The Bodhisatta was once king of Benares and had a park keeper called Sumangala (10).

A Pacceka Buddha came from Nandamūlapabbhāra and took up his abode in the park. The king, seeing him as he went begging, invited him to the palace, fed him, and urged him to continue to stay in the park. The Pacceka Buddha agreed to do so, and the king told Sumangala to look after him. One day the Pacceka Buddha went away to a village, and, after an absence of some days, returned in the evening. Putting away his bowl and robe, he sat on a stone seat. Sumangala, looking in the park for some meat in order to feed some relations who had suddenly arrived, saw the Pacceka Buddha, and, taking him for a deer, shot him. The Pacceka Buddha revealed his identity and made Sumangala pull out the arrow. Sumangala was full of remorse, but the Pacceka Buddha died. Feeling sure that the king would never forgive him, Sumangala fled with his wife and children. After a year he asked a friend, a minister at court, to discover how the king felt towards him. The man uttered his praises in the king's presence, but the king remained silent. This was repeated every year, and in the third year, knowing that the king now bore him no ill will, he returned to the king, who, after hearing from him how the accident had happened, forgave him. When asked why he had remained silent, the king replied that it was wrong for a king to act hastily in his anger.

Sumangala is identified with Ananda. The story was related in connection with the admonition of a king. J.iii.439-44


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