The Heron's Revenge

This story was told by the Master at Jetavana, con-
cerning a heron that lived in the house of the king of
Kosala. She carried messages, they say, for the king, and
had two young ones. The king sent this bird with a letter
to some other king. When she was gone away, the boys
in the royal family squeezed the young birds to death hi
their hands. The mother bird came back and missing
her young ones, asked who had killed her offspring.
They said, "So and so." And at this time there was
a fierce and savage tiger kept in the palace, fastened
by a strong chain. Now these boys came to see the
tiger and the heron went with them, thinking, "Even
as my young ones were killed by them, just so will
I deal with these boys," and she took hold of them and
threw them down at the foot of the tiger. The tiger with
a growl crunched them up. The bird said, "Now is the
wish of my heart fulfilled," and flying up into the air
made straight for the Himalayas. On hearing what had
happened they started a discussion in the Hall of Truth,
saying, " Sirs, a heron, it is said, in the king's palace threw
down before a tiger the boys who killed her young ones,
and when she had thus brought about their death, she
made off." The Master came and inquired what it was
the Brethren were discussing and said, "Not now only,
Brethren, but formerly also did she bring about the death
of those who killed her young ones." And herewith he
related a legend of the past.

Once upon a time the Bodhisatta at Benares ruled his
kingdom with justice and equity. A certain heron in his
house carried messages for him. And so on just as before.
But the special point here is that in this case the bird,
having let the tiger kill the boys, thought, " I can no
longer remain here. I will take my departure, but
though I am going away I will not leave without telling the
king, but as soon as I have told him I will be off." And
so she drew nigh and saluted the king, and standing a
little way off said, "My lord, it was through your carelessness
that the boys killed my young ones, and under the influence
of passion I in revenge caused their death. Now I can no
longer live here." And uttering the first stanza she said :

Long- I held this house as mine,

Honour great I did receive,
It is due to act of thine

I am now compelled to leave.

The king on hearing this repeated the second stanza :

Should one to retaliate,

Wrong 1 with equal wrong 1 repay,
Then his anger should abate;

So, good heron, prithee stay.

Hearing this the bird spoke the third stanza :

Wronged can with wrong-doer ne'er

As of old be made at one :
Nought, O king can keep me here,

Lo! from henceforth I am gone.

The king, on hearing this, spoke the fourth stanza :

Should they wise, not foolish be,

With the wronged wrong-doer may
Live in peace and harmony:

So, good heron, prithee, stay.

The bird said, " As things are, I cannot stay, my lord,"
and saluting the king she flew up into the air and made
straight for the Himalayas.