The Bird with Two Heads – A Panchatantra Story
**The Bird with Two Heads – A Panchatantra Story**
Once upon a time, in a lush and vibrant forest, there lived a unique and peculiar creature – a bird with two heads. Each head had its own pair of sharp eyes, its own beak, and its own mind. The bird, though unusual in appearance, lived quite an ordinary life. Despite having two heads, they shared one body, one heart, and one set of wings. Most of the time, the two heads worked together in harmony, making decisions about food, shelter, and survival as one entity. They flew from tree to tree, sipping water from clear streams, and singing songs in their dual voices, creating a melody that echoed through the forest.
One sunny day, as the bird was soaring through the air, one of the heads spotted a bright, juicy fruit hanging from a nearby tree. Its brilliant red color and delicious fragrance instantly caught the attention of the first head. "Look!" said the first head, "There’s a beautiful fruit on that tree! I must have it for myself!" The bird swooped down, and the first head stretched its neck eagerly towards the fruit.
But just as the first head was about to peck at it, the second head turned and said, "Wait! I saw that fruit too, and I would like to eat it. After all, we share the same body. Why should only you enjoy the fruit?"
The first head frowned and replied, "I found it first! It should be mine! Why should I share what I discovered?"
The second head was not pleased. "That’s not fair! We are one bird, and both of us need to eat. If you eat the fruit alone, what about me? Don’t I deserve a share?"
The two heads began to argue, their voices growing louder and louder, causing a commotion that startled the other creatures in the forest. Squirrels scampered up trees, and the deer pricked up their ears, listening to the strange bird bicker with itself.
After a while, the second head calmed down and said, "Let’s stop fighting. This is silly. How about we give the fruit to our wife instead? She would be delighted, and it would make her happy. We don’t need to fight over it."
The first head thought for a moment. Reluctantly, it agreed, "Fine, let’s give the fruit to our wife. But I won’t forget this." Though the first head gave in, it harbored resentment and felt that the second head had won the argument unfairly. It decided to teach the second head a lesson when the time was right.
Days passed, and the bird continued its routine, flying through the forest, finding food, and resting. However, the first head’s bitterness grew. One day, while flying over a different part of the forest, the first head noticed a strange fruit hanging from a tree branch. It looked odd, with a dull, greenish hue and a strange, bitter smell. The first head recognized it as a poisonous fruit. A wicked idea crossed its mind.
"I’ll show the second head what happens when it tries to control me," thought the first head. Without any hesitation, the first head plucked the poisonous fruit and held it in its beak. Turning towards the second head, it said sweetly, "Here, I found a fruit just for you! Why don’t you eat this one? It’s very special, and I think you’ll enjoy it."
The second head, unaware of the first head’s malicious intent, was touched by the gesture. It thought, "Maybe the first head is finally being kind to me!" With that thought, the second head eagerly accepted the fruit and swallowed it whole.
Within moments, a terrible pain shot through the bird’s body. Both heads began to feel dizzy and weak. The poison spread quickly, making the bird’s wings heavy, and its vision blurry. The two heads, once full of life and energy, now struggled to stay awake.
The second head gasped in horror, realizing what had happened. "Why did you do this?" it cried out to the first head. "Don’t you see? We are one! If I die, so will you!"
But it was too late. The poison had done its work. The bird, with its two heads, collapsed to the ground. In its final moments, both heads realized the terrible mistake they had made. Their conflict, their inability to cooperate, had led to their downfall. The once harmonious bird was now lifeless, its beautiful wings folded forever.
The creatures of the forest, who had witnessed the strange bird’s life, mourned its loss. They whispered among themselves, realizing the deep lesson hidden in the bird’s tragic fate.