Reading Notes: Eastern Stories and Legends Part A


The buddha was reborn as a parrot. As he grew up, he took over as leader of the parrots from his father. After he became leader, he decided to pay back his debt to his parents by taking complete care of them. Every day he took the parrots with him to rice fields and they all ate, and every day he would fill his beak at the end and bring it back to his parents. 

When he was doing this the rice farmer saw him and thought he was very greedy for taking extra rice even after he had eaten his fill. He went to the Brahmin and told him what the parrot king was doing. The Brahmin told the farmer to catch the greedy bird so the farmer laid a snare. 

When the parrots came back the next day, the parrot king landed in the trap. He did not cry out until after everyone had eaten though, as to not disturb their meals. Then after everyone was full he called out but they all flew away. The farmer hearing his called came out and grabbed the parrot king. He took him to the Brahmin to pay for being greedy.

When the Brahmin met the parrot king he asked why he was being so greedy and so the parrot king explained he was actually serving his old parents. Realizing the mistake, the Brahmin granted the parrot king 1000 acres of land. The parrot king flew back to his parents and took them to their new home where everyone had plenty of food. 

Image Information: Indian Parrot, Max Pixel, source
Bibliography: Eastern Stories and Legends, Marie Shedlock, 1920. source

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