In a village during the reign of Brahma-datta, a hawker uses an ass to transport goods. To deceive the local watchmen, he dresses the ass in a lion's skin and releases it into a barley field. The watchmen, believing they see a lion, avoid the creature, allowing the hawker to go about his business. One day, while the hawker prepares his meal, he again dresses the ass in the lion's skin. The watchmen, upon seeing the supposed lion, spread the word, and soon the villagers gather, armed and ready to confront the beast. However, when the ass, frightened by the commotion, brays, the villagers realize the truth. The future Buddha, witnessing the scene, reflects on the situation and recites a verse highlighting the absurdity of the ass's pretense. The villagers, now aware of the ass's true identity, beat it severely, stripping it of the lion's skin and leaving it in a broken state. The hawker, upon returning, laments the ass's fate and delivers a second verse, emphasizing that the ass's downfall was due to its inability to maintain the facade. Ultimately, the ass dies, illustrating the consequences of false pretenses and the importance of authenticity.
By Joseph Jacobs · First published 1896 · Genre: Fable, Fantasy, Parable