The Foolish Heron and the Weasel
Long ago, in a dense forest, stood a majestic banyan tree. A heron resided in its branches. Beneath the tree, a cunning serpent made its den. This serpent was quite malicious and preyed upon the heron's young ones to satiate its hunger. The heron was distressed by this relentless torment. One day, overcome with grief, the heron sat by the riverbank. Tears welled up in his eyes. A crab, observing the heron's distress, emerged from the river and inquired, "What troubles you, brother Heron? Why these tears?"
The heron replied, "Alas, my dear crab, the serpent is my tormentor. He repeatedly devours my fledglings. No matter how high I build my nest, he climbs up to reach them. Now, even fetching food and water has become a challenge. Please, suggest a solution." The crab pondered the heron's predicament. He reflected on how the heron, too, consumed other creatures to survive. The crab reasoned that perhaps a plan could be devised to neutralize both the serpent and the heron. An idea sparked within him.
He advised the heron, "Do this, my friend. There is a weasel's burrow not far from your tree. Place pieces of meat along the path from the serpent's den to the weasel's den. When the weasel, drawn by the scent of meat, reaches the serpent's den, it may also attack the serpent." The heron found this suggestion plausible and acted upon it. However, the heron also became a victim of this scheme. As the weasel, lured by the meat, approached the tree, it made the heron its prey along with the serpent.
The moral of this story is: One should not blindly trust anyone's words. It is essential to consider the potential consequences and repercussions before taking any action.
Our endeavor is to continue sharing these precious gems of Indian literature, stories, and art, presented in a simple and accessible manner. Stay tuned for more such inspiring narratives on subkuz.com.