In a Jataka tale, a narrative recounts the sufferings of the subjects living under the rule of a cruel king. Among those affected were elderly women and men, farmers, herders, village boys, and even animals. Curious about his people's sentiments towards him, the king disguised himself and approached his subjects. To his dismay, he encountered curses and grievances from each individual he spoke to, blaming him for their miseries. They shared accounts of being attacked by robbers at night and oppressed by tax collectors during the day, leading many to abandon their village and seek refuge in the forest as a desperate attempt to escape their dire circumstances.

Which of the following story is being referred to here?

Gandatindu Jataka

When it comes to understanding the perspectives of subjects towards their rulers, inscriptions alone cannot provide a comprehensive picture. Ordinary people seldom left behind written accounts of their thoughts and experiences. However, historians have sought to address this challenge by exploring narratives found in anthologies such as the Jatakas and the Panchatantra. These stories likely emerged as popular oral tales that were eventually recorded in written form. The Jatakas, specifically written in Pali during the middle of the first millennium CE, hold valuable insights into this realm of inquiry.

One story known as the Gandatindu Jataka describes the plight of the subjects of a wicked king; these included elderly women and men, cultivators, herders, village boys and even animals. When the king went in disguise to find out what his subjects thought about him, each one of them cursed him for their miseries, complaining that they were attacked by robbers at night and by tax collectors during the day. To escape from this situation, people abandoned their village and went to live in the forest.