Reading Notes: Francis and Thomas. Jataka Tales Part E
Parrots. Source: Unsplash. |
The Tell-Tale Parrot
- The Bodhisatta came into the world as a young parrot named Radha and his youngest brother named Potthapada
- When they were young, they were caught by a fowler and handed over to the brahmin in Benares
- The brahmin cared for them like they were his children
- The brahmin had a wicked wife and no one watched her
- The brahmin had to go away on a business trip and told his parrots to keep watch of their mother in season and out of season and to observe whether or not any many visits her
- As soon as the husband left, the woman began to do wrong
- Day and night, the visitors came and went -- there was no end to them
- Potthapada observed her wrongdoings and told Radha "Our master gave this woman into our charge, and here she is doing wickedness. I will speak to her"
- Radna told him not to but he did not listen and said to his mother "Mother, why do you commit sin?"
- The mother has been waiting to kill him and this was her chance to do so
- The brahmin came back and found the truth about his wife
- After, him and Radna fled because this wasn't the place for them
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