The Three Wise Birds

Once upon a time Brahmadatta ruled in Benares and
had no heir, and his prayer for a son or daughter was not
answered. Now one day he went with a large escort to
his park and after amusing himself a part of the day in
the grounds he had a couch spread for him at the foot of
the royal sal tree, and after a short nap he awoke and,
looking up to the sal tree, he beheld a bird's nest in it, and
at the sight of it a desire to possess it sprang up in his
heart, and summoning one of his attendants he said,
" Climb the tree and see if there is anything in the nest
or not." The man climbed up and finding three eggs in
it told the king. "Then mind vou do not breathe over
them," he said, and, spreading some cotton in a casket, he
told the man to come down gently, and place the eggs in
it. When they had been brought down, he took up the
casket and asked his courtiers to what bird these eggs
belonged. They answered, " We do not know : hunters
will know." The king sent for the hunters and asked
them. " Sire," said they, " one is an owl's egg, another is
a maynah bird's, and the third is a parrot's." " Pray are
there eggs of three different birds in one nest ? " " Yes,
Sire, when there is nothing to fear, what is carefully
deposited does not perish." The king being pleased said,
" They shall be my children," and committing the three
eggs to the charge of three courtiers, he said, " These shall
be my children. Do you carefully watch over them and
when the young birds come out of the shell, let me know."
They took good care of them. First of all the owl's egg
was hatched, and the courtier sent for a hunter and said,
" Find out the sex of the young bird, whether it is a cock
or a hen bird," and when he had examined it and declared
it to be a cock bird, the courtier went to the king and said,
" Sire, a son is born to you." The king was delighted and
bestowed much wealth on him and saying, " Watch care-
fully over him and call his name Vessantara," he sent him
away. He did as he was told. Then a few days afterwards
the egg of the maynah bird was hatched, and the second
courtier likewise, after getting the huntsman to examine
it, and hearing it was a hen bird, went to the king and
announced to him the birth of a daughter. The king was
delighted, and gave to him also much treasure and saying,
"Watch carefully over my daughter and call her name
Kundalim," he sent him away. He also did what he was
told. Then after a few days the parrot's egg w T as hatched
and the third courtier, when told by the huntsman who
examined it that it was a cock bird, went and announced
to the king the birth of a son. The king was delighted
and paying him liberally said, " Hold a festival in honour
of my son with great pomp, and call his name Jambuka,"
and then sent him aw r ay. He too did as he was told.
And these three birds grew up in the houses of the three
courtiers with all the ceremony due to princes. The king
spoke of them habitually, as ' my son ' and ' my daughter.'
His courtiers made merry, one with another, saying, " Look
at what the king does : he goes about speaking of birds as
his son and his daughter." The king thought, "These
courtiers do not know the extent of my children's wisdom.
I will make it evident to them." So he sent one of his
ministers to Vessantara to say, " Your father wishes to ask
you a question. When shall he come and ask it ? ' The
minister came and bowing to Vessantara delivered the
message. Vessantara sent for the courtier who looked
after him and said, "My father," they tell me, "wants to
ask me a question. When he comes, we must shew him
all respect," and he asked " When is he to come ? " The
courtier said, "Let him come on the seventh dav from
this." Vessantara on hearing this said, "Let my father
come on the seventh day from this," and with these words
he sent the minister away. He w r ent and told the king.
On the seventh day the king ordered a drum to be beaten
through the citv and went to the house where his son
lived. Vessantara treated the king with great respect
and had great respect paid even to the slaves and hired
servants. The king, after partaking of food in the house
of Vessantara, and enjoying great distinction, returned to
his own dwelling-place. Then he had a big pavilion
erected in the palace-yard, and, having made proclamation
by beating a drum through the city, he sat in his magni-
ficent pavilion surrounded by a great retinue and sent
word to a courtier to conduct Vessantara to him. The
courtier brought Vessantara on a golden stool. The bird
sat on his father's lap and played with his father, and then
went and sat on the stool. Then the king in the midst of
the crowd of people questioned him as to the duty of
a king and spoke the first stanza:

'Tis this I ask Vessantara clear bird, mayst thou be blest-

To one that's fain o'er men to reign, what course of life is best ?

Vessantara, without answering the question directly,
reproved the king for his carelessness and spoke the
second stanza:

Kamsa my sire, who Kiisi won, so careless long ago,

Urged me his son, though full of zeal, still greater zeal to shew.

