The young Crab and The Deceitful Heron | Panchtantra’s story | Panchtantra ki kahaniyan | 1 English Story

Once there was a heron who had spent his entire life fishing from a pond, but when he grew old and could no longer hunt.He was thinking of some trick in his evil mind when a small turtle saw the old heron felt great sadness. He approached the heron and asked, “Grandpa Heron, what is the matter? Why are you crying here alone?”

“My dear child,” the heron replied, “no one understands my sorrow, except for you. I am crying because I fear for the creatures living in this pond.”

“What kind of danger?” the little turtle asked in surprise. “I don’t see any danger here.”

“My dear child,” the heron continued, “you know that these days I stand on one leg and pray to God. Just yesterday, God revealed to me that the water of this pond will dry up in a few days. You know how essential water is for all living beings. Without water, we cannot survive even for a moment. Imagine what will happen to me in my old age when I see my companions dying.”

At this, the heron began to cry even louder.

When the little turtle heard this, his face turned pale. He immediately went to his companions in the water and said, “Brothers, friends, listen carefully. God has appeared to the old heron sitting on the bank of this pond and told him that the water of this pond is going to dry up in a few days. If we do not act quickly, we all will die soon.” There was also a young and intelligent crab there who had warned them not to believe these things but all the animals got scared on hearing about the danger to their lives.

Together, they decided to go to the old heron to find a way to escape death.The turtles and fishes all came together to the heron and folded their hands before the old heron and said, “Grandpa! Tell us a way to escape.”

“Look friends, you all are my dear ones, I will sacrifice my life to save my dear ones. So what if I have grown old, there is still so much strength in these old bones that I can do the job of saving you all very well.”
“But how will all this be possible, Grand pa?” Little turtle asked.

“There is a solution… If you all agree, then I will take all of you one by one on my back and drop you in the pond in the nearby forest. This way, by taking you all to a safe place.”

Everyone liked this solution. However, they were unaware that this old heron had devised a way to survive. He was not so naive as to carry them on his back in his old age. Those simple and honest creatures were unable to comprehend the trickery of that evil person.The young crab once again asked all the creatures to think but everyone ignored him.
The next day the heron started working with a crooked smile ignoring the young crab.First, he carried the fishes on his back to a hill in the nearby forest and eat them. For several days, he continued to eat fishes, happily filling his stomach.

Inspired by the young crab, the animals in the pond began to look at the heron with suspicion and started questioning him.Some asked him the address of the pond, while others were curious to know about the fishes that had reached there. The heron realized that because of the young crab, an atmosphere was being created against him in the pond. He planned to kill the young crab first whose leadership had made the other creatures look at him with suspicion.
He told that the pond is full of fishes and now young crab will have to be taken there then turtles and other creatures. he pointed towards the young crab with his wicked smile.

The next day he flew with the young crab and on the way the young crab saw piles of fish skeletons on many hills. He understood the real intentions of the heron and decided to teach him a lesson. Now he deliberately started harassing the heron by asking him questions again and again.

The heron, believing he had outsmarted the crab, boasted, ” I’m not your servant. I’m doing this for my own good. These days, survival depends on cunning and manipulation.”The young crab, realizing the heron’s true nature, decided to take a bold stand. He bit the heron’s neck with all his might, causing the heron to scream in pain. “Let me go!” the heron pleaded.

“Not until you return me to my pond,” the crab replied firmly. “You’ve deceived me for too long. Now you’ll pay.”The heron, realizing he had no choice, carried the crab back to the pond. The crab, upon returning, warned his fellow creatures about the heron’s treachery.

A heavy turtle dragged the heron into the water, while the other animals attacked him relentlessly. The heron, caught in a trap of his own making, met a gruesome end. With the deceiver gone, peace returned to the pond, and the crab’s bravery was celebrated by all.