The Swans of the Lotus Lake
Swans pay the king one feather each every six months for his protection. A newcomer they turn away carries a complaint straight to the throne.
In a certain city there was a king named Chitraratha. In his grounds lay a lake called Padmasaras, guarded by soldiers, and in it lived many swans. In return for that protection they gave the king one feather each, every six months, as tribute.
One day a large golden bird arrived at that lake from somewhere and settled in. The swans said: "It is not right for you to live among us, because we give the king one feather each every six months for our protection — that is our fixed arrangement." From this a quarrel grew between them.
The bird went off to the king and said: "Master, those birds are saying: 'What will our king do to us? We shall not give up the place.' I told them they had spoken badly and that I would report it to the king. So I have come to inform you."
Hearing this, the king ordered his servants: "Go and kill all those birds and bring them here."
The king's men set out with sticks. Seeing them coming, one old and experienced swan called out: "Friends! This has gone badly. All of you together, this very moment — rise and fly!" And they all left the place and flew away.
The king got neither feathers nor birds. So it is said: he who shows no favour to those who have taken refuge with him sees all his own interests destroyed.
भूतार्थ्यो नानुगृह्णाति ह्यात्मनः शरणागतान् । भूतार्थास्तस्य नश्यन्ति हिंसा पद्मवने यथा ॥
Moral: He who shows no favour to those who have taken refuge with him sees all his own interests destroyed — as happened in the lotus-wood.
From the Panchatantra, Book III — Of Crows and Owls.
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