The Pigeon and the Crow
by Unknown · from Indian Fairy Tales
Adapted Version
A clever pigeon lived in a big kitchen. The Wise Pigeon lived there. He had a nice basket. A kind Cook put it there. The kitchen was a safe and warm home.
A Crow flew near the kitchen. He saw much good food inside. The Crow was very greedy. He wanted the tasty food. "How can I get it?" he thought.
The Wise Pigeon went to find food. The Crow followed him close. "Hello, friend," said the Crow. "I like you. Let us be good friends. We can both eat always."
The Wise Pigeon agreed. They went to eat. The Crow walked with him. He pretended to eat with the Pigeon. But the Crow ate other things not seen. He was very tricky.
The Cook saw the Wise Pigeon. He saw the Crow too. "The Pigeon has a new friend," he thought. The Cook hung a new basket. It was a new home for the Crow.
One day, much fresh fish came. The Crow wanted the fish very much. He made a loud noise. "Oh, I am sick!" he said. "I cannot eat now." This was a trick.
The Wise Pigeon spoke. "Do not be greedy," he said. "Do not stay here. It is not safe for you. Be very safe." The Crow did not listen. The Pigeon flew away then.
The Cook made the food ready. He walked away from the kitchen door. "Now is my time!" thought the Crow. He flew to a dish. He wanted to eat the tasty fish.
Click! The Cook heard a sound. He saw the Crow there. The Cook was very angry. He shouted, "Get out!" The Crow was scared. He flew away fast. He was a little hurt from his fall.
The Wise Pigeon came back. He saw the Crow. The Crow was very sad. He was scared. The Wise Pigeon said, "I told you, friend. Being greedy is not good."
The Crow nodded his head slowly. He said, "You were right, friend. I was too greedy. Now I am sad. I am also very hungry."
The Wise Pigeon said, "Learn from this. Be kind. Be honest always." He then flew away. The Crow was left alone. He thought about his bad choices.
Original Story
The Pigeon and the Crow
nce upon a time the Bodhisatta was a Pigeon, and lived in a nest-basket which a rich man's cook had hung up in the kitchen, in order to earn merit by it. A greedy Crow, flying near, saw all sorts of delicate food lying about in the kitchen, and fell a-hungering after it. "How in the world can I get some?" thought he? At last he hit upon a plan.
When the Pigeon went to search for food, behind him, following, following, came the Crow.
"What do you want, Mr. Crow? You and I don't feed alike."
"Ah, but I like you and your ways! Let me be your chum, and let us feed together."
The Pigeon agreed, and they went on in company. The Crow pretended to feed along with the Pigeon, but ever and anon he would turn back, peck to bits some heap of cow-dung, and eat a fat worm. When he had got a bellyful of them, up he flies, as pert as you like:
"Hullo, Mr. Pigeon, what a time you take over your meal! One ought to draw the line somewhere. Let's be going home before it is too late." And so they did.
The cook saw that his Pigeon had brought a friend, and hung up another basket for him.
A few days afterwards there was a great purchase of fish which came to the rich man's kitchen. How the Crow longed for some! So there he lay, from early morn, groaning and making a great noise. Says the Pigeon to the Crow:
"Come, Sir Crow, and get your breakfast!"
"Oh dear! oh dear! I have such a fit of indigestion!" says he.
"Nonsense! Crows never have indigestion," said the Pigeon. "If you eat a lamp-wick, that stays in your stomach a little while; but anything else is digested in a trice, as soon as you eat it. Now do what I tell you; don't behave in this way just for seeing a little fish."
"Why do you say that, master? I have indigestion."
"Well, be careful," said the Pigeon, and flew away.
The cook prepared all the dishes, and then stood at the kitchen door, wiping the sweat off his body. "Now's my time!" thought Mr. Crow, and alighted on a dish containing some dainty food. Click! The cook heard it, and looked round. Ah! he caught the Crow, and plucked all the feathers out of his head, all but one tuft; he powdered ginger and cummin, mixed it up with butter-milk, and rubbed it well all over the bird's body.
"That's for spoiling my master's dinner and making me throw it away!" said he, and threw him into his basket. Oh, how it hurt!
By-and-by the Pigeon came in, and saw the Crow lying there, making a great noise. He made great game of him, and repeated a verse of poetry:
"Who is this tufted crane I see
Lying where he's no right to be?
Come out! my friend, the crow is near,
And he may do you harm, I fear!"
To this the Crow answered with another:
"No tufted crane am I—no, no!
I'm nothing but a greedy crow.
I would not do as I was told,
So now I'm plucked, as you behold."
And the Pigeon rejoined with a third verse:
"You'll come to grief again, I know—
It is your nature to do so;
If people make a dish of meat,
'Tis not for little birds to eat."
