XLIX.
THE UNITED PHEASANTS.[1]
In long-past time there lived on the sea-coast two pheasants, named Dharmika and Adharmika, whose bodies were united in their growth. Once while Adharmika was asleep, Dharmika kept awake, and saw an amṛita fruit driven ashore by the waters. He took it out and considered whether he should wake the other or eat the fruit by himself. Reflecting that if he ate it, the body they shared in common would be nourished thereby, he did not wake the other.
When the other awoke of his own accord, and perceived that Dharmika’s breath smelt of amṛita fruit, he said, “What is it your breath smells of?”
“Amṛita fruit,” replied Dharmika.
“Where did you get it?” asked Adharmika.
Dharmika replied, “I found an amṛita fruit while you were asleep, and I ate it without waking you, because I considered that our common body would be nourished thereby.”
Adharmika said, “As you have not acted rightly therein, I also will bide my time.”
On another occasion, when Dharmika had gone to sleep and Adharmika was awake, the latter perceived a poisonous fruit which the waves had brought ashore. He ate it, and both of the birds became insensible. Affected by the poisonous fruit, Adharmika said, “Wherever I may be [[359]]born again, there may I be thy antagonist, O enemy and slayer!”