Rebuking the king in this stanza and saying, "Sire,
a king ought to rule his kingdom righteously, abiding in
the three truths," and telling of a king's duty he spoke
these stanzas :

First of all should a king put away all falsehood and anger and scorn :
Let him do what a king has to do, or else to his vow be forsworn.

By passion and sin led astray, should he err in the past, it is plain
He will live to repent of the deed, and will learn not to do it again.

When a prince in his rule groweth slack, untrue to his name and

his fame,
Should his wealth all at once disappear, of that prince it is counted
as shame.

'Tis thus that Good Fortune and Luck, when asked, this answer

have told,
"I delight in a man from jealousy free, energetic and bold."

Ill luck, ever wrecking good fortune, delighteth in men of ill deeds,
The hard-hearted creatures in whom a spirit of jealousy breeds.

To all, great king, be a friend, so that all may thy safety insure,
111 Luck put away, but to Luck that is good be a dwelling secure.

The man that is lucky and bold, thou that o'er Kasi dost reign,
"Will destroy root and branch his foes, and to greatness will surely
attain.

For Sakka himself, king, in energy wearieth not;

In virtue he firmly hath stood, through energy such is his lot.

Gandharvas, the fathers, and gods, are refreshed by such zeal of a king,
And spirits appearing stand by, of his vigour and energy sing.

Be zealous to do what is right, nor, however reviled, yield to sin,
Be earnest in efforts for good no sluggard can bliss ever win.

Herein is the text of thy duty, to teach thee the way thou shouldst go :
'Tis enough to win bliss for a friend or to work grievous ill for a foe.

Thus did the bird Vessantara in a single stanza rebuke
the carelessness of the king, and then in telling the duty
of a king in eleven stanzas answered his question with all
the charm of a Buddha. The hearts of the multitude were
filled with wonder and amazement and innumerable shouts
of applause were raised. The king was transported with
joy and addressing his courtiers asked them what was to
be done for his son, for having spoken thus. " He should
be made a general in the army, Sire." "Well, I give him
the post of general," and he appointed Vessantara to
the vacant post. Thenceforth placed in this position he
carried out his father's wishes. Here ends the storv of

Vessantara's question.

Again the king after some days, just as before, sent
a message to KundalinI, and on the seventh day he paid
her a visit and returning home again he seated himself in
the centre of a pavilion and ordered KundalinI to be
brought to him, and when she was seated on a golden
stool, he questioned her as to the duty of a king and
spoke this stanza:

Kuiidalini, of kshatriya birth, couldst thou resolve my quest,

To one that's fain o'er men to reign, what course of life is best?

When the king thus asked her as to the duties of a
king, she said, " I suppose, Sir, you are putting me to the
test, thinking ' What will a woman be able to tell me 1 ' so
I will tell you, putting all your duty as a king into just
two maxims," and she repeated these stanzas :

The matter, my friend, is set forth in a couple of maxims quite plain-
To keep whatsoever one has, and whatever one ha.s not to gain.

Take as counsellors men that are wise, thy interests clearly to see,
Not given to riot and waste, from gambling and drunkenness free.

Such a one as can guard thee aright and thy treasure with all
proper zeal,
As a charioteer guides his car, he with skill steers the realm's
common weal.

Keep ever thy folk well in hand, and duly take stock of thy pelf.
Ne'er trust to another a loan or deposit, but act for thyself.

What is done or undone to thy profit and loss it is well thou shouldst
know,
Ever blame the blame-worthy and favour on them that deserve it
bestow.

Thou thyself, great king, shouldst instruct thy people in every
good way,
Lest thy realm and thy substance should fall to unrighteous officials
a prey.

See that nothing is done by thyself or by others with overmuch

speed,
For the fool that so acts without doubt will live to repent of the

deed.

To wrath one should never give way, nor let it due bounds overflow;
It has led to the ruin of kings and the proudest of houses laid low.
Betray none, in that thou art lord, to aught that is useless and vain,
Nor become thou to women and men the cause of their sorrow and
pain.

When a king from all caution is free, and the pleasures of sense
are his aim,
Should his riches and all disappear, to that king it is counted as
shame.

Herein is a text of thy duty, to teach thee the way thou shouldst go,
Be an adept in every good work, to excess and to riot a foe,
Study virtue, for vice ever leads to a state full of suffering and woe.

