The Talkative Tortoise
by Unknown · from Indian Fairy Tales
Adapted Version
Tortoise likes to talk. He talks and talks and talks! He talked all day long. He loved to hear his own voice. He talks to the fish. He talks to the frogs. He talks to the birds. He even talks to the rocks! Tortoise lived by a big pond. Two ducks lived there too. They were friends. Sometimes, his friends just listened.
The two ducks had a nice home. It was a beautiful lake. Pretty flowers grew there. They wanted to show him their special place. The lake was far away. It was a long journey. "Come with us!" they said to Tortoise. "We can take you there. You must hold this stick. You must not talk. Do not say one word!"
Tortoise said, "Yes! I will be quiet." He took the stick. He bit the middle part. The two ducks held the ends. Tortoise held on tight. He closed his mouth. He was very excited. Up, up, up they went! They flew high in the sky.
They flew over a town. Little children looked up. "Look! Look!" the children cried. "A tortoise in the sky!" Children pointed up. The children had never seen this before. Their eyes were wide. They jumped up and down. They laughed and waved.
Tortoise heard the children. He wanted to talk back. "I want to say something!" he thought. He forgot the ducks' rule. He forgot his promise. He just wanted to chat. He opened his mouth. Oh no! He let go of the stick.
Down, down, down went Tortoise! The fall was fast. He felt dizzy. He fell from the sky. SPLAT! He landed in a big mud puddle. Mud covered his shell. He was very muddy. He was not hurt. But he was very, very sad. He felt foolish.
The two ducks flew down. They landed next to him. They saw Tortoise. They were happy he was safe. They wiped mud from his face. They knew he felt bad. Tortoise said, "I am sorry. I talked too much." Ducks gave him a hug. Tortoise thought about his words. He thought about listening. Tortoise learned a lesson. He still liked to talk. But sometimes, he was quiet. He liked the sound of the birds. He listened to the birds sing. The ducks smiled at him. And sometimes, quiet is nice too.
Original Story
The Talkative Tortoise
he future Buddha was once born in a minister's family, when Brahma-datta was reigning in Benares; and when he grew up, he became the king's adviser in things temporal and spiritual.
Now this king was very talkative; while he was speaking, others had no opportunity for a word. And the future Buddha, wanting to cure this talkativeness of his, was constantly seeking for some means of doing so.
At that time there was living, in a pond in the Himalaya mountains, a tortoise. Two young hamsas, or wild ducks, who came to feed there, made friends with him. And one day, when they had become very intimate with him, they said to the tortoise:
"Friend tortoise! the place where we live, at the Golden Cave on Mount Beautiful in the Himalaya country, is a delightful spot. Will you come there with us?"
"But how can I get there?"
"We can take you, if you can only hold your tongue, and will say nothing to anybody."
"Oh! that I can do. Take me with you."
"That's right," said they. And making the tortoise bite hold of a stick, they themselves took the two ends in their teeth, and flew up into the air.
Seeing him thus carried by the hamsas, some villagers called out, "Two wild ducks are carrying a tortoise along on a stick!" Whereupon the tortoise wanted to say, "If my friends choose to carry me, what is that to you, you wretched slaves!" So just as the swift flight of the wild ducks had brought him over the king's palace in the city of Benares, he let go of the stick he was biting, and falling in the open courtyard, split in two! And there arose a universal cry, "A tortoise has fallen in the open courtyard, and has split in two!"
The king, taking the future Buddha, went to the place, surrounded by his courtiers; and looking at the tortoise, he asked the Bodisat, "Teacher! how comes he to be fallen here?"
The future Buddha thought to himself, "Long expecting, wishing to admonish the king, have I sought for some means of doing so. This tortoise must have made friends with the wild ducks; and they must have made him bite hold of the stick, and have flown up into the air to take him to the hills. But he, being unable to hold his tongue when he hears any one else talk, must have wanted to say something, and let go the stick; and so must have fallen down from the sky, and thus lost his life." And saying, "Truly, O king! those who are called chatter-boxes—people whose words have no end—come to grief like this," he uttered these Verses:
"Verily the tortoise killed himself
Whilst uttering his voice;
Though he was holding tight the stick,
By a word himself he slew.
"Behold him then, O excellent by strength!
And speak wise words, not out of season.
You see how, by his talking overmuch,
The tortoise fell into this wretched plight!"
The king saw that he was himself referred to, and said, "O Teacher! are you speaking of us?"
And the Bodisat spake openly, and said, "O great king! be it thou, or be it any other, whoever talks beyond measure meets with some mishap like this."
And the king henceforth refrained himself, and became a man of few words.
Story DNA
Moral
Those who talk too much, especially out of turn, often bring misfortune upon themselves.
Plot Summary
A talkative king's adviser, the future Buddha, seeks to cure his monarch's excessive speech. Meanwhile, a talkative tortoise befriends two wild ducks who offer to fly him to a beautiful mountain, provided he remains silent during the journey. The tortoise agrees, holding onto a stick carried by the ducks, but when villagers exclaim at the sight, his inability to hold his tongue causes him to open his mouth, fall to his death, and split in two. The future Buddha uses this incident to illustrate the dangers of uncontrolled speech, prompting the king to reform his talkative ways.
