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CHITRA • Vol. 573 RS.25
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Amar Chitra Katha: the Glorious Heritage of India
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Bird Stories All living creatures die to be born again so the Hindus' believe. Siddhartha who becam~ the Buddha was no exception. It is believed that several lifetimes as a Bodhisattva go into the making of the Buddha, the Enlightened one. The Bodhisattva has come in may forms man, monkey, deer, elephant and lion. Whatever his mortal body, he has spread the message of justice and wisdom, tempered with compassion. This wisdom of right thinking and right living, is preserved in the Jataka tales. These tales are based on the folklore, legends and ballads of ancient India. We cannot assign a definite date to the Jataka stories. Taking into account archaeological and literary evidence it appears that they were compiled in the ' period, the third century B.C. to the fifth century A.D. They give us invaluable irifo.r mation about ancient Indian civilization, culture and philosophy. This volume of deer stories will keep children amused, while never failing to point out the ultimate triumph of good over evil.
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Script: Kamala Chandrtiknnt
Artworks: Ashok Dongre
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Editor: Anant Pai
© India Book House Pvt. Ltd, 1983. Reprinted May, 2003
ISBN 81 -7508 - 128- 7
Published by Padmini Mirchandani for India Book House Pvt. Ltd, Mahalaxmi Chambers, 5th Floor, 22, Bhulabhai Desai Road, Mumbai - 400 026 and printed by her at Krishna Art Printery Pvt. Ltd, Unit No.B-8, Sussex Industrial Estate, Dadoji Konddeo Cross Marg, Byculla (E), Mumbai - 400027 . •
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LONG fiGO~ ON THE SHORE OF A LARGE LfJK£~ THERE LII/EO A HAWK. ,
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THEN ONE OI}Y~ PI SHE-HAWk CAME TO Lli/E ON THE. OPPOSITE. SHORE. WHEN THE HAWK HEARD OF IT HE FLEW OVER TO HER. WILL '-IOU BE MY WIFE?• TOGETHER WE. COULD RAISE A FINE
AU! RIGHT. BUT ,.ELL ME) DO YOU
HAVE
NO.
THEN ,,{OU MUST MAKE. SOME FRIENDS. IN . TIMES OF NEED, IT . 15 FRIENDS WHO -
HELP.
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FRIENDS?•
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I DON'T NEED FRIENDS. BUT I'LL DO AS ,-(OU ;:::
SA...,. WHO SHALL WE. START WITH?
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OUR NEIGHBOUR~,0F COURSE! GO AND CALL ON THE LION, THE 05PREY AND THE TORTOISE!
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amar chitra /(atha
THE HIlWK IlGREEP IINO FLEW TO THE TINV ISLAND IN ,HE NtIPOLE OF THE LIU<.E WHE.RE THE. TOR'TOISE DWELT.
0, TORTOISE, ACCEPT ME AS YOUR FRIEND.
WITH
HE THEN MAOE FRIENOS WITH THE OSPREY.
ANY TIME YOU
~~~NEE.D ME, SEND <;:: FOR ME. ,---ri:1"
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FINIUL Y I THE HAWK CAllE/:) ON THE t.ION-
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NOW "THAT YOU ARE M'1 FRIEND, NO ONE WILL HARM "IOU.
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THE HAWK THEN RETURNEP TO THE. SHE-HAWK.. AH! NOW WE CAN I HAVE THREE DECIDE WHERE FRIENDS NOW. TO MAK.E. OUR - -_ _--" ,--.......,i'\"i-"""HOM E •
WHAT A6>OUT "THE. I
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THAT'S A GOOD IPEA. ,
JA TAKA TALES
SO THE "TWO FLEW OVE~ TO THE ISLANP ANP MAPE. II NEST ON THE KAPAM8A TREE. SOON TWO LITTLE ONES WERE BORN TO THEM. THIS 15 THE SAFES, PLACE WE COULD -FIND -FAR FROM THE. .. . HAUNTS OF ME.N. ,---~
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IT'S BEEN A BAD DAY. . WE'VE CAUGHT NOTHI NG, . NOT EVEN A RA 6 BIT f
BUT THE PLACE W,.qS NOT AS SAFE AS THE HAWkS INIAGINEO. ONE O/lY TWO HUNTERS CAME-
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A ND IT'S ALMOST EVENING!
