The Bird That Dropped Gold

In a mountain region there stood a great tree, and in it lived a bird named Suvarnashthivi. Its peculiarity was that its droppings turned into gold.

One day a fowler came beneath that tree. In front of his eyes the bird relieved itself — and the dropping instantly became gold. The fowler was astounded: "I have been catching birds since I was a boy, and never yet have I seen gold in a bird's droppings."

He set a snare in the tree, and in a little while the bird was caught. The fowler put it in a cage and carried it home.

But at home a worry took hold of him: "What am I to do with this extraordinary bird? If anyone finds out and tells the king, my life is certainly in danger. Better that I go and give the bird to the king myself."

He went to the king and presented the bird. The king was delighted and ordered his servants: "Guard this bird carefully; give it all the food and water it wants."

Then a minister said: "Master, how can you believe, on the bare word of an ignorant fowler, that a bird passes gold? The thing is impossible. Let the bird out of the cage." At the minister's word the king released it.

The bird flew up to the high arch of the gateway, dropped gold there, and recited this verse: "First there was myself, a fool; second the snarer; then the king and the minister — the whole company a circle of fools." And it flew off into the sky as it pleased.

पूर्वं तावदहं मूर्खो द्वितीयः पाशबन्धकः । ततो राजा च मन्त्री च सर्वे मूर्खमण्डलम् ॥

Moral: First there was myself, a fool; second the snarer; then the king and the minister — the whole company a circle of fools.

From the Panchatantra, Book III — Of Crows and Owls.