Golden Droppings
On a big tree in the lap of a mountain
lived a bird named Sindhuka. His droppings used to turn into gold as soon as
they hit the ground. One day, a hunter came to the tree in search of prey
and saw Sindhuka’s droppings hit the ground and turn into gold.
The hunter, struck by wonder, thought, “I
have been hunting birds and small animals since I was a boy. I am now eighty
years old. I have never seen in my life this kind of miracle.”
He decided to get the bird some how and
set a noose for him. Not aware of the trap, the bird stayed on the branch
merrily singing. Soon, the noose tightened and the hunter caught the bird
and pushed him into his cage.
The hunter took it home and considered,
“If the king comes to know of this wonder, he will certainly take away the
bird from me. Instead, I will go to the king and present the unique bird to
him.”
The hunter took the bird the following
day to the king and presented it to him with great reverence. The king was
extremely happy and told his men to keep the bird in safe custody and feed
him with the best bird food. But his minister was reluctant to accept the
bird.
He said, “O Rajah, There is no use in
trusting the word of this hunter and accepting the bird. Has anyone seen a
bird dropping gold? Therefore, I request you to release the bird from the
cage.”
The king ordered the bird to be set free.
As soon as the door of the cage opened, the bird perched himself on a nearby
doorway and defecated. The dropping immediately turned into gold. Sindhuka
then recited that line about fools, “First, I was a fool. Then the hunter
and then the king and his ministers.”
Moral of the Story :
First, I was a fool. Then the hunter and then the king and his ministers. |