The Tell-Tale Parrot

Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king of
Benares, the Bodhisatta came into the world as a young
parrot. His name was Radha, and his youngest brother
was named Potthapada. While they were yet quite young,
both of them were caught by a fowler and handed over to
a brahmin in Benares. The brahmin cared for them as
if they were his children. But the brahmin's wife was a
wicked w r oman ; there w r as no watching her.

The husband had to go away on business, and addressed
his young parrots thus. "Little dears, I am going away
on business. Keep watch on your mother in season and
out of season; observe whether or not any man visits
her." So off he went, leaving his wife in charge of the
young parrots.

As soon as he was gone, the woman began to do wrong ;

night and day the visitors came and went there was no

end to them. Potthapada, observing this, said to Radha

" Our master gave this woman into our charge, and here

she is doing wickedness. I will speak to her."

" Don't," said Radha. But the other would not listen.
" Mother," said he, " why do you commit sin ? "

How she longed to kill him! But making as though
she would fondle him, she called him to her.

" Little one, you are my son ! I will never do it again !
Here, then, the dear ! " So he came out ; then she seized
him crying,

" What ! you preach to me you don't know your mea-
sure!" and she wrung his neck, and threw him into the
oven.

The brahmin returned. When he had rested, he asked
the Bodhisatta: "Well, my dear, what about your mother
-does she do wrong, or no ? " and as he asked the question,
he repeated the first couplet:

I come, my son, the journey done, and now I am at home again:
Come tell me ; is your mother true ? does she make love to other men ?

Radha answered, " Father dear, the wise speak not of
things which do not conduce to blessing, whether they
have happened or not"; and he explained this by re-
peating the second couplet:

For what he said he now lies dead, burnt up beneath the ashes there :
It is not well the truth to tell, lest Potthapada's fate I share.

Thus did the Bodhisatta hold forth to the brahmin;
and he went on "This is no place for me to live in
either"; then bidding the brahmin farewell, he flew away
to the woods.