Once, the Bodhisattva was born as a fish in a pond. Many other fish, big and small, lived in the pond with the Bodhisattva. One year, there was severe drought. The crops died; ponds and rivers dried up. The fish and turtles buried themselves in the mud to keep wet. The crows would stick their beaks into the mud and pull up the frightened fish. Seeing their pain, the Bodhisattva pulled himself up from the mud and prayed to the Rain-god, Pajjunna. “Why do you withhold rain from me? I have never taken life from anyone. My truthfulness gives me the right to say to you–make the rains fall. Relieve the suffering of my relatives!” Suddenly, the sky opened up with a heavy downpour, relieving the fish, the turtles and the humans. The great fish was eventually reborn as he deserved.
Moral: True faith will eventually relieve suffering.
