Reading Notes: The Swan Kingdom, Part A

Reading Notes: The Swan Kingdom, Part A

The Swan Kingdom
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Plot: There were about 60,000 swans who lived in the kingdom. The swans were beautiful and everyone praised them, yet Brahmadatta, the king of Benares, was obsessed with the swans and wanted them more than anyone else. So he went to meet the king and then he let the king know there is only one way to go about this. He recommended the lake was relocated across near the gates of Benares. The lake was cleaned and finished and the birds and butterflies came souring around the lake. The call was heard daily and the many creatures came from far and wide to feast and dwell here. Two of the swans came and looked over and said "We wish this was our kingdom!" and they flew all over scanning the surface of the waters and of the land around them. They asked the king to take them to the lake at Benares and the king was advised not to allow such a thing. So the king let the swans go for a day. They went and swam and had the time of their lives. A trap was set and the foot of the king was caught. The 60,000 swans were alarmed by this and fled to the air, as if the king had passed and was killed. The king asked Sumukha to have the swans return to Manasa, for they could not be content alone. Sumukha however stayed by the king's side.

Characters:
King Dhritarashtra
Sumukha, the commander of the army
The Swans
Brahmadatta, the King of Benares

Setting:
The Kingdom

Bibliography: The Swan Kingdom, Twenty Jataka Tales, Noor Inayat, The Swan Kingdom