11.THE HERON THAT LIKED CRAB MEAT
A heron ate what fish he could,
The bad, indifferent, and good:
His greed was never satisfied
Till, strangled by a crab, he died.
Friends are foes and foes are friends
As they mar or serve your ends:
Few discern where profit tends.
Mythilipuri was situated in region dotted with ponds and lakes. Nature was a kind over lord there. The verdant greenery and never failing rains regularly filled the water spots and allowed the aquatic life there to flourish. The lakes and ponds doting the landscape always were teeming with water life. The fishes, crabs, tortoise, frogs’ swarm freely in the water feedings on the mosses and the greens in the water. As the water life flourished the predators feeding on them were not far behind. Hovering on the banks were bird life as well men ever plotting to get prize catches to satisfy their hunger.
In the banks of one of the ponds called Neel kund, filled with emerald green water lived number of fishes small and big, crabs, turtles etc, along with them lived an aging heron Saras. It was blessed with sharp eyes, strong legs and an active brain. It made good use of all its endowments. It was ever on look out for fat healthy fishes. It used to stand still in sort of a meditative pose and look at the waters ever keenly for the fishes whose shining scales glistened in the light of the sun when they swam closer to the surface looking for fresh air and light. Looking for the oppurtunate moment in one sweep the heron used to dive in, put its long bill and haul its prey fresh and alive from the waters and have its meal with relish while the fish wriggled to get itself free. However such hunting required lot of skill, sharp reflexes and a bit of dramatics, especially when Saras used to stand one legged and motionless when the fishes used to get bolder thinking him to be harmless, only to get caught most unexpectedly. However of late his age and failing health was diminishing his well-cultivated reflexes and his catch was becoming slender and slender by day. There were days when Saras had to sleep empty stomach not being successful to catch any of the fast moving agile fishes. But his ever-plotting active brain was trying to find ways and means to get out of this crisis. Mulling and plotting finally it hit upon an idea, but this plan of his required much penance and forebearence, but the heron being made of strong will was prepared to take the penance to work out his idea.
For days on end he stood near the bank not making an attempt to catch any prey. The fishes were getting bolder and bolder. They swarm to the surface in groups almost like teasing Saras. But the heron in spite of gnawing hunger kept his peace. He stood his ground like an ascetic mendicant and never made any attempt to catch the tempting fishes swimming just close to his beak’s reach.
Mandoo the crab was observing all this from the edge of the rock close to the bank where digging a hole he had made its home. Curiosity getting better of him he approached the now harmless heron and asked Saras uncle, I have been watching you for few days. You have not been eating a morsel of food nor making an attempt to catch the fishes swimming so close by to you. What is the reason? I am not able to fathom. Are you planning to relinquish the worldly life? Pray tell me.’
The heron was waiting just for such an enquiry. He put on a pious and pathetic face. `My dear Mandoo, we have been together for long time in this beautiful pond Neel kund. However the good days are soon going to end. The other day as I went to the near by village flying after a good meal, I over heard the enterprising fisher folk their who are always in search of new and fresh haul of fishes, planning to arrive at our Neel kund pond very soon with their hooks and nets and catch a lot of water life of this pond as they have been ordered by the Zamindar of the village for the feast of his daughters marriage That news depressed me greatly. I thought our brethren are any way going to perish and along with them myself and hence I decided not to feed this frame which is anyway very soon going to perish.’
Mandoo the crab seeing the down cast demeanor of Saras believed him completely. He rushed to the groups of fishes and gave this news. The fishes on hearing this got alarmed. They thought it would be wise to believe a known enemy than an unknown one. Thinking thus to get out the predicament of a sure death in the hands of the strong group of fisher folk they approached the heron and told with great humility `Saras uncle, we just got the news from our friend Mandoo’ about the impending invasion by the fisher folk of the village to catch us. You please help us. We don’t want to die. If you can kindly carry us in your beak and reach us another water body, we will be saved. Being creatures with out legs or wings, we are taking your help. Please reach us a safer place to live.’