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BUT THEY HAP NO LUCK. TOWARI/S NIGHTFALLLET'S SWIM ACROSS TO • WHAT SHALL "THAT ISLAND, AND SPEND WE DO? • :"'-" \- THE NIGHT THERE. AT DAWN WE'LL TRY OUR
WE CAN'T RETURN EMPTY-HANDED! ,.... WE MIGHT YE.T CATCH A FISH OR A YOUN TORTOISE., PERHAPS.
LUCK AGAIN.
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amar chitra katho
WHEN THE"! RE/JCHEP THE ISLANt;) THESE MOSQUITOES> ARE .' IMPOSSIBLE'
LET'S LIGHT A FIRE. THAT 5HOULD DRIVE THEM
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AWAY. PJD '-IOU HEAR THAT~
I DID! FLEDGLINGS'• ON THIS "TREE!
THE'f ARE. PLANNING TO EAT OUR CHILDREN! FRIEND TORTOI&E 1& ASLEEP ·QUlCK, MV DEAR) FLY "TO THE OSPREY AND SEEK
5H-5-5H! PID YOU HEAR THAT c>• HUMAN LET'5 FIND OUT WHAT VOICES'• THE\{ ARE PLANNING.
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THE OSPREY WAS SURPRISE./:) TO SEE THE. HAWK.
WHAT BRINGS YOU HE.RE AT THIS HOUR?
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JATAKA TALES
WHEN THE HAW/( TOLO HIM /-
HAVE THEY CLlM8ED THE TREE YET?•
NOT lIET. THEy'RE SUS'1 LIGHTING A FIRE.
THEN FL¥ 8ACK TO "fOUR WIFE AND· COMFORT HER. I'L TAKE CARE OF iHE HUNTERS,.
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UNf)ER COliER. OF NIGHT, THE FLEW · TO THE KIIPIIMBII TREE ANO WAITE£> liND WATCHEP.
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THERE 'THE. FIRE • 15 BLAZING ME.RRIL"I. LET'S • GET THE &IRD5:..;.''''''
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NOW TO PUT
MY PLAN INTO ACTION •f •
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SUOOENLV THE OSPREY PIVEO INTO THE LIIJ(E.· ..
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omor chitra kotho
••• ,qNO OUT.
•• • CAME OUT; SHOOI< HIMSELF OilER THE FIRE •.•
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WHAT'S THAT? IS IT THE FIRE? PERHAP5} THE. WOOD WAS WE.T!
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7HE HUNTERS SOON HAP ANOTHER FIRE. 8LIlZING.
BUT liS SOON AS
THEY WENT TO GET THE BIROS J THE OSPREY ONCE AGAIN PUT OUT THE FIIi!E •
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THERE! NOW LET'S BRING .HEM DOWN.
COME DOWN. ' IT'S NO USE CATCH I NG THE FLEDGLINGS TILL THE FIRE IS •
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ABLAZE AGAIN. •
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JATAKA TALES
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'WENT ON TIl.L NlI&WI(;HT.TJ-fE SHE-HIJWK FSl.t: SOKR,( FOR. 7:I1E
WHEN THE HAWK FLEW TO THE TOLP HIM THE WHOLE STORY-
OSPREY.
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HE'LL LOSE HIS LIFE IRVING TO SAVE OUR VOUNG ONES. GO TO FRIEND TOR.TOISE ANP see IF HE. CAN '" HELP •
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DON'T WORRY. ,'LL COME THERE AS QUICKLY AS I CAN· •
HE"!, .LOOK ! A HUGE TORTOISE! LET'S FORGET THE BIRDS AND CA,.CH HIM. WE'LL HAVE ENOUGH FOOD FOR DAVS.
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~ •• fiNO SOUND THE TORTOISE TO ,HEIR..
