Jataka Chaddanta Elephant

tale:jataka_chaddanta_elephant

The Bodhisattva is a great six-tusked elephant. A queen, nursing a grudge from a former life, sends a hunter to bring back his tusks. Mortally wounded, the elephant sees the hunter cannot saw through the ivory, and with his own trunk helps cut and gives his tusks freely, bearing no anger even at his death. Moral: the truly great answer cruelty with compassion. — Jataka tale