“Then again when I reigned in Indapatta, the capital city, as the king named Dhanañjaya I was blessed with the ten skillful deeds.
From the realm of Kaliṅga brahmins came to me requesting the royal elephant that was lucky and deemed auspicious.
‘Our nation is suffering from drought, food is scarce and famine abounds, please give the noble elephant of midnight hue named Añjana.’
‘When supplicants come to me it is unbefitting to refuse. Let not my vow be broken, I shall give the mighty elephant.’
Taking the elephant by the trunk, and a bejeweled ceremonial vessel, I sprinkled water on the hand, and gave the elephant to the brahmins.
When I had given the elephant, my ministers said, ‘Why did you give the noble elephant to the supplicants?
He was lucky and endowed with the auspicious, supreme victor in battle. Now you have given the elephant, how shall you govern the realm?’
‘I would give the entire realm and my physical body as well. Omniscience is precious to me, which is why I gave away the elephant.’”
Kururāja’s Conduct
Cp 3 · Kururājacariya
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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.