The King of Benaras had a deer park. There lived two herds led by two golden deer Banyan and Branch. Banyan was full of karuna (compassion). The King had ordered that the two golden deer would never be hunted. Now, every day a deer would be killed for the king’s dinner. So, the two herds decided that each herd would offer a deer every alternate day, thereby, saving the others’ lives. One day, a pregnant doe was chosen for the sacrifice. She begged her leader, Branch, to spare her life, but he refused. The doe then went to Banyan, who decided to sacrifice himself for the doe. As Banyan walked to the kitchen, the cook saw that it was the golden deer and informed the king. The king asked Banyan the reason for his sacrifice. Banyan narrated the plight of the doe and begged that none of the deer be harmed. Touched, the king agreed to stop the killing of the deer.
Moral: Have compassion for all beings.