Then the Pigeon flew away, saying: "I can't live with this creature any longer." And the Crow lay there groaning till he died.
Story DNA
Moral
Greed and deceit lead to suffering and ruin, and one should heed the advice of wise friends.
Plot Summary
A wise Pigeon lives in a rich man's kitchen. A greedy Crow, desiring the kitchen's food, befriends the Pigeon under false pretenses. When a large amount of fish arrives, the Crow feigns illness to stay behind, ignoring the Pigeon's warnings. The Crow attempts to steal food, is caught by the cook, severely punished by being plucked and spiced, and left to suffer. The Pigeon returns, mocks the Crow's folly, and abandons him, leading to the Crow's death.
Themes
Emotional Arc
deceit to suffering
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Jataka tales are a voluminous body of literature native to India concerning the previous births of Gautama Buddha in both human and animal form. The Bodhisatta is always portrayed as the wise and virtuous character.
Plot Beats (13)
- The Bodhisatta, as a Pigeon, lives in a cook's basket in a rich man's kitchen.
- A greedy Crow sees the kitchen's food and plots to get some.
- The Crow follows the Pigeon and asks to be friends, despite their different diets.
- The Pigeon agrees, and they go to feed; the Crow secretly eats worms while pretending to feed with the Pigeon.
- The cook, seeing the Pigeon has a friend, hangs a second basket for the Crow.
- When a large amount of fish arrives, the Crow feigns indigestion to stay in the kitchen.
- The Pigeon warns the Crow against his greed and the danger of his plan, then flies off to feed.
- The cook prepares the food and steps away; the Crow seizes the chance to land on a dish.
- The cook catches the Crow, plucks his feathers, rubs him with spices, and throws him into his basket.
- The Pigeon returns, finds the injured Crow, and mocks him with a verse.
- The Crow replies with a verse admitting his greed and punishment.
- The Pigeon delivers a final verse, stating the Crow's nature will lead to further grief, and leaves him.
- The Crow groans until he dies.
Characters
The Bodhisatta Pigeon
A plump, healthy pigeon of average size, with a smooth, well-kept plumage. Its body is compact and agile, suited for swift flight.
Attire: None, as a bird. Its natural plumage is its covering.
Wants: To live a peaceful, meritorious life, finding sustenance honestly and avoiding trouble.
Flaw: Perhaps a slight naivety or over-trusting nature initially, allowing the Crow to become its companion.
Starts as a kind companion, attempts to advise a misguided friend, and ultimately learns to protect itself by separating from harmful company.
Wise, discerning, kind, patient, and ultimately pragmatic. It tries to guide the Crow but knows when to separate itself from bad influence.
The Greedy Crow
Initially, a sleek, black crow of average size. After its punishment, it is a bedraggled, plucked crow with most of its head feathers missing, save for one tuft, and its body covered in a mixture of ginger, cumin, and buttermilk.
Attire: None, as a bird. Its natural plumage is its covering, which is later ruined.
Wants: To satisfy its insatiable hunger and desire for rich, delicate foods, regardless of the means.
Flaw: Its overwhelming greed and inability to control its impulses, leading to its downfall.
Starts as a cunning trickster, attempts to exploit the Pigeon's situation, gets severely punished for its greed, and ultimately dies from its injuries and foolishness.
Greedy, deceitful, impatient, gluttonous, and ultimately foolish. It prioritizes immediate gratification over long-term well-being.
The Rich Man's Cook
A robust man, likely with a sturdy build from working in a kitchen. He is prone to sweating while cooking, indicating a hardworking nature.
Attire: Simple, practical working clothes suitable for a kitchen in a wealthy household. Perhaps a light cotton dhoti and a plain, short-sleeved tunic (kurta) to keep cool while cooking. His clothes might show signs of wear and cooking stains.
Wants: To prepare excellent food for his master and maintain order and cleanliness in the kitchen.
Flaw: None explicitly shown, but perhaps a short temper when his work is disrupted.
A static character who serves as an agent of consequence for the Crow's actions.
Diligent, observant, protective of his master's food, and capable of swift, firm action when provoked.
Locations
Rich Man's Kitchen
A bustling kitchen belonging to a wealthy man, filled with various delicate foods laid out. It has a high ceiling where a nest-basket is hung, and a door leading outside. The cook is often present, preparing meals.
Mood: Initially inviting and abundant, later becomes a place of danger and punishment for the Crow.
The Pigeon lives here; the Crow first spots the food, later gets caught and punished here.
Open Fields/Ground
An open area where pigeons typically forage, featuring heaps of cow-dung and presumably worms within them. It's a natural, uncultivated feeding ground.
Mood: Natural, mundane, a place for foraging and simple sustenance.
The Pigeon and Crow pretend to feed together, with the Crow secretly eating worms from cow-dung.