In a forest region, there was a large pond. It had abundant food for all kinds of creatures—birds, fishes, turtles, and crabs—so many of them lived there. Near the pond lived a heron who disliked hard work. His eyesight was also a bit weak. Catching fish required effort, which he didn’t enjoy, so out of laziness, he often stayed hungry, standing on one leg and wondering how to get food without lifting a finger.
One day, he came up with a plan.
He stood by the edge of the pond and began to shed tears. A crab saw him crying and approached. “Uncle,” he asked, “why are you crying instead of catching fish to eat?”
The heron sighed heavily and replied in a choked voice, “Son, I’ve hunted enough fish. I will no longer commit such sinful acts. My soul has awakened. That’s why I’m not catching any fish—even the ones that come near me. You can see it yourself.”
The crab said, “Uncle, if you don’t hunt or eat, won’t you die?”
The heron took another sigh, “It’s better to die than live like this. Anyway, we all are going to die soon. I’ve come to know that a 12-year drought is going to hit this area soon.”
The heron told the crab that a wise sage who could see the past, present, and future had told him this, and his predictions were never wrong. The crab quickly informed all the other creatures—fishes, turtles, crabs, ducks, and storks—that the heron had become a spiritual being and that a drought was approaching.
All the pond creatures rushed to the heron and said, “Oh enlightened uncle, please show us a way to survive. Use your wisdom—you have become so knowledgeable!”
After some thought, the heron said that a few miles away, there was a reservoir where a mountain stream flowed continuously. It never dried up. If the pond creatures moved there, they could survive.
The problem was—how to get there?
The heron, now called “Bhagat Uncle,” offered a solution. “I will carry each of you on my back to that reservoir. From now on, I’ll dedicate my life to serving others.”
Overjoyed, all the creatures cheered, “Long live Heron Bhagatji!”
Now the heron was having the time of his life. Every day, he carried one creature on his back, flew a short distance to a rocky area, killed it, and ate it. If he was in the mood, he made two trips a day and feasted on two creatures. The number of animals in the pond started to decline. A pile of bones began to gather near the rocks, and the heron grew fat and healthy. His feathers shone with oily brightness, and his cheeks were red with good health. Seeing him, the other creatures said, “Look! This is the result of selfless service and devotion!”
The heron laughed to himself. “See how foolish these creatures are—they believe everything without question. In a world full of such fools, a little cunning can bring great rewards. You can enjoy a feast without doing any work!”
This went on for a long time. One day, the crab said, “Uncle, you’ve carried so many creatures, but my turn hasn’t come yet.”
Bhagat Uncle said, “Son, today is your day. Climb on.”
Excited, the crab sat on the heron’s back. When they neared the rocky area, he saw the pile of bones and became suspicious. He nervously asked, “What’s this pile of bones? How far is the reservoir, Uncle?”
The heron laughed loudly and said, “Fool! There is no reservoir. I’ve been killing and eating everyone I carried. Today is your turn to die.”
The crab immediately understood the truth. Though scared, he didn’t lose his nerve. He reached forward with his large claws and gripped the heron’s neck tightly, choking him until he died. Then the crab returned to the pond with the heron’s severed head and revealed the whole truth to the others—how the wicked heron had tricked and betrayed them.
Moral:
- Never blindly trust others. Verify the situation first, because the person in front of you may be making up stories to deceive or tempt you.
- Even in the toughest times, don’t panic. Stay calm and act with intelligence and courage.
Always stay content – what you have is enough.
A joyful mind holds the entire world within.