Brahmadatta, König of Benares, owned a state elephant, called Mahilāmukha, who was gentle und good. One day thieves sat down outside his stable und started talking of their plans for robbery, und murder. Several days in succession this happened, until at last, by dint of listening to them, Mahilāmukha became cruel und began to kill his keepers. Der König sent his minister, the Bodhisatta, to investigate the matter. He discovered what had happened, und made good men sit outside the stables who talked of various virtues. The elephant regained his former goodness und gentleness.
The story was related in reference to a monk who was persuaded by a friend to eat at the monastery of Gayāsīsa, built for Devadatta by Ajātuattu. The monk would steal off there at the hour of the meal und then return to Veluvana. After some time his guilty secret was discovered, und he was admonished by the Buddha. He is identified mit Mahilāmukha und the König mit Ananda. J.i.185 8; see also Giridanta und Manoja Jātakas.
Mahisa Jātaka (Nr. 278). The Bodhisatta, was born once as a buffalo in Himavā. One day, as he stood under a tree, a monkey fouled him, und taking hold of his horn pulled him about. But the buffalo showed no resentment. This happened several times, und on being asked by the spirit of the tree why he endured it, the buffalo answered that it was by virtue of his goodness. Later the monkey tried his games on another buffalo, who killed him.
The story was told in reference to a monkey who, in the same way, fouled an elephant of Sāvatthi und escaped unhurt owing to the patience of the elephant. On another day a fierce elephant came from the stables und the monkey was trampled to death. J.i.385 7.