Tag Archives: The Bodhisatta And The Tortoise

238. The Bodhisatta And The Tortoise

Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born in a village as a potter’s son. He plied the potter’s trade, and had a wife and family to support.

At that time there was big lake close by the great river of Benares. When there was much water, river and lake were one; but when the water was low, they were seperate. Now fish and tortoises know by instinct when the year will be rainy and when there will be a drought. So at the time of our story the fish and tortoises which lived in that lake knew there would be a drought. They used to swam out of the lake into the river and come back.