Thus did Kundalini also teach the king his duty in
eleven stanzas. The king was delighted and addressing
his courtiers asked them, saying, " What is to be given to
my daughter as a reward for her having spoken thus?"
" The office of treasurer, Sire." " Well then, I grant her
the post of treasurer," and he appointed Kundalini to the
vacant post. Thenceforth she held the office and acted
for the king. Here ends the story of the question of
Kundalini.

Again the king after the lapse of a few days, just as
before, sent a messenger to the wise Jambuka, and going-
there on the seventh day and being magnificently enter-
tained he returned home and in the same manner took
his seat in the centre of a pavilion. A courtier placed
the wise Jambuka on a stool bound with gold, and came
bearing the stool on his head. The wise bird sitting on
his father's lap and playing with him at length took his
seat on the golden stool. Then the king, asking him a
question, spoke this stanza:

We've Questioned both thy brother owl, and also fair Kundalini;
Now, Jambuka, do thou in turn the highest power declare to me.

Thus did the king, in asking a question of the Great
Being, not ask him in the way in which he had asked the
others, but asked him in a special way. Then the wise
bird said to him, " Well, Sire, listen attentively, and I will
tell you all," and like a man placing a purse containing
a thousand pieces of money into an outstretched hand, he
began his exposition of a king's duty :

Amidst the great ones of the earth a fivefold power we see;
Of these the power of limbs is, sure, the last in its degree,
And power of wealth, mighty lord, the next is said to be.

The power of counsel third in rank of these, king, I name;
The power of caste without a doubt is reckoned fourth in fame,
And all of these a man that's wise most certainly will claim.

Of all these powers that one is best, as power of wisdom known,
By strength of this a man is wise and makes success his own.

Should richest realm fall to the lot of some poor stupid wight,
Another will by violence seize it in his despite.

However noble be the prince, whose lot it is to rule,
He is hard put to live at all, if he should prove a fool.

'Tis wisdom tests reports of deeds and makes men's fame to grow,
Who is with wisdom gifted still finds pleasure e'en in woe.

None that are heedless in their ways to wisdom can attain,
But must consult the wise and just, or ignorant remain.

Who early rising shall betimes unweariedly give heed
To duty's varied calls, in life is certain to succeed.

No one that's bent on hurtful things or acts in listless mood
In aught that he may undertake will come to any good.

But one that will unweariedly a rightful course pursue,
Is sure to reach perfection in whatever he may do.

To safeguard one's store is to gain more and more,
And these are the things I would have thee to mind ;

For the fool by ill deeds, like a house built of reeds,
Collapses and leaves rack and ruin behind.

Thus did the Bodhisatta in all these points sing the
praises of the five powers, and exalting the power of
wisdom, like to one striking the orb of the moon with his
words, he admonished the king in ten stanzas :

Unto thy parents, warrior king, do righteously; and so

By following a righteous life to heaven thou, sire, shalt go....

After uttering ten stanzas about the way of righteous-
ness, still further admonishing the king he spoke the
concluding stanza:

Herein is the text of thy duty, to teach thee the way thou shouldst go :
Follow wisdom and ever be happy, the Truth in its fulness to know.

Thus did the Great Being, as though he were letting
down the heavenly Ganges, teach the Law with all the
charm of a Buddha. And the multitude paid him great
honour and raised innumerable shouts of applause. The
king was delighted and addressing his councillors asked,
" How ought my son, wise Jambuka, with a beak like the
fresh fruit of the rose-apple, to be rewarded for having
spoken thus?" "With the post of commander-in-chief,
Sire." " Then I offer him this post," he said, and appointed
him to the vacant office, and thenceforth in the position of
commander-in-chief he carried out the orders of his father.
Great honour was paid to the three birds, and all three of
them gave instruction in temporal and spiritual matters.
The king, abiding in the admonition of the Great Being,
by almsgiving and other good works became destined to
heaven. The councillors after performing the king's
obsequies, speaking to the birds said, "My lord, Jambu,
the king ordered the royal umbrella to be raised over
you." The Great Being said, "I have no need of the
kingdom, do you exercise rule with all vigilance," and
after establishing the people in the moral law, he said,
"Execute justice," and he had righteous judgment in-
scribed on a golden plate and disappeared in the forest.
And his admonition continued in force forty thousand
years.