This is one more nice fable from the collection of
Panchatantra. Once upon a time, there was a flock of doves that flew in
search of food. This flock was led by their king. Once, it happened as
such that the flock had flown a long distance and all the doves got
tired. The king of doves encouraged the doves to fly a little more. One
of the doves picked up pace and found some rice grains scattered under a
banyan tree.
All the doves were happy to find the food and happily landed on the
ground. As soon as they began to eat the grains, a huge net fall over
them and all of them got trapped. The doves fluttered their wings
desperately trying to come out, but it was of no avail. Just then, they
saw the hunter coming towards them. He appeared quite happy to find a
huge number of doves trapped inside the net. The whole flock was
frightened on seeing the fowler.
However, the king of doves was very intelligent and clever. He didn’t
loose his patience and devised a plan to come out from this adverse
situation. He advised to other doves,” In order to get free from
the net of this hunter, we should all fly up together clutching the net
in our beaks. There is strength in unity. We will decide our next course
of action later. Now, come on and let’s fly.”
Hearing to the king, each dove picked up a portion of the huge net and
they flew up together, carrying the net with them. The hunter was
surprised to see the birds flying, along with the huge net. He ran after
the birds, shouting madly, but could not catch them. Soon, they flew
high over hills and valleys getting out of his sight.
When the king dove saw that the hunter had given up the chase, he said
to his friends, "Now we all have to get out of this net. A mouse
lives on the nearby hill. He is good friend of mine. Let's go to him for
his help." They flew to a hill near a city of temples where the
mouse lived.
When the mouse heard the loud noise of doves’ approach, he got
frightened and hid himself deeper into his hole. The King dove asked, “Dear
friend, I have come, the king dove. We’re in great difficulty.
Please come out and help us.” Hearing the voice of the king dove,
the mouse came out of his hole and saw the king dove and his friends
trapped in the net. The mouse said,” Oh! Who’s done all this
to you? “
The king dove explained the whole story to the mouse. He told him that
they require mouse’s help to nibble the net and set them free. The
mouse immediately started nibbling the net around the king dove. The
king dove said,” No, dear. First set my followers free. A king
cannot keep his subjects in pain and enjoy the freedom for himself."
The mouse understood the king’s feelings and praised the king for
his nobleness. As per the king’s wish, the mouse nibbled at the
portion of the net and one by one all the doves got freed including the
king dove. All the doves were happy to get free. They thanked the mouse
for his effort and flew away together happily to their destination.
Moral: Strength lies in unity.
