..續本文上一頁omething in the water. Orders were given to search the river, and the lump of dung was found in the bush. The trainers powdered the dung and mixed it with a little water. Then they sprinkled it over the backs of the other elephants. This caused the animals to smell very sweet, and they immediately went into the water to bathe. The trainers were sure the dung had come from a very noble elephant. They reported all this to the king and advised him to capture the elephant for himself.
The king ordered a raft prepared and set off upstream. When he reached the place where the carpenters had settled, he found the young elephant playing in the water. As soon as the elephant heard the sound of the king”s drums, he came out of the water and drew near to the carpenters. They all went together to pay their respects to the king.
"Sire," the carpenters said, "if you wish us to do any work for you, you didn”t need to come yourself. You could have sent for it, and we would have brought it to you."
"No, my friends," the king answered. "I”ve come not for wood, but for this elephant."
"He is yours, Sire!" they replied immediately, but the elephant refused to budge.
Addressing the elephant directly, the king asked, "What do you want me to do
"
"Order the carpenters paid for what they have spent on me, Sire," the elephant answered.
"Willingly, friend." The king ordered a hundred thousand coins to be piled by the elephant”s trunk, by his tail, and beside each foot, but this was not enough for the elephant; he still refused to go. Each of the carpenters was given clothes for himself and his wife. Then the king provided money for all the children.
Satisfied that his friends would be able to manage without his help, the elephant bade farewell to the carpenters, their wives, and the children, and departed with the king.
The king took the elephant to his capital, which was beautifully decorated to mark the occasion. He led the elephant around the city in a solemn procession and gave him a beautifully furnished stable.
The elephant served as the king”s comrade, and no one else was ever permitted to ride him. With the help of this elephant, the king won supremacy over all India.
After some time, the Queen Consort became pregnant. When it was almost time for her to give birth, the king died.
Everyone realized that if the elephant were to learn of the death of the king, his heart would break, so he was cared for as usual, but not a word was said.
As soon the king of Kosala heard rumors of the king”s death, however, he thought, "Surely Baranasi is at my mercy!" and he decided to attack the kingdom.
Marching at the head of a great army, he laid siege to the capital. The people of Baranasi closed the city gates and sent a message to the king of Kosala: "The Queen of Baranasi is near the time of her delivery, and the astrologers have predicted that she will bear a son in seven days. If, indeed, she bears a son, we will fight to protect the kingdom. Please grant us seven days." The king of Kosala agreed to their terms.
Just as predicted, on the seventh day, the baby boy was born. Since he was born to win the hearts of his people, the Queen named him Alinacitta, which means "Inspirer."
On that day, the army emerged to begin fighting the king of Kosala. Without a leader, however, the soldiers were driven back and began to waver.
Shortly after the battle began, messengers went to see the queen. "Our army is losing ground," they reported, "and we are afraid of defeat. The state elephant, our late king”s loyal friend, has not been told that the king is dead, that a prince has just been born, and that we are besieged by the king of Kosala. Shall we tell him
"
"Yes, the time has come," answered the Queen. She quickly dressed her baby boy and wrapped him i…
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