![]() |
Channels | ![]() |
In Focus |
Cartoons |
Education |
Environment |
Opinion |
Photo Essays |
Columns |
Business |
Random Thoughts |
Our Heritage |
Astrology |
Ayurveda |
Buddhism |
Cinema |
Culture |
Festivals |
Hinduism |
History |
People |
Places |
Sikhism |
Spirituality |
Society & Lifestyle |
Parenting |
Perspective |
Recipes |
Society |
Teens |
Women |
Creative Writings |
Computing |
Humor |
Individuality |
Literary Shelf |
Memoirs |
Quotes |
Stories |
Travelogues |
Workshop |
Stories | Share This Page | |
The Little Sparrow |
||
by Suniti Chandra Mishra |
![]() |
|
A traditional story from Bihar, translated and retold
“Ooh!”, the poor Sparrow sighed with grief as she came down and tried to bring the grain out of the hole with her tiny beak. However she tried, she could not succeed. Worried, she sat and thought: “A carpenter must be living around and he can help me”. Soon she found the carpenter’s cottage and asked for his help:
The carpenter came out and laughed: “You little poor sparrow! For you should I take the trouble of splitting that log? Go away straight”. The bird was disappointed but she did not give up hope. She thought: “I must meet the king and he will surely help me”. So she flew till she found the palace of the king. The king was walking in the garden. The bird perched on the branch of a tree and appealed:
The king raised his head and looked at the bird scornfully: “You little bird! For you I go and scold the carpenter? Go, go from here”. The sparrow was more disappointed than before but still she did not give up hope. She thought: “The king rules the people but the queen rules over his heart. I must request the queen”. So she went in the ‘harem’ of the queen and chirped:
The queen was chattering with her mates. Disturbed by the bird’s interference, she scolded her: “Go away, you little sparrow! Why should I advise the king for the sake of a useless bird”? Tears rolled in the pensive eyes of the poor bird. When even the king and the queen turned her back, she became indignant and infuriated. She thought: “The queen has no sense of justice. I must seek help from a serpent to punish her”. So the bird went to a snake and complained:
But her complaint had no affect. The snake, too, turned a deaf ear. The bird then went to the stick and said:
When she did not get justice even from the stick, she rushed to appeal to the fire:
The fire also laughed away her request, saying: “You little poor bird! For you I have to burn the stick? Go away!” Though tired and broken in heart, the little sparrow still hoped that perhaps water would give her justice. So she went to the water and cried out in a painful voice:
Oh! even water turned out to be cruel and mocking at the plight of the sparrow, rushed away proudly. Still the sparrow did not give hope. She sat and thought: “The elephant is very mighty and powerful and he is kind, too. He must punish the water for insulting me”. So she went further in quest of the elephant. She found the elephant soon in a lonely place and sang her grievance:
The elephant was kind. The elephant was considerate. He resolved to help the struggling sparrow and assured her: “Don’t worry, my little sister! I will absorb the water completely. Those who don’t help the needy, need not exist.” And the elephant marched, raising his trunk in the air and trumpeting like a giant. The earth quivered under his heavy feet. When the water saw that the elephant is coming to drink him up, he shivered with fear and prayed to the elephant:
And the water proceeded to extinguish the fire. When the fire saw that the water is coming to swallow him up, he trembled with fear and entreated:
And the fire marched forth to burn the stick. When the stick saw that the fire is coming to burn him, he was afraid and petitioned:
And the stick jumped out to punish the snake. When the snake saw that the stick is coming to beat him, he quivered fearfully and urged:
And the snake crawled out of its hole to bite the queen. When the queen saw that the snake is coming to bite her, she shook with fear and said:
And the queen came out of her ‘harem’ to talk to the king. When the king saw that his beloved queen is coming on foot to advise him, he himself ran towards her and said:
And the king called for his royal chariot and proceeded towards the carpenter’s cottage. When the carpenter knew that the king has come to scold him, he was terrified and prayed to the king:
And the carpenter took out his saw to split the log of wood. The little sparrow hopped and pecked at the grain of ‘daal’, she became happy, she thanked the elephant and everyone and flew away .... far ….. far away towards the kingdom of Nepal. Photo by Rajender Krishan |
||
Share This: | ||
28-Sep-2019 | ||
More by : Suniti Chandra Mishra | ||
Top | Stories | ||
Views: 721 Comments: 0 | ||
| ||