A small story from Mahabharata (Karna Parva: Section 41)
There lived a wealthy and rich person, who had many sons and was kind to all creatures. At their place, there was a crow that lived on the refuse of the dishes. Later those children always fed the crow with meat, curds, milk, sugared milk with rice, honey, and butter and the crow became arrogant and came to disregard all birds that were equal to him or even superior.
Once they visited a lake along with the crow, and there they a group of swans enjoying environment. With their little knowledge children said to crow "O ranger of the skies, you are superior to all winged creatures, and none can beat you in beauty or strength". Proud crow went to the swans and and told "Let's compete in flight". Those beautiful and strong swans laughed at crow and asked "We reside in the great lake Manasa, fly around whole earth, to great heights, how can you compete with us"?
The boastful crow in return repeatedly finding faults at swans persisted for the competition and told how he can fly with 100 different styles (Rising up, swooping down, whirling around, coursing straight, proceeding gently, advancing steadily, performing the diverse courses up and receding back etc). With consensus one swan agreed for the competition.
Then the swan and crow rose into the sky, challenging each other. Capable of going everywhere at will, the swan proceeded in one kind of motion, while the crow coursed in a hundred different kinds. All the other crows and children were cheering loud for the acts of the crow. The swans also laughed in mockery, uttering many remarks disagreeable (to the crows). Hearing this, the crow with much more energy, and now poking the swan continuously while flying with styles. Then both crow and swan rose to further heights. Swan flew westwards with great speed towards the ocean. Then fear entered the heart of the crow who became almost senseless at not seeing any island or trees whereon to perch when tired. Swan, flying far ahead of crow, suddenly looked back, and waited for the crow to come. Crow, exceedingly tired, looked at swan for help and pleaded "O swan, I seek my protection, placing my life-breaths at your hands. Oh, take me to the shores of the ocean with the wings and beak".
The crow, very much fatigued, suddenly fell down. Beholding him fallen upon the waters of the ocean with a kind heart, the swan, rescued the crow and then addressed him with good words, "compete with knowing your limitations, strengths and weaknesses".
There lived a wealthy and rich person, who had many sons and was kind to all creatures. At their place, there was a crow that lived on the refuse of the dishes. Later those children always fed the crow with meat, curds, milk, sugared milk with rice, honey, and butter and the crow became arrogant and came to disregard all birds that were equal to him or even superior.
Once they visited a lake along with the crow, and there they a group of swans enjoying environment. With their little knowledge children said to crow "O ranger of the skies, you are superior to all winged creatures, and none can beat you in beauty or strength". Proud crow went to the swans and and told "Let's compete in flight". Those beautiful and strong swans laughed at crow and asked "We reside in the great lake Manasa, fly around whole earth, to great heights, how can you compete with us"?
The boastful crow in return repeatedly finding faults at swans persisted for the competition and told how he can fly with 100 different styles (Rising up, swooping down, whirling around, coursing straight, proceeding gently, advancing steadily, performing the diverse courses up and receding back etc). With consensus one swan agreed for the competition.
Then the swan and crow rose into the sky, challenging each other. Capable of going everywhere at will, the swan proceeded in one kind of motion, while the crow coursed in a hundred different kinds. All the other crows and children were cheering loud for the acts of the crow. The swans also laughed in mockery, uttering many remarks disagreeable (to the crows). Hearing this, the crow with much more energy, and now poking the swan continuously while flying with styles. Then both crow and swan rose to further heights. Swan flew westwards with great speed towards the ocean. Then fear entered the heart of the crow who became almost senseless at not seeing any island or trees whereon to perch when tired. Swan, flying far ahead of crow, suddenly looked back, and waited for the crow to come. Crow, exceedingly tired, looked at swan for help and pleaded "O swan, I seek my protection, placing my life-breaths at your hands. Oh, take me to the shores of the ocean with the wings and beak".
The crow, very much fatigued, suddenly fell down. Beholding him fallen upon the waters of the ocean with a kind heart, the swan, rescued the crow and then addressed him with good words, "compete with knowing your limitations, strengths and weaknesses".
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