Themes
Emotional Arc
ignorance to wisdom
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Jataka tales are a voluminous body of literature native to India concerning the previous births of Gautama Buddha in both human and animal form. The stories often carry a moral message.
Plot Beats (13)
- The future Buddha serves as an adviser to a talkative King Brahma-datta in Benares and seeks a way to cure his loquaciousness.
- In the Himalaya mountains, a talkative tortoise befriends two wild ducks (hamsas).
- The ducks invite the tortoise to their beautiful home at the Golden Cave, offering to carry him if he promises to remain silent.
- The tortoise agrees, bites onto a stick, and the ducks take the ends in their beaks, flying into the sky.
- As they fly over Benares, villagers see them and exclaim about the strange sight.
- Unable to resist, the tortoise opens his mouth to scold the villagers, letting go of the stick.
- The tortoise falls into the king's courtyard and dies, splitting in two.
- The king, accompanied by the future Buddha, investigates the scene.
- The future Buddha deduces the cause of the tortoise's death, recognizing it as an opportunity to teach the king.
- He explains that chatterboxes come to grief and recites verses illustrating how the tortoise's talkativeness led to his demise.
- The king realizes the lesson is for him and asks if the Buddha is speaking of him.
- The future Buddha confirms that anyone who talks beyond measure meets with mishap.
- The king takes the lesson to heart and becomes a man of few words.
Characters
The Talkative Tortoise
A robust, ancient-looking tortoise with a dark, moss-green shell, deeply ridged and scarred from years of life. His skin is leathery and wrinkled, a muted olive-brown, with strong, clawed feet.
Attire: None, as a tortoise.
Wants: To travel to the beautiful Golden Cave and experience new places, but also driven by an uncontrollable urge to speak his mind.
Flaw: His inability to control his tongue and his pride, which leads him to respond to insults.
Begins with a desire for adventure, but his fatal flaw leads to his tragic demise, serving as a cautionary tale.
Talkative, impulsive, easily provoked, proud, ultimately foolish.
The King of Benares (Brahma-datta)
A man of regal bearing, likely of average height and build, with a dignified presence befitting a ruler of ancient India. His skin is a warm, medium brown.
Attire: Rich, flowing silk robes in deep jewel tones like sapphire or emerald, possibly embroidered with subtle patterns. A simple gold necklace or armlet. His attire is elegant but not overly ostentatious, reflecting his wisdom.
Wants: To rule his kingdom effectively, though initially hindered by his talkativeness. Later, motivated to become a better, wiser ruler.
Flaw: His excessive talkativeness, which prevents others from speaking and potentially hinders effective governance.
Transforms from a talkative ruler to a man of few words, demonstrating wisdom and self-control.
Initially talkative and verbose, but open to wisdom, humble enough to accept criticism, and capable of change.
The Future Buddha (Bodhisat)
A wise and serene man, likely of average build, with an aura of calm intelligence. His skin is a warm, medium brown.
Attire: Simple, yet refined minister's attire of ancient India. Perhaps a light, flowing tunic and dhoti made of fine cotton or linen in natural, earthy tones like cream, saffron, or light brown, possibly with a simple shawl draped over one shoulder. No excessive ornamentation.
Wants: To guide and advise the king, specifically to cure his talkativeness and lead him to greater wisdom.
Flaw: None explicitly shown; his wisdom and patience are his defining traits.
Remains consistently wise and patient, successfully guiding the king towards self-improvement.
Wise, patient, observant, strategic, compassionate, and a skilled teacher.
The Two Hamsas (Wild Ducks)
Two elegant, large wild ducks, likely with pristine white or light-colored plumage, long graceful necks, and strong wings. Their beaks and legs are probably a contrasting color like reddish-orange or yellow.
Attire: None, as birds.
Wants: To help their friend, the tortoise, travel to their beautiful home at the Golden Cave.
Flaw: Their trust in the tortoise's promise, which ultimately leads to his downfall.
They facilitate the tortoise's journey but are ultimately unable to prevent his self-destruction.
Friendly, helpful, responsible (initially), but also somewhat naive in trusting the tortoise's promise.
Locations
Himalayan Pond
A serene pond nestled within the vast and majestic Himalaya mountains, likely surrounded by lush, verdant vegetation typical of the lower Himalayan range, possibly with clear, cool water.
Mood: Peaceful, natural, a place of friendship and tranquility.
The tortoise makes friends with the hamsas and agrees to travel with them.
Sky over Benares
The open sky high above the ancient city of Benares, likely a clear day allowing for a view of the city's architecture below. The air is open and vast.
Mood: Open, airy, with a sense of impending drama.
The tortoise is carried through the air by the hamsas, passing over the city.
King's Palace Courtyard in Benares
An open, spacious courtyard within the royal palace of Benares, likely paved with stone or fine gravel, surrounded by the ornate architecture of an ancient Indian palace. The palace would feature intricate carvings, possibly red sandstone or white marble, and grand archways.
Mood: Public, formal, suddenly chaotic due to the falling tortoise.
The tortoise falls from the sky and splits in two, leading to the king's inquiry and the Buddha's lesson.