Kathakoca or Treasury of Stories

Author(s): C H Tawney
Publisher: Oriental Books Reprint Corporation New Delhi

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first Jina of the present yuga; in front of that temple of the Jina is a great fragrant mango-tree. In it dwelt a couple of parrots. Now, once on a time the hen-parrot said to her mate: Parrot, you must bring a head of rice from the rice-field; I am suffering from a longing for it.' The cock-parrot answered: My dear, this field belongs to King Críkánta; if anyone takes a head of rice from this field, the king takes his head from him.' When the henparrot heard this, she said: 'Husband, there is no male in the world such a coward as you. You wish to see your wife die before your eyes in order to save your own life.' When the cock-parrot had heard this speech of the henparrot, he felt absolutely regardless of his own life, and brought some heads of rice from the rice-field. In this way he went on continually bringing heads of rice for his beloved before the very eyes of the keepers of the field. Then one day the king came to that field, and saw that in one part of it the rice had been devoured by birds. He said to the keepers of the field: How comes it, pray, that the field has been spoiled by birds ?' Then the keepers of the field answered: King, a certain cock-parrot is for ever carrying off heads of rice; though we are on the look-out for him, he escapes like a thief.' Then the king, being angry, said: 'You must set nooses and catch that parrot, and bring him before me, in order that I may put him to death like a thief.' Accordingly, one day those men, in accordance with the king's order, entrapped in a noose and caught the cock-parrot; then they went with him to the king. Then the hen-parrot came after the cock-parrot lamenting. In the meanwhile those men produced the cock-parrot before the king, saying: 'Your majesty, here is that very cock-parrot that spoiled the rice-field.' The king drew his sword and prepared to kill him. Thereupon his wife, the hen-parrot, threw herself between the king and the cock-parrot, and said to the king: 'My lord, do not kill this husband of mine, the king of birds, that saved my life, but let him go free. This husband of mine counted his life but as straw to save mine; I, king, had a