Jataka 209 Kakkara

Kakkara Jataka

Once upon a time, in the reign of Brahmadatta, king of Benares, the Bodhisatta became a Tree spirit in a forest glade. A certain fowler, with a decoy bird, hair noose, and stick, went into the forest in search of birds. He began to follow one old bird which flew off into the woods, trying to escape. The bird would not give him a chance of catching it in his snare, but kept rising and alighting, rising and alighting. So the fowler covered himself with twigs and branches, and set his noose and stick again and again. But the bird, wishing to make him ashamed of himself, sent forth a human voice and repeated the first stanza:

"Trees a many have I seen

Growing in the woodland green;

But, O Tree, they could not do

Any such strange things as you!"

So saying, the bird flew off and went elsewhere. When it had gone, the fowler repeated the second verse:-

"This old bird, that knows the snare,

Off has flown into the air;

Forth from out his cage has broken,

And with human voice has spoken!"

So said the fowler; and having hunted through the woods, took what he could catch and went home again.