The Grateful Parrot

Once upon a time many myriads of parrots lived in
the Himalaya country on the banks of the Ganges in a
grove of fig-trees. A king of the parrots there, when the
fruit of the tree in which he dwelt had come to an end,
ate whatever was left, whether shoot or leaf or bark or
rind, and drank of water from the Ganges, and being very
happy and contented he kept where he was. Owing to
his happy and contented state the abode of Sakka was
shaken. Sakka reflecting on the cause saw the parrot,
and to test his virtue, by his supernatural power he
withered up the tree, which became a mere stump per-
forated with holes, and stood to be buffeted by every
blast of wind, and from the holes dust came out. The
parrot king ate this dust and drank the water of the
Ganges, and going nowhere else sat perched on the top
of the fig-stump, recking nought of wind and sun.

Sakka noticed how very contented the parrot was, and
said, " After hearing- him speak of the virtue of friendship,
I will come and give him his choice of a boon, and cause
the fig-tree to bear ambrosial fruit." So he took the form
of a royal goose, and preceded by Suja 1 in the shape of
an A sura nymph, he went to the grove of fig-trees, and
perching on the bough of a tree close by, he entered into
conversation with the parrot and spoke the first stanza :

Wherever fruitful trees abound,
A flock of hungry birds is found:
But should the trees all withered be,
Away at once the birds will flee.

And after these words, to drive the parrot thence, he
spoke the second stanza :

Haste thee, Sir Redbeak, to be gone;
Why dost thou sit and dream alone?
Come tell me, prithee, bird of spring,
To this dead stump why dost thou cling?

Then the parrot said, "O goose, from a feeling of
gratitude, I forsake not this tree," and he repeated two
stanzas :

They who have been close friends from youth,
Mindful of goodness and of truth,
In life and death, in weal and w r oe
The claims of friendship ne'er forego.

I too would fain be kind and good
To one that long my friend has stood;
I wish to live, but have no heart
From this old tree, though dead, to part.

Sakka on hearing what he said was delighted, and
praising him wished to offer him a choice, and uttered
two stanzas:

I know thy friendship and thy grateful love,
Virtues that wise men surely must approve.
I offer thee whate'er thou wilt for choice;
Parrot, what boon would most thy heart rejoice?

On hearing this, the king parrot making his choice
spoke the seventh stanza:

If thou, goose, what most I crave wouldst give,
Grant that the tree I love, again may live.
Let it once more with its old vigour shoot,
Gather fresh sweetness and bear goodly fruit.

Then Sakka, granting the boon, spoke the eighth
stanza :

Lo! friend, a fruitful and right noble tree,
Well fitted for thy dwelling-place to be.
Let it once more with its old vigour shoot,
Gather fresh sweetness and bear goodly fruit.

With these words Sakka quitted his present form, and
manifesting the supernatural power of himself and Suja,
he took up water from the Ganges in his hand and
dashed it against the fig-tree stump. Straightway the
tree rose up rich in branch and stem, and with honey-
sweet fruit, and stood a charming sight, like unto the
bare Jewel-Mount. The parrot king on seeing it was
highly pleased, and singing the praises of Sakka he spoke
the ninth stanza :

May Sakka and all loved by Sakka blessed be,
As I to-day am blest this goodly sight to see !

Sakka, after granting the parrot his choice, and causing
the fig-tree to bear ambrosial fruit, returned with Sujata
to his own abode.