A spotted deer (Axis axis) or chital stag in Bandipur National Park, Karnataka, India. The King of the Banyan Deer, the myth tells us, “was golden of hue; his eyes were like round jewels; the sheen of his horns was as of silver; his mouth was red as a bunch of scarlet cloth; his four hoofs were as though lacquered; his tail was like the yak’s; and he was as big as a young foal.”
Part 1 of 2
IN the wide forest of Benares* lived two great herds of deer, the Banyan Deer and the Branch Deer. Now the lord of Benares loved venison, and every day he summoned his people to hunt deer for his table; but the people grumbled that meanwhile fields lay untilled and markets stood silent. So they made a great Park, and brought the deer into it, and told their lord that he might hunt there at his pleasure.
Every day, the lord of Benares rode through the Park with his cook, and the deer fled from his arrows. So many were wounded or died from weariness that the King of the Banyan Deer said to the King of the Branch Deer, “Friend, we cannot escape death at the hands of this lord, but many die needlessly. Let us send by turns one deer daily to his table, that the others may live.” Henceforth they cast lots, and each morning the lord of Benares and his cook came and found a deer lying across the butcher’s block.
* Benares is Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh in northern India. The city stands on the banks of the River Ganges, and is regarded as India’s spiritual capital. There are several parks in the area, including the Sarnath Deer Park where according to tradition Gautama Buddha first taught his path of enlightenment. He was said to be the King of the Banyan Deer in this tale.
Précis
Once there was an Indian prince who so loved venison that his people made him a deer park in Benares, where he might hunt to heart’s content without disturbing them. But the toll upon the herds was so great that the deer agreed to cast lots and hand over one of their number to the prince every day. (58 / 60 words)
Part Two
A spotted deer stag in Bandipur National Park, Karnataka, India. Indian deer parks are not quite like English deer parks. For one thing, the deer and the casual visitor alike may find themselves sharing the park with leopards, crocodiles and tigers.
IT happened one day that the lot fell upon a doe from the Branch herd, and she was pregnant. “O my king” she said to the King of the Branch Deer, “for the sake of my fawn, send another in my place.” Finding him unmoved, she appealed to the King of the Banyan Deer. “But how shall I appoint to death” said he “one whom the lots have appointed to life?” But when she was dismissed the King of the Banyan Deer went and laid his own neck upon the block.
“Surely” exclaimed the lord of Benares, when he found him, “this is the deer-king! And does he cast his lot with the common herd?” But the King of the Banyan Deer replied, “The lot fell upon a doe big with young, and I am come in her stead.” “Never have I seen such kindness and mercy” cried the lord of Benares. “Rise up; I grant to you your life, and hers. For I will hunt Deer no more in Park or Forest.”
Précis
One day the lot fell to a pregnant doe, who for her fawn’s sake begged the king of the deer to appoint another victim. He declared it would be unjust, but telling no one took her place himself. The prince was so moved by his gesture that he spared the king’s life, and the lives of all the herd thereafter. (60 / 60 words)
