Tag Archives: The Bodhisatta And The Seven Brothers

225. The Bodhisatta And The Seven Brothers

Once upon a time when Brahamadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was Sakka. Seven brothers in a village of Kasi seeing the evil of desires had renounced them and become ascetics; they dwelt in Mejjharanna but lived in various kinds of amusement, not practising devotion diligently and being of full habit of body. Sakka, king of gods, said, “I will alarm them;” and so he became a parrot, came to their dwelling-place and perching on a tree spoke:–

Happy life is theirs who live on remnants left from charity:

Praise in this world is their lot, and in the next felicity.

Then one of them hearing the parrot’s words called to the rest, and spoke:–

Should not wise men listen when a parrot speaks in human tongue?

Hearken, brethren? It is our praises clearly that this bird has sung.