The Clever Crow and the Snake – An Indian Tale from the Panchatantra

Description: This Panchatantra story tells of a brave crow who defeated a vicious snake threatening her family. Using wit and cleverness, she saved her chicks. The story teaches courage, determination, and finding solutions to difficult problems.

In an ancient forest, teeming with various animals, a pair of crows lived on a tall tree. They were happy and took care of their cozy nest. Every year, the crows laid eggs and eagerly awaited the birth of their chicks. But their happiness had one enemy – a snake that lived in a burrow beneath the tree.

Every time the crows laid eggs, the snake would slither up the tree, destroy the nest, and eat the eggs. The crows cried in despair but could do nothing. They feared the snake, as it was strong and dangerous.

One particularly sunny day, the crows started building their nest again. “We must find a way to protect our future family,” said the female crow. Her partner nodded: “We can’t lose our chicks anymore. Let’s ask our friends for advice.”

The next day, the crows met a wise crow known for his cleverness. He listened to their problem and said, “The snake’s strength gives you no chance in a direct fight. But its intelligence is limited. You can defeat it with cunning. I have a plan.”

The wise crow suggested using something that would attract humans to eliminate the snake. “Humans treasure their valuables. If you can make them search for something valuable near the snake’s burrow, they will take care of it themselves,” he said.

The crows listened carefully. The next day, they began observing the people who often bathed by a nearby stream. One day, the crow noticed a wealthy traveler removing a gold chain and placing it on a rock near the water to bathe.

The brave crow swooped down, snatched the chain with her beak, and, drawing the attention of the humans, flew towards their tree. But she didn’t stop there; instead, she headed for the snake’s burrow. Flying over it, the crow dropped the chain directly into the snake’s den.

The people noticed the missing chain and began searching for it. Hearing the crow’s cries, they followed her to the tree and saw where the chain had fallen. One of them exclaimed: “It’s in this burrow!” Carefully, the people approached and began removing the stones covering the entrance.

As the snake emerged, the people screamed in terror. But instead of fleeing, they decided to kill it to retrieve their valuables. Once the snake was dead, they took the chain and left, satisfied with their find.

The crows, watching everything from a safe distance, felt immense relief. “Now we can live in peace,” said the female crow. Her partner replied: “You were very brave, and our friend’s advice was wise. We should be grateful.”

From that day on, the crows had no more troubles. Their chicks grew up safely, and the forest was filled with their joyful songs.

Moral: Even in the most challenging situations, wit and cleverness can lead to victory. Never give up in the face of adversity; use your intelligence to find solutions.

Questions for Kids:

• Why was the snake a threat to the crows?
• How did the crows manage to get rid of the snake?
• What lesson does this story teach us?