Chapter 49 - The united Pheasants

[Source: Kah-gyur, iv. ff. 232, 233; and Cf. Benfey’s Pancatantra, i., iii., ii., 360.—S.]

In long-past time there lived on the sea-coast two pheasants, named Dharmika and Adharmika, whose bodies were united in their growth. Once while Adharmika was asleep, Dharmika kept awake, and saw an amṛta fruit driven ashore by the waters. He took it out and considered whether he should wake the other or eat the fruit by himself. Reflecting that if he ate it, the body they shared in common would be nourished thereby, he did not wake the other.

When the other awoke of his own accord, and perceived that Dharmika’s breath smelt of amṛta fruit, he said,“What is it your breath smells of?”

“Amṛta fruit,” replied Dharmika.

“Where did you get it?” asked Adharmika.

Dharmika replied, “I found an amṛta fruit while you were asleep, and I ate it without waking you, because I considered that our common body would be nourished thereby.”

Adharmika said, “As you have not acted rightly therein, I also will bide my time.”

On another occasion, when Dharmika had gone to sleep and Adharmika was awake, the latter perceived a poisonous fruit which the waves had brought ashore. He ate it, and both of the birds became insensible. Affected by the poisonous fruit, Adharmika said, “Wherever I may be born again, there may I be thy antagonist, O enemy and slayer!”

Dharmika said, “Wherever I may be born again, may

I show you kindness!”

Notes:

This is a variant of the fourteenth story of the fifth book of the Pancatantra, in which figures a bird named Bharanda, having one body but two beaks. The first beak devours an ambrosia-like fruit, which it refuses to share with its companion. The aggrieved beak, out of spite, eats a poisonous fruit and the bird dies.

With this may be compared the following passage, quoted from the Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad by Prof. Monier Williams (Indian Wisdom, p. 42),

“Two birds (the Paramātman and Jīvātman, or supreme and individual souls), always united, of the same name, occupy the same tree (abide in the same body). One of them (the Jīvātman) enjoys the sweet fruit of the fig (or fruit of acts), the other looks on as a witness. Dwelling on the same tree (with the supreme soul), the deluded (individual) soul, immersed (in worldly relations), is grieved by the want of power; but when it perceives the Ruler, separate (from worldly relations) and his glory, then its grief ceases. When the beholder sees the golden-coloured maker (of the world), the lord, the soul, the source of Brahmā, then, having become wise, shaking off virtue and vice, without taint of any kind, he obtains the highest identity.”