The heron now full of glee told `Don’t worry my friends; we have been together for long. I wont allow such a fate to befall on you. I will do my utmost and try to reach you to another water body as requested by you. We will start the journey from tomorrow.’
From the next day onwards the heron with a look of piety he used to stand in the bank at the appointed time, the fishes use to queue up vying to be the first to go out of the Neel kund pond to safer heavens, so they thought.
The heron used to pick them one by one on its beak and off it flew. Thus the days went in succession with the busy and bright heron carting the fishes far and away, while it filled the ears of the helpless water creatures with new and new rumors of the fisher folk in the village and their impending attack on the Neel kund pond.
One day Mandoo the crab approached its friend heron and told`Uncle I have been waiting patiently for my turn. Please take me today to the new water hole lest I meet my fate at the hands of the fisher folk.
The heron thought, I have been having the same fare of the slimy fishes day in and out. Today let me enjoy a new fare, thinking thus, he told `Yes my friend Mandoo today is your day, get ready for the journey’ so saying he lifted he crab in its beak and began to fly.
Going for a while they crossed a couple of water bodies but the crab found the heron was not stopping in any of them.
Mandoo called out `uncle where are we up to? You are not stopping on any of the lush lakes I can see below’
Heron gave out a throaty laugh ` My dear I will reach you to the same place where your brethren reached, a never to return journey, you can see the rock below, hot and scorched, I will alight their now very soon.’
As crab looked down alarmed, he saw the place is scattered with bones and skeletons of number of fishes. Quickly he understood the game of the cunning and treacherous heron.
In a fit of anger he caught the neck of the heron and squeezed him to death with his deadly claws.
The heron fell down with his head severed. The crab went back to the pond and informed its friends how the cruel heron had plotted and killed with deceit all the fishes which he was supposed to rescue.’
`Deceit will be exposed sooner or later and it will get its reward. Hence let not greed tempt to pave your actions with deceit.’
A heron ate what fish he could,
The bad, indifferent, and good:
His greed was never satisfied
Till, strangled by a crab, he died.
Friends are foes and foes are friends
As they mar or serve your ends:
Few discern where profit tends.
Mythilipuri was situated in region dotted with ponds and lakes. Nature was a kind over lord there. The verdant greenery and never failing rains regularly filled the water spots and allowed the aquatic life there to flourish. The lakes and ponds doting the landscape always were teeming with water life. The fishes, crabs, tortoise, frogs’ swarm freely in the water feedings on the mosses and the greens in the water. As the water life flourished the predators feeding on them were not far behind. Hovering on the banks were bird life as well men ever plotting to get prize catches to satisfy their hunger.
In the banks of one of the ponds called Neel kund, filled with emerald green water lived number of fishes small and big, crabs, turtles etc, along with them lived an aging heron Saras. It was blessed with sharp eyes, strong legs and an active brain. It made good use of all its endowments. It was ever on look out for fat healthy fishes. It used to stand still in sort of a meditative pose and look at the waters ever keenly for the fishes whose shining scales glistened in the light of the sun when they swam closer to the surface looking for fresh air and light. Looking for the oppurtunate moment in one sweep the heron used to dive in, put its long bill and haul its prey fresh and alive from the waters and have its meal with relish while the fish wriggled to get itself free. However such hunting required lot of skill, sharp reflexes and a bit of dramatics, especially when Saras used to stand one legged and motionless when the fishes used to get bolder thinking him to be harmless, only to get caught most unexpectedly. However of late his age and failing health was diminishing his well-cultivated reflexes and his catch was becoming slender and slender by day. There were days when Saras had to sleep empty stomach not being successful to catch any of the fast moving agile fishes. But his ever-plotting active brain was trying to find ways and means to get out of this crisis. Mulling and plotting finally it hit upon an idea, but this plan of his required much penance and forebearence, but the heron being made of strong will was prepared to take the penance to work out his idea.
