Together

Courtesy: Sri.KV.Ananatanarayanan

When they come together with clearcut plans, nothing is impossible for
them.*

*A story from Panchatantram of Vishnu Sharma.*

* *

* *

*Atop a jungle tree, a sparrow and his wife built a tiny but beautiful nest
and stayed there peacefully.. It was a sturdy rosewood tree. The sparrows,
in time begat tiny darling children(in the shape of eggs). It was a family
full of love and happiness.*

*They say happiness is always shortlived.. it is only a precursor to
disaster. It came to the family also. Once a rogue wild elephant in rut
came that way and give vent to all his unreasonable rage by hitting his
forehead against the tree which housed our sparrow family. He did not stop
with that. He broke the branch of the tree where the nest was, and threw it
down hard on the floor. The eggs of the sparrow were all shattered and
along with the dreams of the tiny birds. The couple of tiny birds escaped
death miraculously.*

*The female bird could not control her sorrow. She was crying her heart out
in utter misery. *

*However, quite unlike amongst we humans there existed a word called
compassion and empathy among the wild creature.. Seeing the lady sparrow in
tears, her friend the wood-pecker came out to console her.
*

*
*

* He started to pacify her. " Madam, there is no use in crying. What is to
happen has happened. The wise do not cry over the past misery and in fact
this quality distinguishes the wise from the fools. In fact when you shed
tears, you are making the almighty to drink that. So please stop crying and
let us sit together and decide about the future course of action. In time,
the
*

*Lady sparrow composed herself and said. " I agree with what you told, my
dear friend. You are my special friend, no doubt about it. The rogue
elephant has killed my children for no reason other than his arrogance. This
elephant should also be killed. Then alone the grief of this mother over my
lost darling children will abate. You, my friend, should plan something to
wreak vengeance.. I am too much grieved to think and plan properly. The
real person of character is one who retaliates in suitable manner the insult
heaped on him when his times were bad, and return the sarcasm in equal
measure at the first opportunity. "*

*
*

*The woodpecker said. " A true friend will be with you even at the time of
danger. When your times are bright all the world would be friendly towards
you. What a person requires for good life are, a friend who will be there
to support him even in great danger, a servant who is conscious of the
welfare of the employer and is faithful and obedient, a wife who is always
devoted and a son who will make the father proud with his praiseworthy
activities. Now I will show my ingenuity and help you in executing your
action paln. I have a friend, a honey-bee whose name is Veenaarava. I will
call her here. We can plan together." *

*
*

*The friendly honeybee rushed to them when called. The woodpecker presented
the case. " Young lady, our friend, madam sparrow here is in utter
distress . Her darling eggs were shattered by a rogue elephant. We expect
your help us in teaching that mammoth a lesson."
*

*The honeybee replied. " My dear friend, why should you present the facts
in so many details? I am your friend and a friend of my friend is also my
dear friend. Is it not our duty to help such friends? I have a nice
friend, a frog called Meghanaadha. We will take his considered opinion also
while chalking out our plan of action. Is it not better to have the counsel
of righteous, intelligent persons of impeccable character when we are
embarking on a difficult mission? "*

*
*

*Accordingly they made a visit to the wise frog. He said." In normal times,
the elephant may be very strong and capable and would be possessing
authority. But when he has incurred the wrath of a large mass of people, he
becomes insignificant against them. You do as I say. You honeybee of
very sweet voice, you sing your enchanting song emulating the lute flying
near the ear of the elephant. He wil remain still engulfed in that music.
Let my friend woodpecker make effective use of the opportunity and hit his
hammer-like beak on the eyes of the elephant. I will gather my fellow
frogs, sit near a mire and start our usual symphony. The blind elephant
will mistake the mire to be a pond for drinking water, hearing our songs. He
will enter the mire and perish for ever."*

*
*

*And true to their words, the plan was executed and the elephant lay dead
engulfed with dirt in a mire. *

*
*

*Yes, even if Individuals may be of trifling value, when they come together
with clear-cut plans, nothing is impossible for them

--
If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.

  Every moment, thank God