OVER- CONFIDENCE

                                                JAI MA KALI

                        OVER-CONFIDENCE

                        *********************

 Once upon a time a marsh raven dwelt by a lake.As a terrible famine broke out in the land at that time,there was a shortage of food.But the marsh raven was not affected.He was able to gormandize plenty of fish from the lake.

  One day a pair of ravenous common crows happened to come to the lake.Seeing the comfort and luxury of the marsh crow,the hubby chirred to his spouse:

"Let us reside here,darling.We will woo the marsh crow to help us."

 So the crows began to live by the lake. They cajoled the marsh raven for help.

"We will be your servants,"they burred,"We will be at your beck and call and will ever remain faithful to thee.In return, please provide us with viands."

The marsh crow felt pity and acceded to their entreaties.The crows began to serve him and run errands for him.In return for their services,the marsh crow daily supplied them with fish.

 Few days rolled by.Then one day the husband mused to himself,"I am also a crow.I am as black as coal.I do have a beak.I,too, possess wings.Then why do I live as a parasite and beg the favour of the marsh crow for our food?Why must I serve him? from tomorrow I will do what he does.I will dive into the lake and catch fish for myself."So he told the marsh crow this.The marsh crow replied:

"Oh,don't be a chump.You are not built to catch fish.You can not swim.You would surely drown."

  But the foolish crow poo-poohed his advice. Next day

 he dived into the lake to hunt fish;but he could

 never come up again.

  When his consort heard what had happened,she was extremely sad and wept bitterly.

"I warned him,"cawed the marsh crow to her,"But he refused to listen."

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MORAL:  OVER-CONFIDENCE MEETS A SAD END !!

*****************************************************************************************-----DEVENDRA  SRIVASTAVA****

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UNSOLICITED ADVICE

                                          JAI MA KALI
                                          %%%%%%%
                           UNSOLICITED ADVICE
                          $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
        Once upon a time an industrious sparrow dwelt in a forest on the branch of a larch at the foot of the Himalayas.She lived in her nest as comfortably as a pea in a pod.
       One day a vagabond monkey happened to come there.He liked the place very much and decided to reside beneath the tree.Instead of building a dwelling for himself,he was content enough to sleep out in the open sky.He was most careless and reckless sort and was very lethargic. Not observing any strict routine,he loitered about hither and thither,doing nothing.His way of living was strongly disapproved by the sparrow who was extremely orderly.
  With the advent of monsoons,it started to rain cats and dogs.Sans any shelter over his head,the monkey was naturally drenched to the hilt.He plopped down shivering at the foot of the tree while the sparrow was snug in her nest.
    Observing the monkey's pathetic plight,the sparrow started to admonish him.
   "Nincompoop monkey!"She reprimanded,"Do you realize the folly of your careless ways? If you had not squandered your valuable time all summer,you'd have a proper habitation now.Instead of which you have to sit cooped up shivering in the rain and chill."
   At first the monkey paid no heed to what the sparrow said.But as time went on,and the sparrow continued to lecture,the monkey flew into unbridled fury and sizzled like an omelette.He decided th teach a befitting lesson to the sparrow.One day when the sparrow was out,the monkey clambered the tree and extirpated her cozy nest.
  "Serve her right!"reasoned the monkey,"This will teach her not to poke her nose into others affairs and mind her own business."
   When the sparrow returned and saw what had happened to her nest,she was very sad and burst into tears.She realised she should not have continued to give advice,when advice was not welcome.
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 MORAL OF THE STORY------ UNSOLICITED ADVICE IS SELDOM WELL-RECEIVED.
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                 ---------DEVENDRA  SRIVASTAVA
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UNGRATEFULNESS

                                   JAI MAA KAALI

                   UNGRATEFULNESS

                   ********************

  Once upon a time in a certain forest dwelt a majestic lion.One day he was joyfully relishing the scrumptious flesh of a young stag.As the ill luck would have it,a bone got stuck in his throat,giving him intense pain.He moved heaven and earth to remove it,but all his efforts did not fructify.

   Frustrated,he got out of his lair and plopped down in great agony.The eminent beast was in imminent danger of losing his life.His groans and moans attracted the attention of a woodpecker who was sitting perched on the branch of a larch.

 "Your Highness,"tweeted the woodpecker,"Are you in some trouble?"

  "Oh yes,a bloody bone has got stuck in my throat,"blubbered the lion,"If it is not removed promptly,I will,as sure as eggs in eggs,perish."

 Oh,I could remove the bone for you,"warbled the woodpecker,"But I would be playing with the fire if I did so,because you would instantaneously gobble me up the moment I put my head into your mouth."

  "Rest assured,I would do no such silly thing,"cajoled the lion,"In fact,I would be most grateful to you and would stand by you in emergency."

 Convinced,the woodpecker decided to help the lion.But to make certain,first he got a long stick and propped the lion's mouth wide open.Then he flew down the lion's throat,spotted the bone and ejected it out.After releasing the lion's jaws,the woodpecker flew back to his branch.

  Relieved and relaxed,the lion thanked the woodpecker and went his way.

  After some days rolled by,the woodpecker happened to come across the lion.The lion was licking the hot blood and devouring the luscious flesh of a buffalo.The woodpecker was tempted to have a piece of meat.He requested the lion;

  "Friend,I helped you in need.Would you please give me a tiny slice of meat as a reward?"

  But the lion retorted coldly,"Reward? The best reward you got was escaping from my jaws alive."

