Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, certain men of the marches used to make a settlement, wheresoever they could best find their food, dwelling in the forest, and killing for meat for themselves and their families. Not far from their village was a large natural lake, and upon its southward shore lived a Hawk, on the west a she-hawk; on the north a Lion, king of the beasts; on the east an Osprey, king of the birds; in the middle dwelt a Tortoise on a small island. The Hawk asked the she-hawk to become his wife. She asked him, “Have you any friend?” “No, madam,” he replied. “We must have some one who can defend us against any danger or trouble that may arise, and you must find some friends.” “Whom shall I make friends with?” “Why, with king Osprey who lives on the eastern shore, and with the Lion on the north, and with the Tortoise who dwells in the middle of this lake.” He took her advice and did so. Then the two lived together in a nest which they made on a kadamba tree in the island.

Afterwards she-hawk gave birth to two sons. One day, while the wings of the younglings were yet callow, some of the country folk went foraging through the woods all day and found nothing. Not wishing to return home empty-handed, they went down to the lake to catch a fish or a tortoise. They got on the island, and lay down beneath the kadamba tree; and there being tormented by the bites of gnats and mosquitoes, to drive these away, they kindled a fire by rubbing sticks together, and made a smoke. The smoke rising annoyed the birds, and the young ones uttered a cry. “It is the cry of birds!” said the country folk. “Up, make up the fire; we cannot lie here hungry, but before we lie down we will have a meal of fowls’ flesh.” They made the fire blaze, and built it up. But the mother bird hearing the sound, thought, “These men wish to eat our young ones. We made friends to save us from that danger. I will send my mate to the great Osprey.” Then she said, “Go, my husband, tell the Osprey of the danger which threatens our young.”

The cock-bird flew at all speed to the place, and gave a cry to announce his arrival. Leave given, he came near to the Osprey, and said about the danger.

The Osprey said to the Hawk, “Fear not.

In season, out of season, wise men make

Both friends and comrades for protection’s sake:

For thee, O Hawk! I will perform this deed;

The good must help each other at their need.”

Then he went on to ask, “Have the churls climbed up the tree, my friend?” “They are not climbing yet; they are just piling wood on the fire.” “Then you had better go quickly and say I am coming.” He did so. The Osprey went also, and from a place near to the kadamba tree he watched for the men to climb, sitting upon a tree-top. Just as one of the boors who was climbing the tree had come near to the nest, the Osprey dived into the lake, and from wings and beak sprinkled water over the burning brands, so that they were put out. Down came the men, and made another fire to cook the bird and its young; when they climbed again, once more the Osprey demolished the fire. So whenever a fire was made, the bird put it out, and midnight came. The bird was much distressed; the skin under his stomach had become quite thin, his eyes were blood-shot. Seeing him, the hen-bird said to her mate, “My lord, the Osprey is tired out; go and tell the Tortoise, that he may have a rest.” When he heard this, the bird approaching the Osprey, said:

“Good help the good: the necessary deed

Thou hast in pity done for us at need.

Our young are safe, thou living: have a care

Of thy own self, nor all they strength outwear.”

On hearing these words, loud as a lion’s roar he said:

“While I am keeping guard about this tree,

I care not if I lose my life for thee:

So use the good: thus friend will do for friend:

Yea, even if he perish at the end.”

Then the Hawk said, “Rest awhile, friend Osprey,” and then away to the Tortoise, whom he aroused. “What is your errand, friend?” asked the Tortoise.–“Such and such a danger has come upon us, and the royal Osprey has been laboring hard ever since the first watch, and is very weary; that is why I have come to you.”

On hearing this the Tortoise said:

“The good man to a man who is his friend,

Both food and goods, even life itself, will lend.

For thee, O Hawk! I will perform this deed:

The good must help each other at their need.”

His son who lay not far off, hearing the words of his father thought, “I would not have my father troubled, but I will do my father’s part,” and therefore he said:

“Here at thy ease remain, O father mine,

And I thy son will do this task of thine.

A son should serve a father, so it is best;

I’ll save the Hawk his young ones in the nest.”

The father Tortoise advised his son:

“So do the good, my son, and it is true

That son for father service ought to do.

Yet they may leave the Hawk’s young brood alone,

Perchance, if they see me so fully grown.”

With these words the Tortoise sent the Hawk away, adding, “Fear not, my friend, but go you before and I will come presently after.” He dived into the water, collected some mud, and went to the island, quenched the flame, and lay still. Then the countrymen cried, “Why should we trouble about the young hawks? Let us roll over this cursed Tortoise, and kill him! He will be enough for all.” So they plucked some creepers and got some strings, but when they had made them fast in this place or that, and torn their clothes to strips for the purpose, they could not roll the Tortoise over. The Tortoise lugged them along with him and plunged in deep water. The men were so eager to get him that in they fell after: splashed about, and scrambled out with a belly-full of water. “just look,” said they: “half the night one Osprey kept putting out our fire, and now this Tortoise had made us fall into the water, and swallow it, to our great discomfort. Well, we will light another fire, and at sunrise we will eat those young hawks.” Then they began to make a fire. The hen-bird heard the noise they were making, and said, “My husband, sooner or later these men will devour our young and depart; you go and tell our friend the Lion.” At once he went to the Lion, who asked his help.

The Lion said:

“Yes, I will do this service, Hawk, for thee:

Come, let us go and slay his gang of foes!

Surely the prudent, he who wisdom knows,

Protector of a friend must try to be.”

Having thus spoken, he dismissed him, saying, “Now go, and comfort your young ones.” Then he went forward, churning up the crystal water. When the churls perceived him approaching, they were frightened to death: “The Osprey,” they cried, “put out our fire-brand; the Tortoise made us lose the clothes we had on: but now we are done for. This Lion will destroy us at once.” They ran this way and that way; when the Lion came to the foot of the tree, nothing could he see. Then the Osprey, the Hawk, and the Tortoise came up, and accosted him. He told them the profitableness of friendship, and said, “From this time forth be careful never to break the bonds of friendship.” With this advice he departed: and they also went each to his own place. The hen-hawk looking upon her young, thought–“Ah, through friends have my young been given back to me!” and as she rejoiced, she spoke to her mate declaring the effect of friendship:

“Get friends, a houseful of them without fail,

Get a great friend: a blessing he’ll be found:

Vain strike the arrows on a coat of mail.

And we rejoice, our younglings safe and sound.

By their own comrade’s help, the friend who stayed to take their part,

One chirps, the fledglings chirp reply, with notes that charm the heart.

The wise asks help at friend’s or comrade’s hand,

Lives happy with his goods and brood of kind:

So I, my mate, and young, together stand,

Because our friend to pity was inclined.

A man needs king and warriors for protection:

And these are his whose friendship is perfection:

Thou cravest happiness: he is famed and strong;

He surely prospers to whom friends belong.

Even by the poor and weak, O Hawk, good friends must needs be found:

See now by kindness we and ours each one are safe and sound.

The bird who wins a hero strong to play a friendly part,

As thou and I are happy, Hawk, is happy in his heart.”

So she declare the quality of friendship in six stanzas. And all this company of friends lived all their lives long without breaking the bond of friendship, and then passed away according to their deeds.