The Golden Deer (Ruru Jataka)

In a past life, the Bodhisattva was born as a magnificent Ruru deer. His coat shone like spun gold, and his eyes were like brilliant sapphires. To avoid the greed of human hunters, he lived in the deepest, most inaccessible part of the forest.

One day, he heard the desperate cries of a man drowning in a torrential, swollen river. Without hesitating, the golden deer plunged into the raging rapids. Risking his own life, he allowed the man to climb onto his back and safely ferried him to the shore.

The man fell to his knees in gratitude. 'How can I repay you?' he wept.

'I ask only one thing,' the golden deer replied. 'Do not tell anyone where I live. If humans know of my golden coat, they will hunt me.' The man promised and left.

However, the Queen of that realm had dreamt of a golden deer and demanded that the King capture it. The King offered a massive reward of wealth and land to anyone who could find it. Hearing of the reward, the man's greed instantly overwhelmed his gratitude. He led the King and his hunters straight to the deer's secret grove.

The King raised his bow, ready to shoot. The deer walked calmly out of the thicket. In a human voice, he asked the King, 'O King, how did you find this hidden place?' The King pointed to the man.

The deer sighed. 'It is true what they say: it is better to pull a drowning log from the river than an ungrateful man.'

Stunned by the deer's speech, the King asked for the story. When he learned of the betrayal, the King was furious and drew his sword to execute the treacherous man on the spot.

But the golden deer stepped between them. 'Stop, O King! Do not kill him. His greed blinded him, but violence will only breed more violence. I forgive him. Let him have his reward.'

Moved to tears by the deer's supreme forgiveness and nobility, the King spared the man, banned all hunting in his kingdom, and took the golden deer's teachings as his guiding law.