The King Silver Plume wanted to know what Chakravaka meant about the foolish tortoise. So, he told the story to the King. In the kingdom of Magadha long ago, there was a beautiful lake. Many birds and water creatures lived there in harmony. Among them were two lovely swans, Sankata and Vikata, who were friends with a tortoise who also lived in the lake. One day, some fishermen came there and the three friends heard them talking. “Tomorrow,” said one of the fishermen, “we will cast our nets in this lake and catch the fish and other creatures.” They camped close by in the forest. The tortoise, in a panic, turned to his friends and asked, “Did you hear what they said? What shall we do to escape?” “Let’s wait till the morning,” said the swans, “We’ll think of something by then. After that we’ll decide.” “We should plan; otherwise, we will die,” said the tortoise.
The Endangered Lake
