The Golden Swan

Told in English, Telugu.

Long, long ago, in a quiet village beside a river, there lived a kind and gentle man. He had a loving wife and three little daughters named Nanda, Nandavati and Sundarinanda. He worked hard every day so that his family would always have rice in the pot and oil in the lamp.

But one sad year, the kind man fell ill, and he passed away. His wife and daughters cried and cried. Now there was no one to work in the fields, and slowly the rice pot grew empty. The girls mended their old clothes again and again, and the mother sold their little things one by one, just to buy food.

Now here is the wonderful part of this old Jataka tale. The kind father was born again, far away, as a swan. And not just any swan. He was a golden swan! Every single feather on his body shone like the morning sun on the river.

One day, as the golden swan floated on a lake, he suddenly remembered his old life. He remembered his wife. He remembered his three little daughters. And his heart filled with worry. How are they now, he wondered. Do they have enough to eat?

So he spread his shining wings and flew, over hills and forests and fields, until he reached the little village beside the river. He landed softly on the edge of the roof of their old house.

The youngest daughter saw him first. Amma, Amma, look! cried Sundarinanda. A golden bird is sitting on our roof!

The mother and the other girls came running out. They stared at the swan with their mouths wide open. They had never seen anything so beautiful.

Then the swan spoke in a soft, kind voice. Do not be afraid, my dears. Long ago, I was your father and your husband. I have come back to help you.

The girls gasped. Is it really you, Nanna? asked Nanda, the eldest.

It is, said the swan gently. I see that you are poor and hungry. I cannot stay here with you, but I can give you something. Each time I come, I will leave you one of my golden feathers. Sell it, and buy what you need.

He shook his wing, and one bright golden feather floated down into Nandavati's hands. It was warm and shining. The family thanked him again and again, and the swan flew away into the sky.

The mother sold the feather in the market, and oh, what a lot of money it brought! They bought rice, dal, vegetables, new clothes and oil for the lamp. That night, for the first time in a long while, everyone went to sleep with a full tummy and a happy heart.

After that, the golden swan came back every now and then. Each time, he gave them just one feather. Slowly, the family grew comfortable. They mended their roof, they bought a cow, and the girls laughed and played again.

But the mother began to have a worried thought. One evening, she whispered to her daughters, Children, this swan is only a bird. What if one day he stops coming? What if he flies away forever? Then we will be poor again. Next time he comes, let us pull out all his feathers at once. Then we will be rich forever!

The three girls were shocked. No, Amma! said Nanda. That would hurt him!

He is our father, said Nandavati. He has been so good to us.

Please don't, Amma, said little Sundarinanda, holding her mother's hand.

But the mother did not listen. Her heart had become greedy. Greedy means wanting much more than you really need.

A few days later, the golden swan came again, as kind as ever. Come close, my dear, the mother said sweetly. And when he came near, she quickly caught him and began pulling out his feathers, all of them, one after another, as fast as she could.

The poor swan cried out. Stop, please stop! But she did not stop until every feather was in a big heap on the floor.

And then, can you guess what happened? Think, think...

As the mother looked at the heap, the golden feathers began to change. Their shine faded away. One by one, they turned plain and white, just like the feathers of any ordinary bird. Not a single one was gold anymore.

The mother's face went pale. What has happened? she cried.

The swan spoke quietly. My feathers were a gift. When I gave them with love, they stayed golden. But when they were taken from me by force, they lost their gold. Now they are only feathers.

The swan could not fly without his feathers. So the daughters gently put him in a big clay pot lined with soft straw. They gave him water and grain, and they stroked his head and said sorry, again and again. The mother sat quietly in the corner. She was very, very ashamed.

Day by day, the swan's feathers began to grow back. But they did not grow back golden. They grew back plain and white.

At last, one bright morning, his wings were strong again. The three girls hugged him gently. The mother came forward with tears in her eyes. I am so sorry, she said. I wanted everything, and now I have lost the gift you gave so lovingly.

The swan looked at her kindly. I forgive you, he said. Take good care of our daughters. Remember, a little given with love is worth more than a whole heap taken with greed.

Then he spread his white wings, rose up into the blue sky, and flew far away. He never came back again.

But the family remembered his words. They worked hard, they shared what they had, and they learned to be thankful for every grain of rice on their plates.

So, my dear, when someone gives you something good, say thank you, and be happy with it. That is how good things keep coming. Now close your eyes, and dream of a shining golden swan flying over the river.