Once upon a time there lived a lapwing-couple on the coast of a sea. The mother-lapwing was in the family way. So, she asked her husband to look for some safe place where she could lay her eggs when the time comes.
The father-lapwing said, “Which place can be more safer than this one, dear ? We need not search for any new place. Rest assured, our eggs and babies will remain quite unharmed here”.
But the mother-lapwing argued. “Darling! on full-moon days, the sea has high tides that are very powerful indeed. They can carry away anything even big animals. How will our eggs be safe here ?”
The father-lapwing replied, “Don’t worry at all, dear. The sea cannot afford to be our enemy. If at all he does, I shall serve him right so that he should remember it for all time to come.”
Now the sea was overhearing the talk going on between the husband and the wife. He felt hurt at the harsh words of the father-lapwing and scoffed them away. But at the same time, he made up his mind to try his strength.
In due course of time, the mother-lapwing laid her eggs on the beach. The sea came to know of it and he carried the eggs away in their absence. The lapwing-couple was away looking for food at that time. So, when they returned, they found their eggs missing. Seeing the marks left behind by fresh sea-tide, the mother-lapwing lost no time in realizing that the eggs had been carried away by the sea.
So, the mother-lapwing began to bewail aloud. At the same time, she scolded her husband for not heeding her request for a safer place. She said, “You are a father with a lifeless heart indeed. You never loved me and so you didn’t care to save my eggs too. Only you are responsible for the loss of my eggs. My eggs are gone and along with them our babies too. It has been rightly said that those who don’t lend ears to the advice of their well-wishers, are bound to suffer heavily.”
The father-lapwing tried to console his wife in various ways but she would not be calm. She burst out saying, “You are a worthless fatalist only. And those who solely depend on fate never reach anywhere. They rather suffer at every step. Success always comes to those who are always up and doing.“
The harsh reproach of the mother-lapwing cut the husband to the quick and he chose to do something. So, he said, “Catch yourself, my dear and try to understand me. Just see what I do now. I shall dry up the sea in no time.”
“You have gone mad, I think. How can you, a small bird, match the powerful sea after all ?” said the wife in a taunting tone.
“I shall do it with my untiring grit which is the real strength, they say,” retorted the husband.
“O.K.; let me see what you can do. But I advise you not to do anything single-handedly. Seek the help of your kith and kin and start your campaign. The joint strength of a group can do much and even defeat a mighty enemy,” argued the mother-lapwing in an advising tone.
“You are right, my dear wife. I value your suggestion a lot. I must act as you have directed me to,” said the husband reassuringly.
Then the lapwing went to a number of birds – crane, peacock, seagull etc. – and narrated to them his woeful tale. At the same time, he asked for their help in teaching the sea a bitter lesson. All the birds agreed to stand by lapwing.
“But what to do now and from where to begin,” said one of the birds.
“We must go to our king-Garuda. He is the Lord Vishnu’s vehicle,” replied the peacock. So, the birds went to Garuda in a body and narrated the entire story saying, “Your Majesty! we are your subjects and you are the vehicle of the protector of the world. To whom should we go for help after all ? Please do something to check the sea from committing cruelties on us.”
Garuda, the king of birds, heard everything patiently and began to think over the matter. He was worried and anxious about the safety of his subjects. Not only this, he was furious at the sea’s cruel act as well. He decided to complain to Lord Vishnu against the sea and have him punished for his cruel ways.
But before the king of the birds could say anything, a messenger of Lord Vishnu arrived there.
He had come to inform Garuda that the Lord Vishnu wanted him immediately. In a rage as Garuda was, he bluntly said to the Lord’s messenger, “Go and plead the Lord to arrange for another vehicle. I won’t serve him anymore now.”
The messenger went back to the Lord Vishnu and conveyed the words of Garuda to him. The Lord Vishnu was stunned to hear the blunt words of his vehicle (Garuda-the king of the birds). He at once understood that there was something wrong with the subjects of Garuda. So, he decided to meet Garuda personally. The messenger led him where Garuda was sitting along with the other birds.
Reaching there, the Lord Vishnu said, “What is the problem, Garuda ? What is the trouble with your companions ? Let me know the entire matter; I am very much here to redress your grief.”
Garuda narrated all that had happened. He frankly said to the Lord Vishnu, “I shall carry you, Master, only when you have sent for the sea and ordered him to return the lapwing’s eggs and apologize.”
Lord Vishnu praised his vehicle’s love for his fellow-birds. Then he sent for the sea and scolded him for what he had done. At the same time, Lord Vishnu ordered the sea to return the lapwing’s eggs and beg for his pardon.
So, the sea had to lick dust. He returned the eggs and apologized to the lapwing humbly.
This done, the lapwing returned to his wife along with the eggs. She was ecstatic with joy to see her eggs safely back. She admired the courage of her husband again and again.
Then the mother lapwing sat on her eggs for a few days. Lovely babies hatched out of them. The couple was very happy and lived at the coast for a long time.
Children! Remember this story whenever you face a problem. Act wisely and with courage, and you will overcome it soon. Endurance always conquers, as they say.
