The Crow and the Eagle: A Tale of Sharing and Wisdom

The Crow and the Eagle – A Lesson in Sharing

BY:Ubaid

Once upon a time, in a quiet corner of the countryside, there lived a crow who had built himself a small home on the branch of a tall tree. It wasn’t anything grand, just a modest nest, but it gave him shelter at night and a safe place to return to after long days of searching for food. The crow’s life was simple—during the day, he would fly from one place to another, looking for grains, crumbs, or leftovers that people or nature had left behind. After gathering what little he could, he would return to his nest, eat, and rest peacefully.

One bright morning, however, something unusual happened. The crow, as usual, set out in search of food. Flying over fields and small ponds, he spotted a place that looked promising. From above, he noticed a large pool of water surrounded by patches of leftover meat. His eyes lit up with excitement. “What a feast!” he thought to himself. “Today I will not only satisfy my hunger but also enjoy a real treat.”

Hungry and thirsty, the crow decided to drink water first. He bent down toward the pool, dipped his beak in, and had just begun to sip when—SMACK!

Out of nowhere, a strong blow landed right across his beak. Startled, the crow staggered, lost his balance, and tumbled into the water. Dizzy and shaken, he could hardly understand what had just happened. As he flapped his wings desperately to get out of the water, he looked up and saw the culprit: an eagle.

The mighty eagle had been there before the crow arrived. She had come to quench her thirst and guard the meat around the pool. To her, the crow was an uninvited intruder trying to snatch what wasn’t his. The sharp slap across his beak was her way of warning him: “This food is not all yours!”

The crow, embarrassed and in pain, quickly pleaded, “Oh noble eagle, please forgive me. I did not mean to offend you. I know you are far stronger and greater than I could ever be. Look at me—I am weak and small compared to your strength. I only came here because I have not eaten since morning. Please, allow me to pick just a few small pieces of meat to fill my belly. I promise I will not take more than I need. Once I am done, I will leave this place and never trouble you again.”

The eagle listened quietly, her sharp eyes fixed on the trembling crow. For a long moment, she said nothing. Then, in a calm but firm voice, she replied, “Crow, you are not as innocent as you claim. I have seen you before. Time and again, you come here, eat greedily, and take away more than your share. You never think of the other creatures who might also need this food. The world does not belong only to you. Today, you must make me a promise. You may take what you need, but from now on, you must leave enough for others. Share the world’s blessings, because they are not meant for you alone.”

The crow bowed his head in shame. He realized the eagle spoke the truth. His greed had blinded him, and he had often snatched away food without caring for the needs of others. With sincerity, he promised, “From today onwards, I will never be greedy again. I will take only what is necessary for me, and I will always leave enough for others to survive. This I vow to you.”

The eagle studied him carefully. She knew she had already punished him enough by striking him and humiliating him at the water’s edge. That, she thought, was lesson enough. At last, she nodded and said, “Very well. For today, you may take as much as you can eat and digest. But remember, from tomorrow onwards, you must keep your word. Take only your share, and leave the rest so that others may also benefit.”

Grateful for her mercy, the crow picked up a modest piece of meat in his beak. He looked at the eagle once more and said, “Thank you, sister eagle. You have taught me a lesson I will never forget.” With that, he spread his wings and flew back to his little home, carrying just enough food to satisfy his hunger.

That night, as he rested in his nest, the crow thought deeply about what had happened. He realized that life was not only about filling one’s own stomach or hoarding resources. True wisdom lay in fairness, in knowing when to stop, and in respecting the needs of others.


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The Moral

Dear children, this story teaches us a valuable lesson: we should never snatch away more than our fair share. Greed blinds us and harms others, while fairness creates harmony and justice. Just like the crow learned from the eagle, we too must remember to take only what we need and leave the rest so that everyone can benefit.

Greed brings shame, but fairness brings peace.