Stories from Hithopadhesha

The Peacock and the Crane

Once a peacock was passing by a lake where it saw the white crane. It came near the water to look at its reflection and preened itself, opening its feathers proudly.

"You poor bird," it said to the crane. "Don't you wish you had some of my beautiful feathers atleast?".

The crane fluttered its huge wings and flew up and swooped down again. "Of what use are beautiful feathers if they can't help you to fly. You keep your beautiful feathers to yourself. I like my own feathers," replied the crane and flew around gracefully.

Ashamed of itself the peacock went away without saying another word.

Moral: we should not compare ourselves with others for others may have their own good qualities. We must have in our mind that everybody is unique and different in God's creation.