The Winning of Friends: The Doves and the Mouse

Near an ancient Indian city stood a great banyan tree. Its branches sheltered birds, its shade cooled travelers, and its roots formed little caves where small creatures could hide.

A watchful crow named Swift lived high in the tree. One morning, while searching for food, he saw a hunter spreading a fine net beneath the branches. The hunter scattered rice over it and hid behind a thicket.

Swift called to every bird nearby, “Stay away from the grain! It is a trap.”

Before long, Chitragriva, king of a large flock of doves, flew over the tree. The doves had been searching for food since sunrise. When they saw the white rice shining on the ground, their hunger made them forget to be cautious.

Swift cried another warning, but the flock descended.

The moment their feet touched the rice, the hidden net sprang around them.

The doves beat their wings in fear. Some pulled one way, while others pulled another. The more they struggled separately, the tighter the net seemed.

Chitragriva saw the hunter running toward them.

“Friends, be still and listen,” he said. “One dove cannot lift this net, but all of us together can. When I call, spread your wings at the same moment and fly in the same direction.”

The flock became quiet.

“Now!” called Chitragriva.

Hundreds of wings opened together. The net trembled, rose above the ground, and lifted into the sky with every dove beneath it.

The astonished hunter chased them, but the united flock flew over thorny bushes, rocky ground, and a rushing stream. At last, the hunter could follow no farther and turned back.

Chitragriva led the doves to a grassy hill outside the city. Beneath it was a clever mouse named Hiranyaka, who lived in a burrow with many safe passages.

“Dear friend Hiranyaka,” Chitragriva called, “we need your help.”

Hiranyaka peeped out. When he saw the trapped flock, he hurried to Chitragriva and began nibbling the cords around the king.

“Please free my flock first,” said Chitragriva.

Hiranyaka looked surprised. “You are their king. Should I not release you before everyone else?”

“They trusted me to lead them,” Chitragriva replied. “A leader's safety cannot be more important than the safety of those in his care.”

Pleased by his friend's answer, Hiranyaka called the other mice from the burrow. Working side by side, they nibbled through the net. One by one, the doves stretched their wings and stepped free. Only after the entire flock was safe did Hiranyaka cut the cords around Chitragriva.

The doves thanked the mice. Swift, who had followed the flock from the banyan tree, watched with admiration.

“Today I have seen what unity and true friendship can do,” he said.

Chitragriva and his flock returned safely to the open sky. They never forgot that they had escaped because they moved together—and because a small, faithful friend had used his own special strength to help them.