English Original
Some two thousand years ago, in ancient India, there was a pond teeming with fish. They lived happily in the clear water, swimming, jumping, and floating in their watery home.
Then, a long drought began. Day by day, water evaporated until the pond was nearly dry. The fish faced certain death under the relentless sun.
An old man walking by saw their plight. Filled with compassion, he went directly to the king. "The fish pond is almost dry," he said. "If it pleases Your Majesty, could you send twenty elephants to carry water and save them?"
The king, a Buddhist, was moved by the request. "Your kindness is wonderful," he replied. "Take as many royal elephants as you need to save the suffering fish."
The old man, with his two sons, selected twenty elephants. They borrowed many leather skins from breweries—used in those days to store and transport liquor. Leading the elephants to a great river, they filled the skins with water. The elephants carried the heavy loads to the pond and poured the life-giving water in.
After many trips, the pond was refilled. The fish were saved! They leapt and swam joyfully.
Watching the happy fish and the ripples on the water, the old man felt all the worries and sadness of his long life wash away. As night fell, he and his sons cheerfully returned the elephants to the royal stables and went to share the good news with the king.
中文翻译
大约两千年前，在古印度，有一个鱼群繁盛的池塘。鱼儿们在清澈的水中快乐地生活，游泳、跳跃，漂浮在他们的水乡家园里。
随后，一场漫长的干旱开始了。日复一日，池水蒸发，池塘几乎干涸。在无情的烈日下，鱼儿们面临死亡的威胁。
一位路过的老人看到了它们的困境。他满怀怜悯，径直去找国王。他说：“鱼塘快干了。若陛下恩准，可否派二十头大象运水来拯救它们？”
国王是位佛教徒，被这个请求打动了。他回答道：“你的善心令人赞叹。需要多少皇家大象，尽管带去拯救那些受苦的鱼儿吧。”
老人带着他的两个儿子，挑选了二十头大象。他们从酿酒厂借来许多皮囊——在那个时代，皮囊用于储存和运输酒水。他们领着大象来到一条大河，将皮囊装满水。大象们驮着沉重的水囊来到池塘，将生命之水倾注其中。
经过多次往返，池塘重新蓄满了水。鱼儿们得救了！它们欢快地跳跃、游弋。
看着快乐的鱼儿和水面的涟漪，老人感到漫长岁月积攒在他疲惫心灵中的所有忧虑和悲伤都被一扫而空。夜幕降临时，他和儿子们高兴地将大象带回皇家象厩，并去向国王报告这个好消息。