啊，若你让我成为贝拿勒斯国王，我将献上一种特殊的祭品，远比鲜花和香水珍贵。’如今我已是国王，你们亲眼所见，神应允了我的祈祷。我必须履行诺言。”
与会众人一致同意，问道：“我们必须立即准备这场祭祀。您想宰杀哪些动物？”
国王说：“我亲爱的子民，很高兴你们愿意配合。我向伟大的树神许诺，将献祭任何不遵守‘五训诫’的人：即那些杀生、偷盗、邪淫、妄语或饮酒乱性之人。我发誓要将他们的内脏、血肉供奉在伟大神祇的祭坛上！”
由于深陷迷信，所有人都认为必须这么做，以免神灵降罪于国王和国家。
国王心想：“迷信的力量如此之大，竟让他们丧失了常识！他们看不到，如果我为‘杀生’——而五训诫第一条就是戒杀——献祭一个子民，那下一个上祭坛的就是我自己。而且迷信的力量如此之强，我许下此诺，却永远无需执行！”
对迷信的掌控力充满信心的国王于是指示首领们：“前往王国各处，宣告我对神许下的诺言。同时宣告，首批违反任何一条训诫的一千人，将有幸被献祭，以保全国王的誓言。”
结果，你瞧，贝拿勒斯的人民因严格遵守五训诫而闻名。这位深知其民心的贤明国王，没有牺牲任何人。
寓意在于：牺牲你自己的过错，而非某些无助的动物。