In the heart of India, where the air hummed with life, and the trees whispered ancient secrets, a wise and clever crow named Kaka lived. His feathers gleamed like polished crystals in the dappled sunlight that filtered through the lush canopy of the forest. Kaka’s eyes, sharp and knowing, missed nothing as he soared above the treetops, watching over the forest and its inhabitants.
One scorching afternoon, Kaka’s keen ears picked up the sound of raised voices. He flew down to investigate, landing on a branch overlooking a clearing. There, he found a family of rabbits and a group of squirrels locked in a heated argument.
“This is our territory!” squeaked a plump rabbit, his long ears quivering with indignation. “Our family has lived here for generations!”
A red squirrel, her bushy tail twitching nervously, retorted, “But the nut trees are on this side! We need them to survive!”
Kaka cleared his throat, causing both parties to look up in surprise. “Friends,” he began, his voice calm and measured, “why do you quarrel when there is enough for all?”
The animals fell silent, their eyes wide with curiosity. Kaka continued, “Have you heard of dharma?”
The creatures shook their heads, and Kaka smiled. “Dharma is the path of righteous living. It teaches us that each of us has a role to play, a duty to fulfil. When we follow our dharma, harmony prevails.”
A young rabbit hopped forward. “But how does that solve our problem, wise Kaka?”
Kaka’s eyes twinkled. “Your dharma, dear rabbits, is to care for the earth, to dig your burrows, and in doing so, aerate the soil. And you, squirrels, your duty is to plant seeds and help the forest grow. If you both fulfil your dharma, you’ll find that there’s room for everyone.”The animals looked at each other, then back at Kaka. Slowly, understanding dawned on their faces. The squirrels agreed to plant some nut trees on the rabbits’ side, while the rabbits promised to help maintain the existing trees. Peace was restored, and Kaka flew off, satisfied.
But the clever crow’s work was far from over. A few days later, he noticed a young elephant named Gaja lazing by the river, ignoring the calls of his herd.
Kaka landed nearby. “Young Gaja, why aren’t you with your family?”
Gaja shrugged his massive shoulders. “I’m tired of all the work. Why should I have to clear paths and dig for water when I could be relaxing?”
Kaka hopped closer. “Ah, but have you considered your dharma, your duty to your herd and the forest?”
Gaja’s ears perked up. “What do you mean?”
“Look at the river,” Kaka said, gesturing with his wing. “It flows ceaselessly, nourishing the land. The sun rises each day, giving light and warmth. They fulfil their dharma without complaint. Your strength and size are gifts, Gaja. Your duty is to use them to help others.”
Gaja pondered this, then slowly nodded. “I… I never thought of it that way. Thank you, Kaka. I’ll rejoin my herd now.”
As weeks passed, Kaka’s reputation grew as a clever crow. Animals sought his advice, and peace reigned in the forest. But one day, a new challenge arose. A troop of monkeys had moved in, and they were carelessly damaging trees and plants as they swung through the canopy.
Kaka called a meeting. As the monkeys arrived, chattering and swinging, other animals glared at them resentfully.
“Friends,” Kaka began, “we are all part of this forest. Each action we take affects others. Monkeys, your agility and speed are marvellous, but with great skill comes great responsibility.”
The lead monkey scratched his head. “But we’re just having fun!”
Kaka nodded understandingly. “Fun is important, but so is respect. Your dharma includes being a caretaker of the canopy. If you destroy it, where will you live?”
The monkeys looked at each other, suddenly serious. “We didn’t realise,” one said softly. “We’ll be more careful from now on.”
Just as harmony was restored, disaster struck. A severe drought hit the forest, and water became scarce. Animals began to fight over the remaining resources.
