Now the king, after issuing the order for the destruction of the dogs, sat himself down in the seat of judgment. The Bodisat went straight up to the place, and rushing forwards, ran underneath the king’s throne. Thereupon the king’s attendants were about to drive him away, but the king stopped them.
After he had rested awhile, he came out from under the throne, and made obeisance to the king, and asked him, “Is it you who are having the dogs slain?”
“Yes; it is I,” was the reply.
“What is their fault, O king of men?”
“They have eaten the leathern coverings and straps of my chariot.”
“Do you know which ones did it?”
“That we don’t know.”
“To have all killed wherever they may be found, without knowing for certain who are the culprits that gnawed the leather, is not just, O king!”
“I gave orders for the destruction of the dogs, saying, ’Kill them all wherever they may be found,’ because dogs had eaten the carriage leather.”
“What then! Do your men kill all dogs, or are there some not punished with death?”