The Sparrow And The Peacock

A hardworking sparrow helps a peacock become king but ultimately gets caught by a hunter's trap despite the peacock's reassurance.

Once upon a time, in a big forest, there lived a hardworking sparrow. The sparrow admired the respected peacock very much. Every day, the sparrow visited him, watching his grace and fairness. The peacock was a natural leader among the birds.

One sunny morning, many different birds gathered on a high mountain. They talked, and one bird said, “We are many and different, but having a king could unite us and solve our problems.”

The sparrow liked this idea and suggested the peacock as their king because he was already respected and a good leader.

The sparrow said, "Let us choose the peacock as our king. He is graceful and fair." The birds liked the idea and agreed. They made the peacock their king. The peacock, happy with this, made the sparrow his secretary and advisor.

The sparrow started helping to manage the kingdom. He made sure everything was good under the peacock’s rule. Every day, he brought food and water for the king. But one morning, the sparrow did not come at his usual time, and the peacock became worried.

When the sparrow finally came, the peacock asked, "What made you late today, my trusted friend?"

The sparrow answered with some fear, "Today, I saw a man setting up nets and putting grains nearby. I watched as a crane and his wife got caught in the net. Their cries were sad, and the hunter took them away. I am scared for my safety near my nest. I need to leave."

The peacock tried to comfort him and said, "Do not leave your home out of fear. Sometimes we cannot escape what is meant to happen."

Feeling better, the sparrow decided to stay. He continued his duties but was careful when he went out. One day, on his way to the peacock’s place, the sparrow saw two sparrows fighting on the ground. He thought, "As the king's advisor, I should help stop this fight."

He went to stop the fight, but suddenly a net trapped him and the other birds.

The hunter, who set the trap, was happy and said to his helper, "Take good care of this fat sparrow; he’s the best catch!"

At that moment, the sparrow realized his mistake and thought, "I should have trusted my instincts and taken action when I first felt unsafe. It's important to listen to advice, but ultimately, I am responsible for my own safety."

A sparrow guiding a nervous peacock toward the throne, just before a hunter's trap springs
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Reflection Questions
  1. Why did the sparrow suggest the peacock as the king of the birds?
  2. How did the sparrow’s role as an advisor show his dedication to the peacock?
  3. Why do you think the sparrow decided to stay even after seeing the danger?
  4. What lesson does this story teach us about balancing trust in others with our own judgment?
  5. How does this story teach us about responsibility for our own safety?
Fable Quotes

"It is not only what we do, but also what we do not do, for which we are accountable."

"Trust your instincts; they often know the way."

"Better to be cautious than regretful."

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