THE BIRD WITH TWO BEAKS
IN a certain spot by the seashore there once dwelt a Bird named Bharanda, which had only a single stomach, but two Beaks. As he wandered along the margin of the sea he found a fruit of ambrosial flavour which the waves had tossed upon the shore. Eating it he said, "Ah! I have eaten many fruits of ambrosial sweetness which the waves of the sea have flung up; but truly the taste of this fruit surpasses them all. May it not be the fruit of the yellow sandal-wood of Paradise, or some other celestial fruit fallen by chance into the ocean? Assuredly it has given me a rare and wonderful pleasure of the tongue."
As he spoke thus, the second Beak said: "If it is so good as all that, give me a share of your ambrosial fruit, that I too may experience a rare pleasure of the tongue!"
At this, the first Beak laughed and said, "We have only one stomach between us, and whichever eats, the hunger of both will be appeased. Accordingly, why eat separately? Let us rather save what is left and give pleasure to our dear mate, Bharandi, who is waiting at home?"
So saying, the first Beak carried home what was left of the fruit and gave it to Bharandi to eat. And when she had tasted it she was filled with joy, and gave payment with many thanks and caresses.
From that day forth the other Beak became morose and full of resentment. At last, it chanced one day, upon the fruit of a certain poisonous tree. The resentful Beak had no sooner recognized the
