In the royal stables of Benares lived the king's favourite elephant, a magnificent creature who was fed sweet rice and bathed in perfumed water every day. One evening a thin stray dog crept into the stable, drawn by the smell of the rice that fell from the elephant's mouth. He gobbled the scattered grains, and soon he came every day.
At first the elephant hardly noticed his small visitor. But little by little the two became friends. The dog grew plump and glossy, and the elephant grew fond of his company. They ate together, played together, and slept side by side. The dog loved to swing on the elephant's trunk, and the elephant would lift him high in the air while the stable rang with happy barking. Neither was content unless the other was near.
One day a farmer from a faraway village passed the stables, took a liking to the friendly dog, and bought him from the elephant keeper for a coin. From that day the elephant's joy vanished. He would not eat his sweet rice. He would not drink. He refused his bath and stood silently, with tears rolling down his great grey cheeks. The worried king sent his wisest minister to find out what illness had struck his favourite elephant.
The minister examined the elephant carefully. His body was healthy — but his heart was not. Looking around, the minister asked the keeper, "Did this elephant have a companion?" "Yes, sir — a little dog, but he was sold and taken away." The minister returned to the king and said, "Your elephant is not sick. He is grieving for his friend." The king at once proclaimed through the city and villages: "Whoever keeps the dog that lived with the royal elephant shall set him free." The moment the dog was released, he raced back to the stable. The elephant trumpeted with joy, lifted his friend onto his head, and then, at last, happily ate his dinner while the dog dined beside him.
When the Buddha finished this tale, he said, "In that life, the wise minister who reunited the two friends was I myself."