The queen die in a few day of the baby ‘s birth and her sister took good care of the baby as she loved him a lot and raised him as her own child.
The prince grew up to become an intelligent , attractive and caring boy. He had the best teachers of the kingdom and soon the teachers told the king that the prince did not need them, as he had soon learnt all they had to teach him ; he also taught them some things that the teachers themselves did not know until that time .The king was very proud of his son. He felt with his remarkable intelligence, he would surely become a wise and powerful king.
Siddhartha was a very kind and gentle boy. He did not enjoy the fights of the other boys and spent much of his time alone. He used to play with the animals in the palace gardens. The animals knew instinctively that he would not hurt them and were not afraid of him. Even wild animals would come near him without any fear , at his coming.
One day, sitting in the garden, he saw a flock of white swans flying over his head , when an arrow struck one of them. It landed at his feet and he gently picked up the injured bird and slowly took out its arrow. Then he applied salve to the swan’s wing, speaking to the bird all the time in a low, pleasant voice to calm its fear.
While he was still gently stroking the swan, his cousin Devadatta, came running to him excitedly, with bow and arrows. He told him excitedly that he had struck a swan with his very first shot. He asked Siddhartha to help him look for the bird. He wanted it to be returned to him. Siddhartha held onto the bird and firmly told his angry cousin that he would not give the bleeding , injured bird to him.
The two boys kept arguing for sometime. Then the prince decided that the matter would be decided in a court of wise men, like the grown-ups do. His cousin was hesitant for a while but agreed as it was the only way Siddhartha would give him his bird back.
The two of them went to the palace and put their request before the court, which found it amusing that the two children were arguing over an insignificant bird. The king felt that the royal princes should learn the way of court, as future rulers and announced the beginning of the trial .
Siddhartha and Devadatta gave their sides of the story. The court was also divided and could not take a verdict. Then a very old man came to the court. After hearing the case, he said that the owner was the person who saved its life , as everyone values life. This convinced everyone and the prince got the swan.
