The King of Benares loved deer hunting so much that he went out every single day. Tired of this, his people drove two great herds of deer into the royal park and fenced them in, so the king could hunt without leaving home. One herd was led by the golden Banyan deer, the other by the golden Branch deer. The king admired the two shining deer kings so much that he granted them both complete safety: no arrow would ever be aimed at them.
But every day one deer from the park was taken for the royal kitchen, and every day many others were hurt in the frightened chase. So the two deer kings made a sad but fair agreement: each day, one deer would be chosen by turns — one day from the Banyan herd, the next from the Branch herd — and would go alone to the great block by the gate. There would be no more chasing, and no more fear for the rest.
One day the turn fell upon a mother doe of the Branch herd who was soon to have a fawn. She begged the Branch king, "Let my turn come later, after my baby is born — then we shall not be two lives for one turn." But the Branch king coldly refused. In despair she went to the Banyan king. He thought for only a moment and said, "Go in peace. I will take your turn myself."
When the royal cook saw the great golden deer lying calmly at the block, he ran to fetch the king. "Wise deer, I granted you your life!" cried the astonished king. "Why are you here?" The Banyan deer told him of the mother doe. The king's heart melted. "Rise. I give her life and yours." "And the other deer of this park, O king?" "They are safe as well." "And the deer of the forests? The other four-footed creatures? The birds of the air? The fish in the water?" The king smiled and granted them all his protection, and from that day he ruled with gentleness toward every living thing.
When the Buddha ended this tale, he said, "In that life, the Branch deer was Devadatta, and the Banyan deer king was I myself."