Dhammapal Prince the law keeper

Buddhi Chaudhary 

One year after the enlightenment, the Buddha went to Kapilvastu city. While he was residing or lodging in his Father’s Banyan Grove, about the King, his father’s refusal to believe the death of his own, he gave this sermon.

After having the meal of rice gruel the Buddha along with his brethren and answered the questions given by the king pleasantly.

“Venerable sir, at the time of your striving came some deities to me and poised me” he said “your son has died while striving”

“Did you believe it, Great King?” the lord put the question.

“Venerable sir, I did not believe it” replied the king “even when the deities came hovering in the air and told me this but I refuse to believe it, saying that there are no death of my son Siddhattha until he realize the Buddha hood at the foot of the Bo-tree”

The lord gave his loving-kindness, compassionate and commiserative smile to the king and his followers and then said. 

"Great King, long ago in the time of the great Dhammapāla, even when a world-famed teacher said—"Your son is dead, these are his bones," you refused to believe, answering, "In our family, they never die young"; then why should you believe now?" and then related the past story at the request of his father.

Once upon a time, in ancient India, there was a king called Brahmadatta of Banaras City. There in the kingdom of Kasi was village named Dhammapala which took that name because the family of the Dhammapala a baron dwelt there. Due to his right conducts of life, he was known to all as Dhammapala or law keeper. In his household, all the family as well as servitors gave the alms to the priest of the time, observed virtuous and kept the holy day. 

At time the Bodhisattva came to be born on that family and they named him prince Dhammapala a law keeper the younger too. He was grown up among the lots of love and care of his parents and other members. When he was seven years old, he could understand everything. He could read and write well. He was well educated in three Vedas.

One day, his father summoned him near and gave thousands pieces of coins (ancient Indian gold coins). Amazed boy like feared-dear took those gold coins on his hand looking straight to his beloved father not understanding why and what for. Reading and understanding the prince face, the baron put his hand upon the prince’s soldier and place him on his right knee.

“My dear son” kissing on prince’s left cheek “now you is young. You should go to Takkashila to have further studies”

“I am still a small child, my beloved father” prince said “how I can stay there without your love and affection?’’

Saddened-baron with the prince answer could say nothing. He rose from the seat up and handed his son to the guard’s hand to send to the Takkashila. Thither prince went to the Takkashila to study. He studied there with five hundred students who have come from different parts of the city. He studied there with the world famous teacher and became the chief pupil among the thousands of student due to his extra talents.

Time passed on and days creep like snails unknowingly. Prince was grown up to be young. Some of his friends finished the study and left the school others were still studying.

One sad day, when prince entered to the classroom, he did not see to no one. Classroom was empty. He felt strange. “Empty class” he murmured himself “why did not come students yet” and looked outside from the window but no signs of students. So he went outside from the classroom and walked towards the master’s residence. Whenever, he reached there he saw some of his friends were weeping and others were sitting sadly. The master was standing and weeping too. People were surrounded white spread-clothes. The prince could not figure out what this all about is. So he stepped slowly towards friends and asked the reasons of this all strange incident.

“Don’t you know, Oh prince?” replied friends “Master’s son, one of our friend was died in this morning”

“Master’s son, our friend died?’’ prince repeated with astonishment “how it could be? How can be died a young prince? It is impossible.”

“Death has no age and time” replied friends when they saw disagreement upon prince face “Oh, our friend, people can die anytime and any age thus as has happened to our friend”

Whenever, the heard conversation between prince and his friends, went towards them and asked what is the discussion about. The students narrated all stories. After listening to the student, the master turned to the prince and asked “is it true, oh prince?”

“Yes, my beloved master. It is true.” Prince replied to the master “In my village children never die. i never had seen young people die”

Amazed master, another day took some goat’s bones and went to Dhammapala village to know the truth of the prince strange story. He was greeted with the lots of respect from the family members. When the welcoming ceremony over, the master sat on the couch and started to narrate the story.

“Oh, my beloved baron, though the story that I am going to tell is sad and brings the unlucky to the family, it is the nature of the world. We have to accept it as it is.” He looked at the baron’s face and started again “Unfortunately, due to the heavy rain and storms, prince Dhammapala died yesterday”

When the baron heard story narrated by the master, laughed as loud as he could and said “What a funny news, you have brought” he laughed again rhetorically. “My son will not die in this young age. It is impossible, oh master” 

“If you don’t believe then look at this bones” the master said showing the bones on his hand “it is your son’s bones. I kept it to show you as evidences”

Baron took the bones on his hand and tuned around it. He smelled it and laugh loudly again. When the master asked his unexpected laugh, he replied him “Instead being my son’s bones, it could be goat’s bones” he put the bones down and continued “it is impossible the death of my young son”

“Why, it’s impossible, oh my lord?’ the master asked when he could not hide the secret “prince says the same facts,” he took deep breath and continued “what, customs, holy ways and good deeds you do or pray that leads no to die in young age. Tell me my lord all about it.”

Then the baron told him virtuous deeds that whole Dhammapala villagers practice and that leads them to be religious.

"We walk in uprightness, we speak no lies,
All foul and wicked sins we keep afar,
We do eschew all things that evil are,
Therefore in youth not one among us dies.

"We hear the deeds of foolish and of wise;
Of what the foolish do no heed we take,
The wise we follow, and the fools forsake;
Therefore in youth not one among us dies.

"In gifts beforehand our contentment lies; 1

Even while giving we are well content;
Nor having given, do we then repent:
Therefore in youth not one among us dies.

"Priests, brahmins, wayfarers we satisfy,

Beggars, and mendicants, and all who need,
We give them drink, and hungry folk we feed:
Therefore the young among us do not die.

"Wedded, for others' wives we do not sigh,
But we are faithful to the marriage vow;
And faithful are our wives to us, I trow:
Therefore the young among us do not die.

"The children that from these true wives are sprung
Are wise abundantly, to learning bred,
Versed in the Vedas, and all perfected;
Therefore none dies of us while he is young.

"Each to do right for sake of heaven tries:
So lives the father, and so lives the mother,
So son and daughter, sister so and brother:
Therefore no one of us when youthful dies.

"For sake of heaven our servants too apply
Their lives to goodness, men and maidens all,
[54] Retainers, servitors, each meanest thrall:
Therefore the young among us do not die."

And lastly, by these two stanzas he declared the goodness of those who walk in righteousness:

"Righteousness saves him that thereto is bent; 1
Righteousness practised well brings happiness;
Them that do righteously this boon doth bless—
The righteous comes not into punishment.

[55]"Righteousness saves the righteous, as a shade
saves in the time of rain: the lad still lives.
Goodness to Dhammapāla safety gives;
Some other's bones are these you have conveyed."

On hearing this, the teacher replied: 

"A happy journey is this journey of mine, fruitful, not without fruit!" Then full of happiness, he begged pardon of Dhammapāla's father, and added, "I came hither, and brought with me these wild goat's bones, on purpose to try you. Your son is safe and well. I pray you, impart to me your rule of preserving life." Then the other wrote it upon a leaf; and after tarrying in that place some few days, he returned to Takkasilā, and having instructed Dhammapāla in all branches of skill and learning, he dismissed him with a great troop of followers.

When the Master had thus discoursed to the Great King Suddhodana, he declared the Truths, and identified the Birth: (now at the conclusion of the truths the King became established in the fruit of the Third Path:)—"At that time, mother and father were the Mahārāja's kin, the teacher was Sāriputta, the retinue was the Buddha's retinue, and I myself was the younger Dhammapāla."