There was a pond filled with many creatures. There lived a heron, who because of his old age had become very weak and could not hunt for fish. One day he was sitting near the pond, crying due to hunger. A crab saw him like that and asked, “Uncle! Why are you not looking for fish today, instead sitting here crying?”
Heron replied, “You are right. I am fasting until death. I don’t want to eat anymore.”
The crab enquired, “What is the reason for your disillusionment like this?”
Heron said, “I was born in this pond and lived here all my life. I love this pond and all the creatures living in it. Today I have found out that it will not rain for the next 12 years. Now this pond will dry and all the creatures living in it will die. I am sad thinking about that.”
The crab went around in the pond and told everyone what he heard from the heron. All the creatures living in the pond came near the heron and spoke together, “Uncle! Is there any way we could be saved?” The heron answered, “I know about a bigger pond nearby. That pond is so big that it would not dry out even if it doesn’t rain for the next 24 years. If you all wish I can help all of you move that bigger pond.”
The heron started picking up fish one by one from the pond. He would take them to a nearby rock and quietly eat them. He was very happy since he was getting a lot of free food.
One day the crab came to the heron and said, “Uncle! I was the first one to talk to you about the upcoming drought, however you have not yet transferred me to the other pond. I don’t want to die here. You need to help me.”
The heron thought, “This is great. I am also bored of eating fish everyday. Let me treat myself with a crab today.”
The crab climbed on the heron's back and he started flying towards the big rock. The crab saw the pile of fish bones on the rock and got worried. He asked the heron, “Uncle! How far is this other pond. I have been riding on your back for so long. You must be tired.”
The heron thought the crab could not harm him in the sky and boasted, “There is no drought, neither there is another pond. I told you that story so that I can get all this free food. Today is your turn to become my meal.”
The moment heron said this, the crab grabbed his neck really tight and it started bleeding.
The heron fell from the sky. The crab slowly walked back to the pond and told everyone about the heron’s evil scheme.
That is why it is said that one should not be boastful. The heron died because of his boastfulness.
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