Once upon a time, there was a large city named Utthara Panchala in our neighbouring India. A king named Panchala ruled over this ancient city. There was a large forest near the city and many species of animals and birds lived there. King Panchala and his courtiers hunted there often.
In the midst of this jungle, there was a very tall mountain and on its top was a tall tree. In a hole in its trunk, a mother and father parrot had built a cosy nest. Two baby parrots lived in this nest.
A gale
One day, a gale hit the forest. Strong winds made the trees sway this way and that. The poor, helpless baby parrots were blown out of their nest. One parrot got blown northwards and finally, fell into a village of fierce and wicked robbers. The robbers decided to keep the baby parrot as their pet and named him Satti-kumbha.
The other baby parrot was blown southwards. It fell into a village of saintly hermits. The hermits welcomed the baby parrot who suddenly fell in to their midst and decided to make it their pet. They named the baby parrot Pushpaka.
Adulthood
As time went by the baby parrots grew into adulthood. Like children, the parrots too absorbed what they saw and heard. They looked up to the people they grew up with and took them as role models.
Satti-kumbha grew up to be harsh and cruel like the robbers while Pushpaka grew up to be kind and good like the hermits.
One day, as was his wont, King Panchala went hunting in the forest. After a while, he felt tired and sat in the shade of a tree to rest.
His tiredness made him fall asleep. Suddenly, the king was startled out of his sleep by a loud voice crying out” Come quickly. There is a man wearing expensive jewellery. Do come and rob him before he goes away”.
A frightened king
The frightened king looked all around but could see no one. He then looked around again and then looked up. He was amazed to see that it was a parrot who was speaking so cruelly. The frightened king quickly left the place before the robbers could come to rob him.
King Panchala now went to the south side of the mountain. He was still very tired and frightened as well. He sat under a tree and was almost falling asleep when he spotted another parrot flying by and settling on a nearby branch. King Panchala felt frightened and his fear showed in his face. But to the king’s surprise this parrot spoke very kindly to him. “You look very tired and frightened. Why is that? Do not fear. You are in a village of hermits and no harm will come to you. There is plenty of fresh water and fruits here. Come inside and eat and drink. My masters, the hermits will be here soon”.
The king was amazed and his expression showed it. The parrot saw this and asked him why he was surprised. The king told him what had happened earlier.
“That is my brother” replied the parrot. “When we were babies a gale blew us out of our nest. He fell among the robbers and has grown up like the. I fell among the hermits and I have learnt their ways”. ‘What a difference the people you associate can make to you” thought the king to himself.