The Panchatantra (Purnabhadra's Recension of 1199 CE)/Book 3/The Unsocial Swans
THE UNSOCIAL SWANS
There was once a king named Gay-Chariot in a certain place. He owned a lake named Lotus Lake, which his soldiers guarded carefully. For many golden swans lived there, and they gave one tail-feather apiece every six months.
Now to that lake came a great bird, all of gold. And they told him: "You cannot live among us. For we have rented this lake at the rate of a tail-feather for six months." And so, to cut a long story short, a dispute arose.
Then the great bird sought the king's protection, saying: "O King, those birds ask: 'What will our king do? We give lodging to nobody,' And I said: 'You are not very polite. I will go and tell the king.' This is the situation. The king must decide."
Then the king said to his men: "Go, you. Kill all the birds and bring them here at once." And they started immediately, obeying the king's command.
Now one old bird saw the king's men with clubs in their hands, and he said: "Well, kinsmen, this is rather unpleasant. We must all hang together. Let us fly up and away." And they did so.
"And that is why I say:
Be generous to all that lives, . . . .
So in the morning the Brahman took milk again, went to the spot, and called out, in an effort to win the snake's confidence: "My son met the death that suited his intelligence." Then the snake said:
The lighted funeral pile you may
Break up and fling apart;
But love, when torn and patched again,
Lives in an aching heart.
"Thus, when he is dead, you will without effort enjoy a thornless kingdom."
Having listened to this proposal, the king asked Fierce-Eye: "My worthy sir, what is your opinion?" And Fierce-Eye said: "O King, his advice is heartless. For one does not kill a suppliant. No doubt you have heard the old story:
The dove (there mentioned) entertained
His suppliant foeman slaughter-stained;
Paid honor due, his guest to greet;
And sacrificed himself for meat."
"How was that?" asked Foe-Crusher. And Fierce-Eye told the story of