The Crows and the Serpent

In a large banyan tree near the outskirts of a bustling village lived a happy family of crows. The tree’s sprawling branches provided the perfect shelter, and its dense foliage protected them from harsh weather and predators. The crow couple had built their nest in the highest branches, where they raised their young ones safely season after season.

Not far from the base of the tree lived a deadly black cobra in a hole. The serpent was known for its vicious temperament and lightning-fast strikes. Many small creatures had fallen victim to its venomous fangs, and the forest animals gave the cobra’s territory a wide berth.

One unfortunate day, while the parent crows were away gathering food, the cobra slithered up the tree and reached the nest. With merciless precision, it devoured the helpless baby crows. When the parent crows returned to find their nest empty and spotted the cobra sliding back down the tree, their hearts shattered with grief and rage.

“Our children! Our precious children!” cried the mother crow, her wings drooping in despair.

The father crow’s eyes blazed with anger. “That wretched serpent has taken everything from us. We must find a way to avenge our little ones and ensure this never happens again.”

But how could simple crows defeat a deadly cobra? The serpent was far stronger and equipped with lethal venom. The crows knew they needed wisdom rather than strength to overcome such a formidable enemy.

The father crow flew to his dear friend, an old and wise owl who lived in a hollow tree nearby. After hearing the tragic story, the owl thought deeply before speaking.

“Direct confrontation will only lead to more tragedy,” the owl advised. “You must use your intelligence to defeat an enemy stronger than yourself. Listen carefully to my plan…”

The next day, the female crow flew over the nearby village, watching carefully for an opportunity. She spotted the queen of the village taking off her gold necklace while bathing in the river. When the queen placed the necklace on a rock and turned away, the crow swooped down, snatched the valuable ornament in her beak, and flew directly to the banyan tree.

As planned, the crow dropped the glittering necklace right into the cobra’s hole and perched on a nearby branch to watch.

Soon, the queen’s guards followed the crow’s trail to the banyan tree. They noticed the golden necklace gleaming from inside the hole.

“Look! The royal necklace!” one guard exclaimed. “It’s in that hole.”

As a guard reached toward the hole to retrieve the necklace, the cobra, disturbed by the intrusion, emerged hissing angrily with its hood spread wide. The guards jumped back in alarm.

“A cobra! Stand back!” shouted the captain of the guards. “We must kill it to retrieve Her Majesty’s necklace.”

The guards attacked the serpent with their sticks and spears. Despite its fierce resistance, the cobra was outnumbered. After a brief but intense battle, the guards killed the serpent, retrieved the queen’s necklace, and departed.

From their perch high in the banyan tree, the crow couple watched as their enemy was defeated. Though their hearts still ached for their lost children, they found some peace knowing that the cobra would never harm another family again.

“We couldn’t match the serpent’s strength,” said the father crow, “but we used our intelligence to bring justice.”

The mother crow nodded. “Our little ones can rest in peace now. And we can rebuild our nest without fear.”

And so they did. When the next season came, the crow couple raised a new family in the safety of their banyan tree home, teaching their young ones the valuable lesson that had saved them: intelligence can triumph over brute strength.