8Ol>IES.
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AWAV!
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I WILL J • I WILL' I'LL PULL '"IOU ALL RIGHT'•
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T41lE .THEIR
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S{JPPENL Y•
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THAT SHOULD TAKE
HELP! ••
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CARE OF ...... "IOU. J Q
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THE .IfUNIE.RS "QUICKL V LOOSENED THE STRIPS OF CLOTH L .. ... . • l \.-,:- --=...... _ t \. tot:-"""'" t ...,.- . l.i TffAT130I.lNP THEM TO TIfE TORTOISE~.~~~ _ ~~===~ .------,"> .... .1.. r . .I--:-'~-;;';';;; " -:;;::;"': =- ~~.~~THE W 15 DANGEROUS'• LET'S .. e-... _ _ LEAVE - HIM HERE AND MAKE ANOTHER FIRE FOR OUR FLEDGLINGS. = " ~
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THEV'RE BACK! GO TO THE LION ANP SEEK HIS HELP.
THE'! BEGt9N 70 COLLECT TWIGS.
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A FEW MINUTES LATER•
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EE-A-AH!
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A LION!
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THE HUNTERS RflN FOR. TltEIR. LIVES ANt:' JUMPEP INiO rHE LAKE.
AH
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ONES" LfOU ARE
SAFE!
FASTER! SWIM FASTER!
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NOW IX) 'IOU SEE THE VALUE OF HAVING FRIENDS?
ornar chitra kotha
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THERE ONCE WAS A 8RAHMANII WHO HAP A WIFE ANP THREE PAU6ft7E,f!,S. HE LOVE/? THEM OE.4IeL.'I AND 7"t7oJc GOOD CRRE 0;: THEM • .
THEN StlPPEN£Y ONE PAY 1.'£
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HOW COULD HE LEAVE US AND GO? W~O WILL CARE FOR US
SOME /(INP NEIGHBOURS WHO HE.A~ HER WAILING RUSIfEP IN.
WE WILL. WE WON'T LET '{OU STARVE. NOW PLEASE 'WIPE '{OUR TEARS.
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MEANWHILE I THE BRAHMANA WliS REBORN AS A GOlPEN SWAN. ONE j;)lJy -
I MUST GO AND SEE HPW M,{ WIFE AND DAUGHTERS ARE GETTING ALONG.
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JA TAKA TALES
HE FLEW TO HIS VILLAGE. •
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LIVE ON CHARIT'( !" HOW DE.GRADING ! I MUST DO SOMETHING TO HELP THEM.
BUT WHAT CAN , ••. HE'f ! I'VE GOT
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II LITTLE LIITER-
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MOTHER! LOOK!
WAIT! I AM 'lOUR
HU56AND,RE80RN
A (50LDEN 81RD!
AS A BIRD.
LET'S CATCH IT'•
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--. I CAN'T BeAR TO SEE "lOUR PLIGHT. I'LL GIVE "IOU ONE OF MY FEATHER5" SE.LL IT AND USE. THE MONE."I TO 6U"I FOOD AND CLOTHIN,:G.:"__-:'""" :
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omar chit rtl.k.utha
• .• GflVE IT TO HER .•.
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WEEK liFTER WEEK HE RETURNED TO 61VE HER. 'lET IINO'fHEIi? FEATHER liN/) T1fE W/POW
BUT, ALliS ! LIKE MOST HICff PEOPLE SHe. 8ECIIME GREE/?Y. ONE PA'I-
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aooN 8ECRME 1i!1CH.
SUPPOSE HE STOPS COMING? A MERE BIRD • 1& NOT TC 8E TRUSTED.
THE NEXT TIME HE COMES, . I'LL PLUCK OUT ALL HIS FEATHERS.
'IOU CAN'T MEAN IT. ,""'OTHER f
NO, MOTHER! '10U ~ CAN'T DO ,HAT'•
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BUT THE WIPOW HAP MAPE tiP itER AlINI? THE NEXT TIME THE 8/~O C!JME ,0'
.. ·ANI? PESPITE All HIS
... SHE Clltl~HT HIM 8'1 THE NECK ...
