The Story of the Pigeon and the Hunter
Long ago, in a forest, there stood a large banyan tree. Many pigeons resided in this tree. They would roam the forest, seeking food and satisfying their hunger. Among these pigeons was an old, wise bird, whose counsel the others respected. One day, a hunter entered the forest. His eyes fell upon the pigeons, and a mischievous glint appeared in them. He pondered for a moment before moving on. However, the old pigeon had seen him.
The following day, the pigeons were resting on the tree during the heat of the afternoon. The hunter returned, seeing the pigeons sheltering from the heat. He spread a net beneath the banyan tree, scattering some grains on it, and hid behind another tree. One pigeon, noticing the grains, called out to the others, "Look, brothers! Fortune has smiled upon us today. We need not venture out to find food; it has come to us. Let us go and enjoy this meal!" Weakened by the heat and hunger, the pigeons began to descend, but the old pigeon called out to stop them.
However, none heeded his warning. They continued towards the grains. The old pigeon's gaze fell upon the hunter hiding behind the tree, and he immediately understood the situation. It was too late. Having eaten, the pigeons tried to take flight, but they were trapped in the net. The more they struggled, the tighter they became entangled. Seeing the pigeons caught, the hunter emerged from his hiding place and advanced towards them. The pigeons, terrified, cried out for help to the old pigeon. The old pigeon pondered and said, "When I say so, you all must fly together. Follow me!" The pigeons exclaimed, "We are trapped in the net; how can we fly?" The old pigeon replied, "If you all work together, you can fly."
The pigeons obeyed, and together they made a concerted effort to fly. With a collective burst of energy, they lifted themselves and the net into the air, following the old pigeon's lead. The hunter was astonished, having never seen such a feat. He tried to chase after them, but the pigeons soared over rivers and mountains, disappearing from his sight. The old pigeon led the trapped birds to a hill where one of his friends, a mouse, lived. The mouse, overjoyed to see him, was saddened when the old pigeon told his story. "Don't worry," said the mouse, "I will use my teeth to cut the net." He did, setting the pigeons free. The pigeons were overjoyed and thanked the mouse and the old pigeon, expressing their gratitude.
The moral of this story is: Unity is strength, and we should always respect the wise counsel of elders.
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