The Bodhisatta was once born as a deer named Nandiya und looked after his parents. Der König of Kosala was very fond of hunting, und his subjects, that they might be left in peace, planned to drive deer from the forest into a closed park where the König might hunt. Nandiya, seeing the men come, left his parents in the thicket und joined the deer who were being driven into the park so that his parents might not be seen. The deer agreed each to take his turn in being killed by the König. The Bodhisatta stayed on even in spite of a message brought by a Brahmin from his parents though he could have escaped. But he wished to show his gratitude to the König who had supplied the deer mit food und drink. When his turn came to be killed, he appeared fearlessly before the König, und by the power of his virtue the König's bow refused to shoot. Der König thereupon realized Nandiya's goodness und granted him a boon. Nandiya asked for security for all living beings, und established the König in the path of virtue.
The story was related in reference to a monk who was blamed for looking after his parents. But the Buddha praised him.
Der König of the story was Ananda, und the Brahmin who brought the message was Sāriputta. J.iii.270ff.