A certain
Brahmana of the name of Gautama, mild and self-restrained and with all
his senses under complete control, beheld an infant elephant that had
lost his mother and that was exceedingly cheerless on that account. Full
of compassion and steady in the observance of his vows, the ascetic
nursed that infant animal. After a long time the little beast grew up
into a large and mighty elephant. One day, Indra, assuming the form of
king Dhritarashtra, seized that mighty elephant which was as huge as a
hill and from whose rent temples the juice was trickling down. Beholding
the elephant dragged away, the great ascetic Gautama of rigid vows
addressed king Dhritarashtra and said, 'O ungrateful Dhritarashtra, do
not rob me of this elephant. It is looked upon by me as a son and I have
reared it with much pain. It is said that between the righteous,
friendship springs up if only they exchange seven words.[452] Thou
shouldst see, O king, that the sin of injuring a friend does not touch
thee! It behoveth thee not, O king, to take away by force this elephant
that brings me my fuel and water, that protects my asylum when I am away,
that exceedingly docile and obedient to his instructor, that is mindful
of doing all the offices that his preceptor commands, that is mild and
well-broken, and that is grateful and very dear to me! Indeed, thou
shouldst not bear it away, disregarding my protestations and cries!'
"Dhritarashtra said, 'I shall give thee a thousand kine, a hundred
maid-servants, and five hundred pieces of gold.
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