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Chapter 1. Compassion Once upon a time， an unusual and beautiful deer wasborn in the forests near Benares， in northern India.Although he was as big as a young colt， it was easy for hismother to give birth to him. When he opened his eyes，they were as bright as sparkling jewels. His mouth was asred as the reddest forest berries. His hoofs were as blackas polished coal. His little horns glistened like silver. Andhis color was golden， like a perfect summers dawn. As hegrew up， a herd of 500 deer gathered around him， and hebecame known as King Banyan Deer. Meanwhile， not far away， another beautiful buck deerwas born， just as splendidly golden in color. In time， aseparate herd of 500 deer came to follow him， and he wasknown as Branch Deer. The King of Benares at that time， was very fond ofeating venison. So he regularly hunted and killed deer.Each time he hunted， he went to a different village andordered the people to serve him. They had to stop whatthey were doing， whether plowing or harvesting orwhatever， and work in the kings hunting party. The peoples lives were upset by these interruptions.They grew less crops， and other businesses also had lessincome. So they came together and decided to build alarge deer park for the king， at Benares. There he couldhunt by himself， with no need to command the services ofthe villagers. | 
