About the Author
The story "A Tale of Two Birds" is a part of the NCERT "A Pact with the Sun" textbook for Class 6. It is a traditional tale, likely adapted from Indian folklore or fables, and does not have a single named author. The NCERT team chooses such stories to teach students simple yet meaningful lessons about life. These tales often use animals to show how our choices shape who we become, making them easy for young readers to understand.
What’s the Story About?
This story is a simple and beautiful tale about two baby birds and how their lives turn out differently because of the company they keep. It starts with a mother bird and her two baby birds living happily in a nest in a tall tree in a forest. One day, a big storm comes with strong winds. The tree shakes, and the nest falls apart. The mother bird is sadly taken away by the storm, and the two baby birds are blown to different parts of the forest.
One baby bird lands near a cave where robbers live. These robbers are bad people who steal and hurt others. The baby bird grows up listening to their rough talk and cruel plans. Because of this, the bird learns to act tough and unkind, just like the robbers. It shouts at anyone who comes near the cave, thinking everyone is an enemy.
The other baby bird lands near an ashram, a peaceful place where a kind rishi (a wise man) lives. The rishi and his students are gentle and speak softly about love and kindness. The baby bird grows up hearing their good words and learns to be friendly and welcoming. It sings sweetly and greets everyone with warmth.
One day, a king is riding through the forest. He stops near the cave and hears the first bird shouting rudely, telling him to go away. The king is surprised by the bird’s harsh words. He rides on and soon reaches the ashram, where he hears the second bird singing kindly, inviting him to rest. The king is amazed because the two birds look exactly the same but act so differently.
The king asks the rishi why the birds are so different. The rishi explains that even though the birds are brothers, they grew up in different places. The bird near the robbers learned their bad ways, while the bird near the ashram learned kindness. The story ends with the lesson that the people we spend time with shape who we become.
This tale shows how our surroundings and friends can change the way we think and act, even if we start life the same as others.
Who’s Who in the Story
- The Two Baby Birds: The main characters, born as brothers but separated by a storm. One grows up rude near robbers, and the other grows up kind near the ashram.
- The Mother Bird: The parent of the two birds. She is lost in the storm and does not appear after the beginning.
- The Robbers: Bad people who live in a cave. They steal and are cruel, teaching the first bird to be rude.
- The Rishi: A wise and kind man who lives in the ashram. He teaches love and peace, helping the second bird become friendly.
- The King: A traveler who meets both birds. He is curious and learns the lesson about how company affects behavior.
Themes and Moral
Themes:
- Influence of Company: The story shows how the people around us can change the way we behave. Good friends make us better, while bad ones can make us worse.
- Choices and Growth: Even though the birds start the same, their different surroundings lead to different lives. This shows how our choices matter.
- Kindness vs. Cruelty: The kind bird is happy and loved, while the rude bird is alone and angry. This shows kindness brings better results.
Moral: The company you keep shapes who you become. Choose good friends and a positive environment to grow into a better person.
Important Vocabulary and Phrases
Here are some key words and phrases from the story, explained in simple language:
- Storm: A strong wind with rain or thunder that can break things, like a big monsoon storm.
- Nest: A bird’s home made of twigs and leaves, like a small cradle for baby birds.
- Ashram: A quiet place where wise people live and teach, like a school for kindness and learning.
- Rude: Being unkind or harsh in words, like shouting at someone for no reason.
- Gentle: Being soft and kind, like speaking sweetly to make others feel good.
- Company: The people you spend time with, like your friends or family.
- Behavior: The way you act or talk, like being polite or naughty.
- Wise: Knowing what is right and good, like a teacher who gives smart advice.
These words help you understand the story and its lesson. Try using them when you talk about friends or how people act!