The Tale of Mahahamsa, the Golden Goose

Once, in the snowy peaks of the Himalayas, there lived a magnificent golden goose, the king of a vast flock of ninety thousand geese. He was known as the Bodhisatta in his former life, and he ruled with wisdom and compassion, guiding his flock through the skies, always cautious and protective of them. One evening, the chief queen of a faraway kingdom had a peculiar dream. In her dream, golden geese, led by a regal bird who spoke with great wisdom, sat upon her royal throne and preached the truths of life to her.

Upon waking, the queen was filled with longing. “I must hear the sermon of the golden geese,” she told the king. “Only then will my health be restored.” But she knew that simply asking for such a sermon might not be enough to convince her husband, so she devised a plan. She pretended to be gravely ill, claiming that only by hearing the words of a golden goose would she recover. The king, anxious to save his queen, promised to fulfill her request.

Following the counsel of wise brahmins, the king ordered a lake to be dug just north of the city, a large, peaceful sanctuary filled with grains and blooming lotuses to attract the golden geese. He warned his people that any trespassers who entered the sanctuary would suffer severe punishment, and he hired a hunter to guard it.

As news of this new, abundant feeding ground spread among the birds, many came from far and wide to feast on the grains and enjoy the safe haven. Some of the Bodhisatta’s flock, hearing of this new paradise, begged their king to take them there. Though wary of the human’s deceptive nature, the Bodhisatta reluctantly agreed, fearing the consequences of denying his flock’s wishes.

As the golden geese landed at the sanctuary, the hunter saw them and eagerly reported their arrival to the king, who commanded that a few of them be captured. The hunter, knowing that such a catch would bring great honor, set to work observing the geese. For six days, he watched their movements. When he saw that the Bodhisatta, king of the golden geese, always landed in the same spot, he set a snare and waited for the next morning.

The next day, the Bodhisatta unknowingly stepped into the trap. Struggling to escape, he felt the noose tighten, cutting deep into his leg. Despite the excruciating pain, he did not cry out immediately. He knew that if he did, the rest of the flock would panic and fly away, leaving them too weak to make the long journey back to their home in the Himalayas. Only once they had eaten their fill and flown off did the Bodhisatta let out the cry of capture, signaling the rest of his geese to depart.

His loyal commander-in-chief, not seeing the Bodhisatta in the sky, flew back to search for him. When he found the golden king trapped in the snare, his heart filled with sorrow and determination. “I will not leave you,” he declared. “Even if it costs me my life, I will stay with you.” The Bodhisatta, knowing the danger, urged his commander to flee and save himself, but the commander would not abandon him. “This is no ordinary goose,” he said to the approaching hunter. “He is a king of extraordinary wisdom and virtue. To harm him would lead you straight to hell.”

Touched by the commander’s devotion and fearing the consequences of killing such a noble bird, the hunter released the Bodhisatta, healing his wound with tender care. The Bodhisatta’s leg, though grievously injured, miraculously healed in the hunter’s hands, and he stood once again, free.

The commander-in-chief knew that the hunter had lost much by setting them free, and he wanted to repay the man’s kindness. “Let us go to the king’s palace and ask for his reward,” he suggested. The hunter, however, cautioned against it. “Kings are unpredictable,” he warned. “They may turn you into pets, or worse, feast upon you.”

But the Bodhisatta and his commander were determined. “If we can persuade a hunter with blood on his hands, surely we can sway a king with good counsel,” the commander said. So, they agreed to visit the palace.

The hunter prepared a special carriage to carry the geese to the king, made of willow and shaded with lotus flowers, and they set off toward the city.

Upon arriving, the king was overjoyed to see the golden geese, and he honored the hunter for bringing them to him. The hunter told the king about how the Bodhisatta had been captured and freed, and he spoke of their wisdom and virtue. The king, amazed by the geese’s grace and nobility, ordered them to be seated on golden thrones. He washed their feet, anointed them with oils, and fed them parched grain, honey, and sugar water.

After the feast, the Bodhisatta, ever wise and humble, preached a sermon to the king and queen. He spoke of virtue, kindness, and the importance of ruling justly. The king, deeply moved by the Bodhisatta’s words, offered him riches, land, and even his kingdom. “Take what you wish,” he said, “and rule as you see fit.”

But the Bodhisatta refused all worldly wealth. “I ask only one thing,” he said. “Follow the ten royal virtues, and rule your kingdom with justice and compassion.”

The king, impressed by the Bodhisatta’s wisdom, agreed to follow his advice. The Bodhisatta and his flock returned to the Himalayas, and the geese rejoiced at the safe return of their king. They sang praises for the hunter, the commander-in-chief, and the king, wishing them all eternal happiness.

The Moral of the Story:

This tale teaches us the importance of virtue, loyalty, and wisdom. The Bodhisatta’s refusal of wealth and power demonstrates the value of humility, while the commander’s devotion and the hunter’s kindness show how selflessness and compassion can lead to great rewards. The king’s willingness to listen and learn from the Bodhisatta shows the importance of ruling with wisdom and moral integrity.