Dharma Protects Us

In ancient times there was a king in Varanasi named Brahmadatta. At that time there was a village in the Kasi Kingdom named Dharmapala. A learned Brahman lived in this village. He practiced ten good creeds (Dasa Kusala Dhamma). He was called Dharmapal by the people. His family members and the servants were charitable. They observed precepts (Sila) and fasting vow.

Bodhisattva was born in this race as a son of the learned Brahman. He was assumed, Dharmapal Kumar. When he came to age, his father sent him to a teacher in Taxila for education. The teacher had five hundred pupils. Gradually Bodhisattva became the best of all among the pupils. One day the elder son of the teacher died. The teacher, kinsmen, friends, and the pupils were crying. Only Dharmapal Kumar, the Bodhisattva did not cry. He laughed.

The teacher wanted to know the reason for his laughing. Then Dharmapal said, nobody died at a tender age in his race. To know the genuineness of his words, one day the teacher went to Dhamapal’s house with a bone of dead goat. The teacher said to his father that Dharmapala died. But Dharmapal’s did not trust. The teacher showed the bone of the goat and said, this is the bone of Dharmapala. By no means, did the father of Dharmapal trust it. The teacher acknowledged the truth.

Now the teacher said with joy, ‘Oh Brahmin! Your son is alive. He is my chief disciple. I have come here to give him charge to teach the other pupils. Your son told me that nobody dies in your race at a young age. I want to know from you the causes of this. Then the Brahman hearing his words described the causes by which virtues nobody in his race does not die untimely. He said that they were never addicted to bad deeds. We give up the bad and always worship the good. So, in our race, nobody dies at a young age.

Our mind is pleased before giving. We give with pleasure and respect, we do not after giving repents. So no young man dies. Sramana, Brahman, wayfarer, mendicant, poor, beggar, whoever comes to our house we satisfy them with food and drink. We give them according to our capacity.
‘The husbands are honest and the wives are devoted to their husbands in our race. We follow Brahmacharya in equal virtues. In this race, who is born in the womb of an honest wife, is to be meritorious, pious, wise, well versed in all scriptures and devotions. All members follow the path of virtue hoping to attain heaven after death. The servants also follow the path of virtue.’

Then the Brahman told, ‘He who follows the path of virtue, the virtue (Dharma) protects him. As an umbrella protects man from rain and sun, the Dharma protects also the pious. Never any harm is done to the pious. So I say, which bone you have brought belonged to other. It is impossible that my son will die at a young age. Hearing these words, the teacher prayed with joy forgiveness of the Brahman. He said to the Brahman, ‘I brought a goat bone to you to examine. Your son is well. Now, kindly say to me which Dharma (virtue) you have observed.’

We observe Ariyadharma, Four Noble Truths; Eightfold Paths, Brahmavihara, fasting, and five precepts. The teacher returned Taxila after some days. Then he taught Dharmapal Kumar all kinds of education and then sent him to his house with many attendants.

Moral: Dharma protects him who is pious.