#(Buddha) 34 Compassion For Animals Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

Buddha saw one day,
A shepherd on the way,
Chasing goats and sheep,
All in one pack to keep.

A little lamb trailed behind,
With a severe wound
When it was struck,
By the shepherd’s stick.

As if he was wounded,
Buddha’s heart melted.
He took it in his hand,
And slowly went behind.

“Caring innocent being
Is better than sitting
In caves, with eyes closed,
As if not concerned.”

He asked the shepherd,
“Oh my friend
Where do you take
This huge flock? ”

The shepherd replied,
“In sacrifice, to be offered,
The King had ordered.
And I obey his command.”

When the flock passed
Thro’ streets, people talked,
“See, he’s a holy hermit.
The flock, he has brought.”

Near the altar Buddha stood.
The King then understood,
The ceremony to lead
The hermit came as head.

The high priest was about
To cut with knife a goat,
Buddha cried, “Oh King,
This, why are you allowing.”

“Every creature loves to live,
As a human being likes to live.
It’s an act of cruelty to kill,
For sacrifice, innocent animals.”

The priest threw the knife
And spared the goat’s life.
The King ordered, “No more
Sacrifices in his land, in future.”