Ja 343 The Story about the Heron (4s)

Alternative Title: Kuntinījātaka (Cst)

In the present while a heron is away on an errand for the king two boys kill her young, when she returns she has the boys killed in return. The Buddha tells of a similar happening in the past, and the dialogue that ensued.

The Bodhisatta = the king of Benares (Bārāṇasirājā),
the heron = the same in the past (kuntinī).

Keywords: Killing, Revenge, Animals, Birds.

“Long I held.” [3.89] This story was told by the Teacher at Jetavana, concerning 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 with 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 Himālayas.

On hearing what had happened they started a discussion in the Dhamma Hall, saying, {3.135} “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 Teacher came and inquired what it was the monks were discussing and said: “Not only now, monks, 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.

In the past 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 verse she said:

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 Himālayas.