The Horse and the Poor Woman: A Tale of Kindness

The Tale
In a past life, the Bodhisatta was a horse merchant, traveling with five hundred horses to sell in the capital. One evening, he stopped to rest at a once-grand estate, now in ruin, where an elderly woman lived in poverty. She had a horse she had raised from a foal, caring for it with love and limited resources. Her horse had become a special animal, a bond between them as strong as that of a mother and child. When the Bodhisatta’s horses arrived, they refused to enter the grounds, sensing the unique presence of this horse.

The woman explained that her horse was out grazing but would return soon. The Bodhisatta patiently waited, knowing his horses would follow the special one. When the horse returned, the Bodhisatta immediately recognized its quality—a rare and magnificent thoroughbred—and asked to buy it. The woman, heartbroken at the thought of selling her beloved animal, initially refused, but the Bodhisatta promised her that the horse would live in luxury, with the finest food, a canopy, and a rug. The woman reluctantly agreed, and the Bodhisatta paid her six thousand coins, along with a new dress and jewelry. Upon seeing her transformed state, the horse cried tears of joy for her newfound happiness.

As the Bodhisatta continued his journey, he fed the horse a simple meal of rice gruel to test its awareness of its worth. The horse, however, refused to eat, saying that while the food was acceptable from the woman, it deserved better from someone like the Bodhisatta. Realizing the horse’s dignity, the Bodhisatta apologized and provided the finer food promised.

In the king’s court, the Bodhisatta showcased the horse’s remarkable talents. The horse ran so swiftly that it appeared as a blur, and it galloped across a pond without touching the water, finally standing gracefully on the Bodhisatta’s outstretched hand. The king, astonished by such extraordinary skill, offered the Bodhisatta half of his kingdom to purchase the horse. The Bodhisatta accepted, and the horse was made the king’s prized steed, feeding on the finest food and living in luxury. With the help of the horse, the king soon conquered all of India. He also followed the Bodhisatta’s advice, doing good deeds and giving alms.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha
The elderly woman in the story was an earlier birth of a poor woman living near the Buddha’s monastery. The horse, a symbol of greatness, was an earlier incarnation of Sariputta, one of the Buddha’s chief disciples. One day, after the Buddha returned to the monastery, the people planned a ceremony to offer gifts to him and his disciples. The poor woman, arriving late, was told that she could offer her food to Sariputta. She invited him to her home, where he ate the simple meal she provided. Hearing of this, many wealthy families, including King Pasenadi, sent her one hundred thousand coins.

After Sariputta finished his meal, he gave the woman a sermon before returning to the monastery. The Buddha later heard his disciples discussing this event and shared this story to remind them that even in past lives, he had helped an elderly woman, just as Sariputta had done.

Moral
The story illustrates how acts of kindness, especially towards those in need, can lead to unexpected rewards. The old woman’s compassion and care for her horse—despite her poverty—was repaid not just by material wealth, but by the horse’s true worth being revealed. This highlights the importance of nurturing what is good in life, no matter how small or humble it may seem. The Buddha uses this story to show how even in humble circumstances, virtue and generosity bring lasting results, just as Sariputta’s actions had done for the poor woman.