In a nest, set in a rice field, lived a mother bird and her two little chicks. Every morning, the mother bird flew away to forage for food. Before going, she always told the chicks, "Don't go out. Danger stalks everywhere. Stay inside. Then no harm will come to you. Listen to every little sound, including any conversation you overhear. For it is time for harvest. We must leave this place before the men come to harvest the crop." That day, a little after the bird had flown off came the farmer and his son. They walked close to where the nest lay. The farmer looked at the crop. Then he told his son, "It is time for harvest. We must get help from the village. We will request our neighbours to help us." The son nodded his head. The two walked away. The chicks reported the conversation to their mother. She replied coolly, "No need to worry. Not as yet." The chicks left it at that. They were hungry. They opened their beaks. Mother bird started feeding them.Next day, as usual, she warned the chicks and left. The farmer and the son turned up a little later. The chicks peeped out of the nest. They heard the farmer say, "The villagers are busy. They have no time to help us. We must get outside help."
When the mother bird returned, the chicks told her, what they had heard. But she said, "Don't worry. We still have time to shift." A few days later, the farmer and the son visited the field again. The farmer looked worried and said to his son, "If we don't harvest the crop quickly, we will suffer losses. Since we can't get help, tomorrow we must harvest the crop ourselves." "Okay," said the boy. That evening, when the bird returned, the chicks told her what they had heard. Mother bird fed the chicks, and said, "This time the farmer is serious. He will cut the crops tomorrow. I think you are strong enough to fly. Follow me. We will go to our new home on the fork of the gulmohar tree over there." "How can you be so certain?" The chicks asked. "Because this time, the farmer and his son have decided to cut the crop themselves. They have realised that self help is the best help," said the mother bird, leading the chicks to their new home.
Meaning: Do yourself what you can. Don't depend on others for everything.
Alternatives: God helps those who help themselves. Stand on your own feet.
When the mother bird returned, the chicks told her, what they had heard. But she said, "Don't worry. We still have time to shift." A few days later, the farmer and the son visited the field again. The farmer looked worried and said to his son, "If we don't harvest the crop quickly, we will suffer losses. Since we can't get help, tomorrow we must harvest the crop ourselves." "Okay," said the boy. That evening, when the bird returned, the chicks told her what they had heard. Mother bird fed the chicks, and said, "This time the farmer is serious. He will cut the crops tomorrow. I think you are strong enough to fly. Follow me. We will go to our new home on the fork of the gulmohar tree over there." "How can you be so certain?" The chicks asked. "Because this time, the farmer and his son have decided to cut the crop themselves. They have realised that self help is the best help," said the mother bird, leading the chicks to their new home.
Meaning: Do yourself what you can. Don't depend on others for everything.
Alternatives: God helps those who help themselves. Stand on your own feet.
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