Some two thousand years ago， in a river in ancient India， there was a pond full of fish. They lived happily in the clear water. They jumped and swam or just floated around enjoying their watery home.
约两千多年前，古印度有一条小河，其中有个满是鱼儿的水塘。鱼儿们在清澈的水里快乐地生活着。它们时时水中跳跃、穿梭或浮在水面上，尽情徜徉在它们的水上家园。
Then for a long time it didn't rain. Every day some more water evaporated，until the pond had almost dried up. If the pond dried up， all of the fish would die under the hot， dry sun.
已经有很长的一段时间没下雨了。每天都有越来越多的水被蒸发掉，最后池塘基本上都干了。如果池塘干涸，所有的鱼将会被烈日晒死。
The sun kept beating down on the dry earth. An old man happened to walk by the pond. He saw the water was almost gone. His heart filled with mercy. He went straight to the king and said， "The water in the fish's pond is almost dry， and the fish are in great danger. If it pleases your majesty， you might send twenty elephants to tote water to save those fish."
太阳持续地烤着干旱的大地。一个老人碰巧经过池塘。他看到水差不多没了，心里充满了悲悯。他径直找到国王， 说，"鱼塘里的水差不多干了，鱼儿们的处境十分危险。如果陛下乐意，请您分派二十头大象运水过去救救这些鱼吧。"
The king was a Buddhist， so as soon as he heard the old man's request， he said， "It is wonderful that you have such a kind and merciful heart. Go to the royal elephant stables and take as many elephants as you feel you need to to the water to save those poor， suffering fish."