   And the lion resumed his luncheon.

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  MORAL: THE UNGRATEFUL MAN KNOWS NO GRATITUDE.

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          BY-----DEVENDRA SRIVASTAVA

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THE JACKAL AND THE CROW

                                              JAI MA KALI
                                              wwwwwwwwww
                  THE JACKAL AND THE CROW
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Those were the days when king Brahamadatta ruled over Varanasi,then the Bodhisatta once became a tree spirit and took up residence in a certain tree laden with ripe and sweet apples.One day a crow happened to come there and perching himself on a branch of the tree, began to relish the luscious apples.
     A short while later,a vile jackal while passing saw the crow nibbling joyfully at the sweet and tasty apples.He was greatly tempted.He mulled for sometime how to get the fruits.He desided to shower fulsome encomiums on the crow and flatter him in order to get some.
     "Oh,handsome crow!,he warbled,"What a shining complexion you have.I highly envy your sweet and melodious voice . God has made you special.You sit as gracefully as a peacock.How I wish I were a crow like your highness."
     The crow was buoyed up with delight.He preened his feathers blithely and cawed:
    "oh, noble beast,its highly pleasing to be addressed by one so handsome!Ev
en the tiger stands second to you in beauty.Would you like to have some fruit?"
   with which the crow flung down some apples.And the jackal avarciously gobbled them at once. 
    The Bodhisatta,who had witnessed all this,was disgusted at the behaviour of these two flatteres.So in anger he shooed them both away.

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 MORAL OF THE STORY:
       FLATTERES ARE DECEIVERS,AS YOU KNOW,
 JUST LIKE THE SILLY JACKAL AND CROW!!!
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     ---------------DEVENDRA  SRIVASTAVA
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THE PROUD PEACOCK

                                                                          JAI MA KALI
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                           THE PRKOUD PEACOCK
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 Once the birds of the forest assembled together and decided to choose a king for themselves.As no consensus of opinion emerged,the matter was put to vote.They selected a Golden Mallard Drake to rule over them.
    Now the Mallard King had a lovely daughter.She was as beautiful as a peacock.The king was a tad flummoxed whom to give her daughter in marriage.However,the daughter was not willing to marry the one chosen by her parent.She made it clear that she would herself chose her hubby.The  King was kind enough to accede to her request.
   The eligible male bachelors assembled under a larch.The daughter was asked to inspect them all and select one.She culled the peacock.The peacock let out a yowl of joy and felt himself floating in the seventh sky in sheer happiness.He spread his wings at once and warbled proudly:
   "I am not a bit surprised.It is because I am so handsome and capable."
  With which he started to jitterbug.
   The Mallard king watching the peacock dance flew into rage.
  "I could never give my daughter in marriage to such a show-off,"he gurgled with ire.
  So he gave his daughter to a good-looking but modest mallard drake,instead.The peacock retired in sheer shame for his foolish pride and mulishness.
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     MORAL-----PRIDE GOES BEFORE A FALL.
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              -----------DEVENDRA      SRIVASTAVA
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THE HANDSOME COCKBIRD

                                            [ JAI MAA KAALI]
           THE HANDSOME COCKBIRD
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    Once upon a time a handsome cockbird dwelt in a forest with many other cocks and hens.They were a happy lot,lived peacefully and enjoyed themselves every moment to the hilt.The cockbird was so handsome that he always appeared to have stepped out of a band-box.
 Days were rolling by peacefully.But as the ill luck would have it,one day a sly cat happened to come across them.Seeing so many cocks and hens,the cat was on cloud nine.By using cunning tricks,she was able to gobble up surreptitiously quite a few.
 Now the cat longed for relishing the scrumptious flesh of the cockbird.But all her tricks,ruses and subterfuges to entrap him did not fructify and proved a wild goose chase.So she plopped down under a tree and chewed the cud for suitable plan to snare him.Getting an idea,she blithely tiptoed to the cockbird,as he sat perched on the branch of a larch.
  "Oh,classy bird,I wish to call a spade a spade.The moment I cast a glance at you,I fell,hook,line and sinker,in love with you.You are very handsome and I am also as beautiful as a Cindrella.God has made us for each other.Let us tie the nuptial knot.We would be an ideal couple.",cajoled the cat.
  But the cockbird was very wise.He was not easily befooled.He was aware that the cat had devoured many of his chums.He decided to be careful and tactful.
  "Fair mademoiselle!",he cackled,"While you have four feet,I have but two.And as beasts and birds never go for wedlock,I am afraid,I am far from suitable."
   But the cunning cat went on wooing him,"Oh,that does not matter!I would still love you as Laila loved Majnu,Sohni loved Mahiwal!I promise to be a good wife.I would ever remain faithful and obsequious to you.I will serve you sans any whimper.Please become my hubby."
  Seeing that the cat was so recalcitrant,and fearing that she would be a nuisance,the cockbird now decided to give her a bit of straight talk.
    "Look here scoundrel,"he chortled,"I am not a ninny to be led to the garden path by your slyness.I know your ulterior motives.you have ruthlessly swallowed my companions and now you wish to eat me.But you will never succeed,for I am much too smart for you.Be off,you scalawag!"
 On hearing this the cat realised that here was one she could not trick.So she scampered away in search of easier prey.
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MORAL OF THE STORY-------NOTHING LIKE A LITTLE STRAIGHT TALK TO SET MATTERS RIGHT!!!
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          (DEVENDRA  SRIVASTAVA)
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