Once upon a time, a wise crow named Kala lived in a dense forest. Not far from his tree, a venomous cobra called Sarpaka resided in a dark, ancient mound. Sarpaka had a nasty habit; he preyed upon newborns of the birds inhabiting the vicinity.
One day, Kala and his wife were eagerly awaiting the hatching of their eggs. Unfortunately, the wicked cobra discovered their nest and devoured all their eggs while they were away in search of food. Upon discovering the loss, Kala’s wife was inconsolable, and Kala was filled with rage and despair.
After calming his wife, Kala sat pondering on how to avenge their loss. He realized that he couldn’t fight Sarpaka directly as he was venomous. Hence, he decided to use his wit and intelligence to teach the cobra a lesson.
One day, while soaring above the royal palace, Kala noticed the queen’s precious necklace gleaming in the sunlight. He quickly swooped down, swiftly grabbed the necklace in his beak, and flew back towards his tree. The guards noticed the crow stealing the necklace and chased after him. But, they couldn’t match the crow’s speed and returned disappointed.
Kala dropped the necklace into Sarpaka’s mound and perched himself high on a tree branch to watch the unfolding drama. The king, furious over the lost necklace, ordered his guards to find it at any cost. The guards followed the crow’s path and found the necklace’s glimmering radiance in the dark mound. Believing the mound to be the crow’s nest, they started digging it with their spears and swords.
Suddenly, Sarpaka emerged from the mound, hissing and ready to strike. But before he could attack, the guards slew him, deeming him a threat. They retrieved the necklace and left, pleased with their success.
Kala, witnessing the entire scene, was filled with bittersweet satisfaction. He had lost his eggs, and while he could never bring them back, he had avenged their unjust demise.
The wise crow taught us that in our avarice, we often ignore the potential dangers of our actions, leading to the loss of our gains. It’s important not only to achieve something but also to safeguard it. Moreover, revenge must never be an act of blind rage but an execution of strategic planning and wisdom.
