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| Sunday, 29 May 2005 |
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Features |  |
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The black bear and the giant Kon tree Sunday parable by Sunanda Mahendra
He would never clean the spot, where he slept, but pollute the place, which then gave out a foul smell which was unbearable to the Tree God. "Don't you know that this is the residence of a Tree God (rukdevatava)?" The Tree God wanted to ask the black bear, but on second thoughts, he remained silent.But, the gradual increase in the intensity of the pollution, was unbearable. One day, the Tree God, broke a branch of the tree and dropped it onto the black bear who was sleeping. The bear sprang up ,in anger. "Who the hell is troubling me? This tree does not know my power. Let's see what I can do," thought the black bear. Then he got up and threw the branch of the tree aside and walked into the forest to find a better resting place. On his way, he met a certain carpenter looking for good strong timber that would help him to make a cart wheel. The carpenter had a hatchet in his hand. "Hello carpenter where are you going?" asked the black bear. "I am looking for strong timber to make a cart wheel," the carpenter answered. "I know of the right kind a well- seasoned giant Kon tree, out of which you can get the matured trunk to make a good cart wheel." "Can you take me to that spot ?" "Oh sure," the bear said. Then the black bear walked to the foot of the Kon tree. "This is the tree, and it used to be my place of rest, till lately, but I don't want to live there any more. So cut it down - that is the right kind of timber needed for a cart wheel." The black bear went onto a side and watched the carpenter, pulling out the hatchet and taking aim. "This is going to be a good lesson to the Kon tree for disturbing me," thought the black bear. Suddenly the Tree God who lived in the uppermost branch of the Kon tree felt the impending disaster and appeared before the carpenter. "Who are you ?" asked the Tree God. "I am a carpenter, looking for strong timber to make a cart wheel." "Who asked you to cut this tree?" "That black bear." He looked around for the black bear, but could not find him. "Where is he? He was here a few moments ago, as he was the one who directed me here." "Is that so? Then I must tell you something- a sort of a secret- that you should not tell any body." "What is it?" asked the inquisitive carpenter. "The timber of the Kon tree, as you know is really good for the cart wheel, but to harden the wheel you got to have a layer of good hide of an animal." "What sort of hide would do if I may ask you ?" "The hide of the black bear I think would do." "So that means, I should get hold of that black bear and get his hide?" "It is up to you." Then the Tree God disappeared. The carpenter went in search of the black bear and the bear wanted to know why the carpenter refrained from doing what he had asked him to do. "Hello carpenter, what are you doing here without cutting down that Kon tree?" "I came to see you and ask you the right place that I should cut because you seem to be the expert who knows these matters." Then the black bear went to the foot of the tree and leant against the trunk, indicating the spot where the cut should be made. "Look, right behind my neck," the bear said, No sooner said than done, the carpenter rushed to the spot and pulled out the hatchet and in one stroke beheaded the bear. It is said that the black bear and the Kon tree are arch enemies, and from that day. a saying arose in the forest region, Like the hatred of the black bear and the Cong tree. (kaluvalas saha kon gas vairaya vage) I am not too sure whether the carpenter had the chance to cut down the tree. According to one version, the Tree God had returned to the spot and another version goes onto say that the Tree God never returned, as his powers diminished with this act of ill will. According to folklore, until now, black bears have an enmity with the Kon tree. This folk reference has gone into the classical texts as well. If one reads Dampiya atuva gatapadaya (a commentary written to the Dhammapadatthakatha) of the Anuradhapura period of Sinhala literature will come across a phrasekalasihu saha bahurujamun verase, which is a direct reference to the above folk parable that comes as a classical allusion to the story in Kaliyakkini vatthu. (the story of the ogress named Kali). |
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"This good for nothing big black bear is polluting the base of my abode.
I told him once that he should keep the base of the tree clean. He never
listens. I must teach him a good lesson," thought the Tree God who lived in
the giant Kon tree. The black bear, occupying the foot of the tree, in which
the Tree God lived, would roam about in the forest and return to sleep at
all odd times. 
