In English
The real worth of the human head
One day, King was proceeding to a village in his chariot along with his minister. On the way, he found a Buddhist monk coming from the opposite direction. Immediately, he got down from the chariot and paid his respects to him by placing his head on the feet of the monk. The minister did not relish this act of King . He said, “O king, how could you keep your most valuable head on the feet of an ordinary monk?” The king waited for an opportune moment to give his reply. One day the king, giving his minister the head of a sheep, a goat, and a human being, asked him to sell them in the market. The minister succeeded in selling the head of the sheep and the goat, but not that of a human being. He returned to the king and said, “O king, no one is willing to buy this human head.” Then the king said, “O minister, do you remember the day when you objected to my falling at the feet of a Buddhist monk saying mine was the most valuable head. At least now you would realise the value of the human head.” One should prostrate at the feet of noble souls when one is alive, for even the vultures and dogs do not value human head after death.