The Crow and the Snake

Dadi: "Guddu beta, today I'll tell you about a crow couple who outsmarted a dangerous snake using nothing but their brains."

Guddu: "Crows vs a snake? But snakes are so scary!"

Dadi: "Yes, and this was a large black serpent who was terrorizing the crow family. Let me tell you what happened."

Guddu: "Tell me, Dadi!"

Dadi: "In a great banyan tree lived a loving crow couple. But there was a problem - a black snake had made its home in a hollow part of their tree. Every time the crows left to find food, the snake would climb up and eat their babies."

Guddu: "That's terrible! Poor crow parents!"

Dadi: "When they came back, they would find their nest destroyed and their chicks gone. But crows are hopeful creatures, beta. They kept laying more eggs, hoping things would change. And every time, the snake would eat their young ones again."

Guddu: "Why didn't they just move to another tree?"

Dadi: "The mother crow suggested that. But her husband said something wise: "The world is the same everywhere. Running from problems won't solve them. We must find a real solution.""

Guddu: "What did they do?"

Dadi: "The father crow had a clever friend - a wise jackal. He flew to the jackal and explained their terrible problem. "Every time we have babies, the snake eats them. We can't fight the snake - it's too strong. What can we do?""

Guddu: "What did the jackal suggest?"

Dadi: "The jackal thought carefully and came up with a brilliant plan. He said, "Go to the royal river where the king bathes. Wait until you see something precious - a jeweled necklace, perhaps. Then grab it and fly away, making as much noise as possible!""

Guddu: "Steal a necklace? That seems bad!"

Dadi: "Wait and hear the rest, beta. The crow flew to the royal bathing spot and saw exactly what he needed - a beautiful gem necklace lying on the river bank while the king bathed. He swooped down, grabbed it in his beak, and started cawing loudly - CAW! CAW! CAW!"

Guddu: "The guards must have chased him!"

Dadi: "They did! "Stop that crow! He has the royal necklace!" The guards ran after him as he flew - not randomly, but directly toward his banyan tree."

Guddu: "Oh! He led them to the snake!"

Dadi: "Exactly! The crow dropped the necklace right into the snake's hollow. The guards, desperate to get back the royal treasure, attacked the hollow with sticks and swords. When the snake emerged, hissing and ready to strike..."

Guddu: "They killed the snake to protect themselves!"

Dadi: "And retrieved the necklace at the same time. The crow's enemy was dead, the guards got their treasure back, and everyone was satisfied - well, except the snake!"

Guddu: "That was so clever! The crows couldn't fight the snake themselves, so they got someone else to do it!"

Dadi: "Without directly asking them or putting themselves in danger. The crow just created a situation where the guards would HAVE to deal with the snake."

Guddu: "The jackal was really smart to think of that plan!"

Dadi: "That's why having wise friends is so important, beta. The crow knew he wasn't strong enough to fight the snake, but he was smart enough to ask for help from someone wiser."

Guddu: "What happened to the crow family after that?"

Dadi: "With the snake gone, they finally raised their babies in peace and safety. They thanked the jackal for his wise advice, and lived happily in their beloved banyan tree."

Guddu: "What's the lesson, Dadi?"

Dadi: "The Panchatantra says: "Intelligence is greater than strength. Wit can achieve anything." The snake was physically powerful, but the crow's cleverness defeated it."

Guddu: "So it's better to be smart than strong?"

Dadi: "Both are good, but if you had to choose, intelligence often wins. The crow couldn't fight with beak and claws against a snake's poison. But he could think of a plan that made strength unnecessary."

Guddu: "And asking for help isn't weakness?"

Dadi: "Never! The crow could have been too proud to ask the jackal. He could have kept trying to fight the snake alone and failed. Instead, he was humble enough to seek advice. That's wisdom too."

Guddu: "Dadi, I should also find clever solutions instead of just fighting problems head-on?"

Dadi: "Sometimes direct fighting is needed. But often, there's a smarter way. Think about what resources you have, what friends you can ask, what situations you can create. The crow had no weapons, but he had wings, a loud voice, and knowledge of where the king bathed."

Guddu: "He used what he had!"

Dadi: "Exactly. We all have different strengths, beta. The key is knowing what yours are and using them wisely."

Guddu: "I'll remember this story, Dadi. Brain over brawn!"

Dadi: "*smiles* Though there's nothing wrong with having both! Now, let's see if you can use your brain to solve a riddle before dinner..."

Guddu: "Bring it on, Dadi! My crow brain is ready!"

Dadi: "*laughs* CAW, CAW!"