Once upon a time,
King Brahmadatta had a very wise adviser who understood the speech of animals.
He understood what they said, and he could speak to them in their languages.
One
day the adviser was wandering along the riverbank with his followers. They came
upon some fishermen who had cast a big net into the river. While peering into
the water, they noticed a big handsome fish who was following his pretty wife.
Her
shining scales reflected the morning sunlight in all the colours of the rainbow.
Her feather-like fins fluttered like the delicate wings of a fairy, as they sent
her gliding through the water. It was clear that her husband was so entranced
by the way she looked and the way she moved, that he was not paying attention
to anything else!
As
they came near the net, the wife fish smelled it. Then she saw it and alertly
avoided it at the very last moment. But her husband was so blinded by his desire
for her, that he could not turn away fast enough. Instead, he swam right into
the net and was trapped!
The fishermen pulled in their net and threw the big fish onto the shore. They
built a fire, and carved a spit to roast him on.
Lying
on the ground, the fish was flopping around and groaning in agony. Since the wise
adviser understood fish talk, he translated for the others. He said, "This
poor fish is madly repeating over and over again:
"My
wife! My wife! I must be with my wife!
I care for her much more than for my
life!
'My wife!
My wife! I must be with my wife!
I care for her much more than for my life!"
The
adviser thought, "Truly this fish has gone crazy. He is in this terrible
state because he became a slave to his own desire. And it is clear that he has
learned nothing from the results of his actions. If he dies keeping such agony,
and the desire that caused it, in his mind, he will surely continue to suffer
by being reborn in some hell world. Therefore, I must save him!"
So
this kind man went over to the fishermen and said, "Oh my friends, loyal
subjects of our king, you have never given me and my followers a fish for our
curry. Won't you give us one today?"
They replied, "Oh royal
minister, please accept from us any fish you wish!" "This big one on
the riverbank looks delicious," said the adviser. "Please take him,
sir," they said.
Then he sat down
on the bank. He took the fish, who was still groaning, into his hands.
He spoke to him in the language only fish can understand, saying,
"You foolish fish! If I had not seen you today, you would have
gotten yourself killed. Your blind desire was leading you to continued
suffering. From now on, do not let yourself be trapped by your own
desires!"
Then
the fish realized how fortunate he was to have found such a friend. He thanked
him for his wise advice. The minister released the lucky fish back into the river,
and went on his way.
Moral: Fools are trapped by their own desires
(From: Buddhist Tales for Young and Old)