Mora Jātaka

The Golden Peacock's Plea

In the heart of a vast and ancient forest, where emerald canopies kissed the sky and sunlight dappled the mossy ground, lived a magnificent creature of unparalleled beauty. This was the Bodhisatta, in a past life, born as a golden peacock, whose feathers shimmered with the brilliance of a thousand sunsets and whose voice sang melodies that could enchant the very gods. He resided in the luxuriant groves of the Himalayas, a king amongst his kind, revered for his wisdom, grace, and the purity of his golden plumage.

This was no ordinary peacock. The Bodhisatta, in his golden form, possessed a deep understanding of the impermanence of life and the deceptive nature of worldly desires. He lived a life of quiet contemplation, finding joy in the simple beauty of nature and the company of his devoted flock. His days were spent soaring through the clear mountain air, his golden feathers catching the light, and his melodious calls echoing through the valleys. He taught his followers the importance of living virtuously, free from greed, hatred, and delusion.

However, as fate would have it, the king of the land, a man named Kamsa, was consumed by a burning desire to possess the legendary golden peacock. News of this extraordinary bird, whose feathers were said to possess magical properties and whose voice could inspire awe, had reached the royal court. The king, driven by vanity and a lust for rare treasures, declared that he would stop at nothing to capture the peacock and keep it as the ultimate prize in his menagerie.

The king dispatched his hunters, skilled in tracking and capturing the wildest of creatures, into the Himalayas. They ventured deep into the sacred groves, their hearts filled with the promise of royal reward. They searched tirelessly, their eyes scanning the trees, their ears attuned to the faintest sound.

One day, the hunters finally heard it – a song so pure, so captivating, that it seemed to suspend time itself. It was the Bodhisatta, singing his morning devotion. Following the enchanting melody, they stumbled upon the Bodhisatta, resplendent in his golden glory, surrounded by his flock. The sight was breathtaking, but the hunters, blinded by greed, saw only the prize.

They set their traps, cleverly hidden amongst the undergrowth, and waited. As the Bodhisatta and his flock descended to drink from a crystal-clear stream, one of the hunters, with a swift movement, sprung the trap. The Bodhisatta, caught by his leg, cried out in pain. His flock scattered in terror, their joyous calls turning to shrieks of fear.

The hunters, triumphant, approached their captive. They marveled at the exquisite beauty of the golden peacock, so vibrant and alive. They could barely contain their excitement, imagining the king's delight.

But as they reached out to seize him, the Bodhisatta, despite his predicament, did not despair. Instead, he raised his head and spoke, his voice clear and resonant, filled with a wisdom that stunned the hunters into silence. "Halt, hunters!" he commanded. "Do not lay your hands upon me in haste. I am not an ordinary bird. I am the King of Peacocks, and I have lived a life of virtue and non-violence. My golden feathers are a testament to the purity of my heart and the wisdom I have cultivated."

He continued, his gaze steady and unwavering, "You seek to capture me for your king, driven by greed. But consider this: if you capture me, I will be confined to a cage, my spirit broken, my songs silenced, my golden radiance dulled by sorrow. I will become a mere spectacle, a symbol of your king's vanity, rather than a living embodiment of nature's splendor."

The hunters, though initially driven by greed, were captivated by the peacock's eloquence and the profound truth in his words. They had never encountered an animal that spoke with such intelligence and dignity. The Bodhisatta's plea struck a chord deep within them.

"Think, hunters," the Bodhisatta urged, "of the joy you find in the freedom of the open sky, the beauty of the untamed forest. Would you trade that for a gilded cage? I too cherish my freedom, my connection to the earth, the sky, and the wind. To be caged is to cease to live. My golden feathers are a gift of nature, meant to be admired in their natural glory, not as trophies of conquest."

He then made a solemn promise. "Release me, and I will continue to live in these mountains. You may return to your king and tell him of my existence, but tell him also that I choose freedom over captivity. Tell him that true beauty is best appreciated in its natural state, and that forced possession diminishes its essence. If your king truly desires to experience my splendor, he may come to these mountains, observe me from afar, and listen to my songs. He will find greater peace and wisdom in witnessing my freedom than in owning my confinement."

The hunters, deeply moved by the Bodhisatta's words and the dignity with which he bore his plight, looked at each other. They saw not just a prize, but a wise and noble being. They understood that capturing this creature would be an act of cruelty, a violation of its sacred essence.

One of the lead hunters spoke, his voice filled with newfound respect, "Noble Peacock, your words have touched our hearts. We came seeking a treasure for our king, but we have found a lesson in wisdom. We will not capture you. We will return to King Kamsa and tell him of your plea. We will describe your golden beauty and the wisdom of your voice, and we will convey your message of freedom."

They carefully released the Bodhisatta from the trap, and he, with a graceful shake of his golden feathers, rejoined his flock. The hunters, filled with a sense of peace and understanding, turned back towards the kingdom.

When they reported to King Kamsa, he was initially furious. But as they recounted the Bodhisatta's eloquent plea and the profound wisdom of his words, the king's anger began to wane. He realized that the true value of the golden peacock lay not in its possession, but in its natural magnificence and the wisdom it embodied. He understood that attempting to cage such a creature would be an act of profound disrespect.

From that day on, King Kamsa never again sought to capture the golden peacock. Instead, he often made pilgrimages to the foothills of the Himalayas, not to hunt, but to listen to the distant songs of the golden bird and contemplate the lessons of freedom and true appreciation. The Bodhisatta continued to live in his mountain sanctuary, a symbol of natural beauty, wisdom, and the virtue of choosing freedom and dignity over capture and confinement.