The chaplain of the king of Bārāṇasī, while on his way to his village estate, came upon a caravan in a narrow road, and, becoming impatient, threw his goad at the driver of the first cart. The goad, however, struck the yoke of his own chariot, and, rebounding, hit him on the forehead, where a lump appeared. He turned back in a rage and complained to the king, who, without any enquiry, confiscated the property of the caravan owner. However, the Bodhisatta, who was the king’s chief judge, had the order reversed.
The story was told in reference to the chaplain of the king of Kosala, who was guilty of a similar offence, but, in this case, the king had the case examined by his judges and the chaplain was proclaimed guilty (J.iii.104 ff). The stanzas of the Jātaka are quoted elsewhere. e.g., at J.iv.30, 451; vi.375.