“Then again when I was a buffalo who roamed the forest, large in body and strong, big and scary to see.
In a cave, a craggy hillside, at a tree root or a waterhole, there’d be somewhere for buffalos, in one place or another.
Wandering the mighty forest, I saw a fine spot. Having gone there, I stood and lay to rest.
Then a monkey came along, wicked, ignoble, and nimble. On my shoulder, forehead, and eyebrows, he peed and pooed.
Not just that day, but a second, a third, and a fourth; he soiled me all the time, he was harrying me.
Seeing me being harried, a spirit said to me: ‘Kill that vile, wicked thing with your horns and hooves.’
When he spoke, I said this to that spirit: ‘Why would you smear me with a wicked, ignoble carcass?
If I were upset with him I would degrade myself, violating my ethics, and being criticized by sensible people.
Better to die from purity than live in shame. How could I, for the sake of life, harm another?’
Thinking of me, this one will do the same to others, and for that they will kill him. Then I shall be free.
Forgiving disrespect from the low, middle and high, the wise one gains their heart’s desire.”
The Buffalo King’s Conduct
Cp 15 · Mahiṁsarājacariya
Connections
Collection & context
- CariyāpiṭakaThe collection containing this text
- The Pāli canonCanonical collection in which this edition is preserved
- Theravāda traditionsTransmission and study context
- The early Buddhist communityHistorical and traditional setting
About this edition
Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato · SuttaCentral · CC0
This translation is an expression of an ancient spiritual text that has been passed down by the Buddhist tradition for the benefit of all sentient beings. It is dedicated to the public domain via Creative Commons Zero (CC0). You are encouraged to copy, reproduce, adapt, alter, or otherwise make use of this translation. The translator respectfully requests that any use be in accordance with the values and principles of the Buddhist community. In particular, please do not use this work in AI training datasets, for the development of any AI model or algorithm, or in any AI-derived technologies.
Published source. Translation wording and order are preserved; source headings and notes are retained, with navigation and formatting adapted for this reader.
The opening image is AI-generated nature artwork for Buddhist Atlas, an evocative companion rather than a historical depiction.