Ja 343 Kuntanijātaka
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.”
On hearing what had happened they started a discussion in the Dhamma Hall, saying,
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:
1. “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 verse:
2. “Should one to retaliate,
Wrong with equal wrong repay,
Then his anger should abate;
So, good heron, pray you stay.”
Hearing this the bird spoke the third verse:
3. “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 verse:
4. “Should they wise, not foolish be,
With the wronged wrong-doer may
Live in peace and harmony:
So, good heron, pray you, 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 Himālayas.
The Teacher, his lesson ended, thus identified the Jātaka, “The heron in the former tale was the heron in this, but the king of Benares was myself.”