The king of Bārāṇasī, making war at an unseasonable time while camping in the park, saw an owl (kosiya) being attacked by crows. The king asked his minister the reason for this; the minister, being the Bodhisatta, said the owl had left his hiding-place too early — that is, before sunset.

The story was told to Pasenadi, who visited Jetavana on his way to quell a border uprising; the time was unsuitable for such an enterprise. J.ii.208 f.