The story of a turtle who became friendly with two geese living in the Cittakūṭa mountain. One day the geese invited the turtle to their abode, and when he agreed they made him hold a stick between his teeth, and seizing the two ends flew away with him. The children of the village, seeing them, started shouting, and the turtle, being of a talkative nature, opened his mouth to reprimand them and fell near the palace of the king of Bārāṇasī, crushing himself to death. The Bodhisatta, who was the king’s minister, seized the opportunity for admonishing his master, who was an inveterate talker, on the virtues of silence.

The turtle is identified with Kokālika, in reference to whom the story was related (J.ii.175-8; repeated also in DhA.iv.91 f). For details see the Takkāriya Jātaka.