Now the Buddha once upon a time lived alone in the woods, in the ecstasy of meditation. For wild fruits he went no further afield. When fruit grew upon the tree, he ate the fruit; in time of flowers, he ate flowers. When the leaves grew, he ate leaves. When leaves were none, he ate the bark of trees. Thus, in the highest contentment he lived a long time in that place.

Now on a day, Sakka, the King of the gods, appeared before him and, wishing to test him, said: “Behold yon man, all black of hue, my spirit likes him not.”

Now by his divine insight the Buddha knew that Sakka spoke to him. And he made answer and said:

“Though black of hue, I am a true Brahmin. A man is not black by reason of his outer skin; only can sin make him black.” Thus he discoursed to Sakka, and it was as he had made the moon to rise in the sky. And the god asked him what boon he would crave.

And the Divine being asked to be free of three things: malice, hatred and greed.

Then Sakka: &............