The Quails and the Fowler

A clever fowler (hunter) used to imitate the call of the quails. When the flock gathered, he would throw a massive net over them, tighten the drawstrings, and sell the birds in the market.

The Bodhisatta, who was the wise leader of the quails, saw his flock being destroyed. He gathered the remaining birds and said, 'When the hunter throws his net over us, each of you must stick your head through one of the holes in the net. On my signal, we will all fly up together at the exact same time. We will carry the net to a thorn bush, drop it there, and escape from underneath.'

The next day, the hunter threw his net. The quails followed the plan perfectly. Lifting the net in unison, they flew to a thorn bush, left the net entangled there, and escaped. The hunter spent hours untangling his net and went home empty-handed. This happened day after day.

The hunter's wife complained that he wasn't making any money. He replied, 'Right now, the birds are united. But wait until they start arguing; then I will catch them all.'

A few days later, while feeding, one quail accidentally stepped on another's head. An argument broke out. 'You think you are the only one lifting the net!' they yelled at each other.

The Bodhisatta warned them that division meant death, but they wouldn't listen. He took his loyal followers and flew away. The next time the hunter threw the net over the arguing quails, instead of flying up, they yelled at each other: 'You lift it! No, you lift it!' While they argued, the hunter tightened the net and caught every single one.