For days on end he stood near the bank not making an attempt to catch any prey. The fishes were getting bolder and bolder. They swarm to the surface in groups almost like teasing Saras. But the heron in spite of gnawing hunger kept his peace. He stood his ground like an ascetic mendicant and never made any attempt to catch the tempting fishes swimming just close to his beak’s reach.
Mandoo the crab was observing all this from the edge of the rock close to the bank where digging a hole he had made its home. Curiosity getting better of him he approached the now harmless heron and asked Saras uncle, I have been watching you for few days. You have not been eating a morsel of food nor making an attempt to catch the fishes swimming so close by to you. What is the reason? I am not able to fathom. Are you planning to relinquish the worldly life? Pray tell me.’
The heron was waiting just for such an enquiry. He put on a pious and pathetic face. `My dear Mandoo, we have been together for long time in this beautiful pond Neel kund. However the good days are soon going to end. The other day as I went to the near by village flying after a good meal, I over heard the enterprising fisher folk their who are always in search of new and fresh haul of fishes, planning to arrive at our Neel kund pond very soon with their hooks and nets and catch a lot of water life of this pond as they have been ordered by the Zamindar of the village for the feast of his daughters marriage That news depressed me greatly. I thought our brethren are any way going to perish and along with them myself and hence I decided not to feed this frame which is anyway very soon going to perish.’
Mandoo the crab seeing the down cast demeanor of Saras believed him completely. He rushed to the groups of fishes and gave this news. The fishes on hearing this got alarmed. They thought it would be wise to believe a known enemy than an unknown one. Thinking thus to get out the predicament of a sure death in the hands of the strong group of fisher folk they approached the heron and told with great humility `Saras uncle, we just got the news from our friend Mandoo’ about the impending invasion by the fisher folk of the village to catch us. You please help us. We don’t want to die. If you can kindly carry us in your beak and reach us another water body, we will be saved. Being creatures with out legs or wings, we are taking your help. Please reach us a safer place to live.’
The heron now full of glee told `Don’t worry my friends; we have been together for long. I wont allow such a fate to befall on you. I will do my utmost and try to reach you to another water body as requested by you. We will start the journey from tomorrow.’
From the next day onwards the heron with a look of piety he used to stand in the bank at the appointed time, the fishes use to queue up vying to be the first to go out of the Neel kund pond to safer heavens, so they thought.
The heron used to pick them one by one on its beak and off it flew. Thus the days went in succession with the busy and bright heron carting the fishes far and away, while it filled the ears of the helpless water creatures with new and new rumors of the fisher folk in the village and their impending attack on the Neel kund pond.
One day Mandoo the crab approached its friend heron and told`Uncle I have been waiting patiently for my turn. Please take me today to the new water hole lest I meet my fate at the hands of the fisher folk.
The heron thought, I have been having the same fare of the slimy fishes day in and out. Today let me enjoy a new fare, thinking thus, he told `Yes my friend Mandoo today is your day, get ready for the journey’ so saying he lifted he crab in its beak and began to fly.
Going for a while they crossed a couple of water bodies but the crab found the heron was not stopping in any of them.
Mandoo called out `uncle where are we up to? You are not stopping on any of the lush lakes I can see below’
Heron gave out a throaty laugh ` My dear I will reach you to the same place where your brethren reached, a never to return journey, you can see the rock below, hot and scorched, I will alight their now very soon.’
As crab looked down alarmed, he saw the place is scattered with bones and skeletons of number of fishes. Quickly he understood the game of the cunning and treacherous heron.
In a fit of anger he caught the neck of the heron and squeezed him to death with his deadly claws.
The heron fell down with his head severed. The crab went back to the pond and informed its friends how the cruel heron had plotted and killed with deceit all the fishes which he was supposed to rescue.’
`Deceit will be exposed sooner or later and it will get its reward. Hence let not greed tempt to pave your actions with deceit.’
posted by Rama Venkataraman at 9:50 PM
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