Parables of Wisdom
King Hansa
राजा हंस · રાજા હંસ
A king alone in the forest, and the questions he would not answer
- 5 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- For all ages
A king loses his kingdom while on pilgrimage and walks on alone through a forest, where three times he must choose between a hard truth and a life.
What it teaches Truth Compassion Courage
The opening of the children's telling
Long ago there was a good king named Hansa. He always told the truth, and he never wanted anyone to be hurt.
One day King Hansa set off to visit a holy temple on a mountain. On the way he got lost in a big forest, all alone.
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
Truth that protects life is the truest truth.
To talk about together
King Hansa did not lie, but he did not tell the hunter where the deer went. What do you think about his answer?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.