Once, there was a Bodhisatta who was born in an well-educated family and so he became a scholar of the great fame. He was known to everyone with the name of Chullabodhi. As he remembered all his past lives and also the fruits of the life of a loner, he, therefore, one day, refused the worldly life and became an mediator. His wife, a well talented lady, too, decided to follow him and go along with him wherever he went, Even after all the warnings and advices. She happily followed him even in the graveyard, desert houses, mountains, the forests full of wild animals and so on. Thus, several years passed.
In a awesome sunny day of spring when all the orchards and all the gardens were fully bloomed; where all the cuckoos were singing; and there was a soft and silky aroma of the fully blossomed flowers in the sweet layers of the wind, Chullabodhi, was sitting in the forest and was sewing his pamsakula (rags of an ascetic) and his charming beautifully-dressed wife was meditating under a tree. At that time the king of the country appeared there and then spotted them and stopped there. He was attracted towards the beauty of the woman blinking through her beautiful garments. He, at once thought of kidnapping her. But taking this in mind, the presence of the male ascetic and also remembering some of the old tales of the supernatural powers of the ascetics, he firstly tried to observe the presence of the supernatural powers. So, to observe the power of the ascetic he asked him as to how would he protect the woman if a thief or a wild animal were to attack her. Chullabodhi answered him coolly “I would not free him”.
The king, who did not worried or tried to understand the message hidden in this sentence quickly experienced that the man had no supernatural power. So, he thought that it would be very easy for him to take away the woman. He then commanded his guards to kidnap her and bring her to his kingdom.
When the woman heard what the king commanded to his guards she looked like a deer, which is attacked by a wild animal. Her expression was changed, and her eyes were fully filled with tears. She cried and shouted, and in a hesitating voice asked her husband to use his supernatural powers to save her. Yet, the ascetic remained quiet. He did not show even a bit of anger. When she was forcefully pushed to the king’s chariot the king suddenly thought over the statements made by the ascetic. Failing to understand the exact meaning of his reply, he asked him to explain, who he referred to as “him” in his statement.
The man said in a loud and angry voice, “By ‘him’ I mean ‘Anger’, which is like fire, through which it shows the destruction to the springs from a piece of wood to destroy each and every wood. So does the fury, that breaks out by a false beginning, destroys the every person in whom it arises. When the fever of anger bursts forth with violence, the man loses all his status just like the water lilies, which lose charm with the pleasure of the moon-shine owing to the sun-rise. But when one pays no attention to the insults and remembers that anger alone is his real enemy his status shines forward like the bright disc of the moon. Moreover, an angry person, no matter whether ornamented with the best of ornaments would look ugly, because the fire of fury would destroy the peacefulness of his beauty. puzzled by the fury, a man move away from the path of happiness; and follows the path of misery just like the moon, which loses its gleam when enters the dark course of the fort-night. So, by ‘him’ I mean the man’s chief enemy - the Anger’, which I did not release to liberate my promise.”
These sensational words and the calmness in the face of the ascetic changed the heart of the king. He suddenly grew admiration for him and felt ashamed of his guilt. He then bowed down on his feet and begged for his forgiveness after praising his virtues.
Also, he released the wife of Chullabodhi and proceeded to his kingdom with a purified mind.
Thus, it is said,
"He, who wins anger quiet down his enemies."
"He, who loses anger burns but himself."