Once, an old banyan tree was home to many swans. One wise swan saw a creeper growing near the roots of the tree. He warned the swans, “This small creeper will grow in due course. A hunter will be able to climb the tree by means of this creeper. Let us uproot it.” But the other swans ignored his advice. As time passed, the creeper grew. One day, a bird-catcher climbed up the tree with the help of the creeper and set a trap to catch the swans. The swans got trapped. The wise swan said “You did not pay any heed to my warnings. Now, when the bird-catcher comes, we shall feign death by lying motionless. He will start taking us out of the trap and placing us on the ground one by one. When he places the last of us on the ground, we shall all fly.” Everything went as planned. The swans flew away and the bird-catcher could only cry.
The Wise Swan
