The Tale of the Swan and the Crow

Once upon a time, in a city, there lived two Brahmin sons. One was poor, and the other was wealthy. They were neighbors. The poor Brahmin often endured constant taunts and quarrels from his wife, making his life miserable.

The Poor Brahmin’s Escape

On the auspicious day of Ekadashi, the poor Brahmin, fed up with his life, decided to leave his home. He thought of going into the forest, hoping a wild animal would kill him and end his misery.

As he wandered into the forest, he saw a cave where a lion was sleeping. A vigilant swan guarded the lion, ensuring its rest was not disturbed. When the swan noticed the Brahmin approaching, it grew concerned.

"If the Brahmin enters, the lion will wake up and devour him. On this sacred day, harming a Brahmin would bring sin upon me. I must save him!" thought the swan.

The Swan’s Wisdom

The swan devised a plan and began praising the lion loudly:

"O King of the Jungle, awake! Today is your lucky day. A noble Brahmin has come to your abode. Bless him with charity, and your virtuous deed will lead to your salvation!"

Hearing this, the lion woke up and believed the swan’s words. It offered the Brahmin all the jewels it had collected from its past hunts and bowed before him. The swan then urged the Brahmin:

"Take these jewels and leave quickly! This is a lion, after all; it might change its mind any moment."

The Brahmin took the jewels and returned home safely.

The Greedy Neighbor

When the wealthy Brahmin’s wife learned of this, she forced her husband to visit the same cave on the next Ekadashi, hoping for similar fortune. This time, however, the lion’s guard was a crow instead of the swan.

The Crow’s Malice

As the crow saw the Brahmin approaching, it thought:

"This is perfect! If the lion wakes up, it will kill the Brahmin, and I will get some leftovers to eat."

The crow began cawing loudly, disturbing the lion’s sleep. The lion woke up angrily and saw the Brahmin. Remembering the swan’s wise words from before, the lion realized the crow’s ill intentions. It warned the Brahmin:

"The swan, who inspired virtue, has left for the lake, and now this malicious crow guards me, urging me to harm you. Leave immediately before my instincts take over!"

The Brahmin understood the lion’s warning and fled for his life, learning a valuable lesson.

Moral of the Story

• Those who feel others’ pain and act selflessly are like the swan.
• Those who thrive on others’ misery are like the crow.
• Surround yourself with people who uplift and support you, like the swan.
• Stay away from individuals who sow discord and negativity, like the crow.

Identify the swans and crows in your life, cherish the swans, and distance yourself from the crows for a peaceful and fulfilling life.