A story from the Jatakas… Bodhisattva, the enlightened being that was Buddha, was a noble elephant in one of his previous lives.
The Bodhisattva was once born a white elephant in the Himalayas. He was the King among his kind, and his herd numbered 80,000. His old mother had gone blind but he tended to her with utmost love and devotion.
The White Elephant would roam the forests in the foothills and find the sweetest of berries and fruit that he would send to his mother through his elephant herd. But the greedy elephants relished all of the sweet fruit themselves and the elephant king’s poor mother did not get even one.
When he came to know how his people had cheated him, he decided to leave the herd and go away with his mother. Of what use is it to be King, when I cannot provide for my own mother, thought he.
Along with his old mother he moved to the Candorana mountain. It was a picturesque spot with a beautiful, blue lake full of lotuses in bloom. There he found a cave where his mother could stay. All day he would roam the forests looking for food to take home to his mother. Of that there was plenty and many happy days went by this way.
One day as he was foraging in the forests, he came across a forester from Benares who had got lost. The man was terrified to see such a huge animal and a white one at that. As he was running away in fright, the Elephant addressed him: “Do not fear me, my friend. Looks like you’ve got lost. I’ll help you find your way back. ” The Elephant then led the man to the path that led to Benares and returned home.
Many days later after his return to Benares, the man heard the news that King Brahmadatta’s royal elephant had died. Royal guards came around announcing that anyone who could find a suitable replacement would be rewarded. As he heard this, the forester rushed to the royal court and demanded an audience with the King. On meeting the King, he declared: “Your Majesty! I have just the elephant for you! A white elephant !”
“Really? A white elephant?” King Brahmadatta was intrigued. “Please arrange for some men to accompany me. I promise I’ll return with that beautiful creature who alone is fit to be your vehicle,” said the evil man. And he returned to the forests in Candorana with the king’s men.
The White Elephant was having a drink of water when he saw the forester and his group of men. The forester, who knew the Elephant’s noble nature, approached him fearlessly and began to pull him by his silver trunk. “Come with me! Let me lead you to our King! “The White Elephant regarded the group and thought to himself. If I want, I could easily crush this man and his friends to death. It will require almost no effort on my part at all. But I do not want to cause any bloodshed and hence I shall go where he leads me.
So the ungrateful man returned to Benares with the White Elephant and on handing it over to the King, got himself a handsome reward. King Brahmadatta was delighted. He had never seen a white elephant before. Of course, nobody else had either. And this was such a magnificent animal, noble in bearing and distinctly royal.
The King had the entire city of Benares festooned with decorations leading all the way to the royal stable. The stable itself was bedecked with flowers and garlands. There was a many-hued screen that served as an enclosure for the royal elephant. The trainer led the White Elephant to the enclosure. Soon the King arrived with the choicest of food and ordered the trainer to feed the new royal elephant. When he was offered the food, the Elephant refused to eat even a morsel. “I will not eat while my poor mother pines away,” said he.
“You must eat for there’s much you have do as royal duties. Think what a privilege it is to be the royal elephant,” coaxed the King.
“My poor, unfortunate mother, blind and infirm… who’ll bring her food now that her son is taken away? How can I even think of food when my own mother is starving? Days have gone by and she does not know what has happened to her son .Alone in her cave in the Candorana, she sits and awaits my return.’’ The White Elephant’s words greatly moved the King.
“Oh noble one! I apologise, and hope you will forgive my ignorance. You‘re free to go at once... Make haste and return to Candorana. Your mother should not be left to worry any longer!” And the King ordered his men to take the White Elephant back to his home immediately.
The Elephant returned to his mother and showered her with the cool waters from the lake on arrival to refresh her tired self. And the poor mother, who knew not that her son had returned to her, thought it was the rain!
“Mother, it’s not the summer showers but your son! I’ve returned, thanks to the generous and large hearted King.”
Together, the mother and son praised the king and blessed him.
The King, moved by the goodness, compassion and nobility of the Bodhisattva, the White Elephant, ordered that a royal kitchen be set up near Candorana and food be brought for the mother and son every day.