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STRUGGLING I nt/eKEP HIM ClEAN.
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NOT ALL MV FEATHERS'• NO f• PLEA&E DON'T'• I ...
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THERE! NOW WE'LL NEVER BE POOR
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I'VE. BEEN CHEATED! THE'-I'RE
ALA5'• WHAT HAVE "IOU PONE! TAKE A LOOK AT THE FEATHERS.
dUST ORPINAR'-I WHITE FEATHERS! H-HOW DID IT HAPPEN? ' •
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ornar chitra k.atha
ItLL TELL "IOU HOW. M'f • GOLDEN FEATHERS TURNED WHITE. BECAUSE. --'. "IOU 'tOU PLUCKE.P THEM AGAINST MV J FORGOT TO WARN '10U NEVER TO DO
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'fOU FORGOT? HOW COULD "IOU BE SO CARELE.SS! WE ARE
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THAT.
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THAT'5 WHERE A USELESS BIRD 8ELONG 5·.· THE DUST5JH. ONE. OF "tOU GIVE HIM SOMETHING TO EAT
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WITHIN MONTHS ~ THE SWAN'S FEATHERS GREW IJGIIIN. StlT
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WHATIS "HE. USE. OF STAYING ON HERE ~ I'P SETTER GO AWA'f.
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LONG AGO IN VARANII61 1 THERE LIVED II KING CROW WHO HAP A MIfTE HE LOVEP DE.4RL't'.
, ONE PAY~ liS THEY FLEW PAST THE PIILIICI;. OF THE KING OF VIlRANA SI J QUEEN CROW SAW ~ SIGHT WHICH NlAPE HE,€. MOUTf( WATER. AH • HOW I WISH CO ULD TASTE cJU5T A T IN\{ BIT OF " THAT FISH t• "
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THE. NEXT OAY •
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COME I MI.f LOVE.. LET'S GO OUT i:lND LOOK FOR SOM E FOOD.
I PON'T WANT THE KIND OF FOOD
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amar dutra katha AS THE KING CROW WONPERFO WHflT HE SHOULO OO~ HIS GENERRL CliME UP. I-_
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WHEN THE kING CROW TOLO HIM- r - OH ! IS THAT ALL DON'T WORRV. I'LL SEE THAT QUEEN HAS THE FOOD SHE CRAVES
MArJE.ST"I~ WHAT~S
THE MATTE~R~~~__,
FOR. "
TAKING EIGHT OF THE BE.ST"CROWS WITH HIM, THE C:tENERAL FLEW TOWAROS THE PALACE. ~----~~~--------------~ LET'S PERCH ON THE KITCHEN ROOF.
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NOW L1STE.N CAREFULL"I. WHILE THE FOOD 15 "8EING TAKEN TO THE. KING1ltL
MAKE THE COOK DROP THE DISHES. "
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FOU R OF "IOU MUST THEN FILL "lOUR 8EAKS WITH
RICE AND FOUR. WITH FISH, AND FL'1 TO OUR QUEEN.
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AH! HERE COMES THE COOK! WHEN HE REACHES THE OPEN COURT'fAR~ I'LL 5TRn<E. ! "
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JAT AKA TALES'
THE NEXT MOMENT-
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PROP THOSE "'SHES AND CATCH THAT WICKED
CROW!
THE MOMENT THE PISHES WE.RE PROPPEP, THE CHOSEN EIGHT FILLED.
THE/Ie. BEAkS liND FLEW IIWIIY. AH! THE QUEEN'S LONGING I
GOOD! 'fOU'VE GOT HIM! 8RING HIM HERE.
WILL BE: SATISFIED. THEY CAN DO WHAT THEY WILL '"V' WITH ME, NOW: - ...
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omor d'utra katha
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0, CROW! "'OU HAVE DARED TO DISPLEASE. ME. AND IN
FOR M"I KING. HE TOLD ME ABOUT THE QUEEN"S LONGIN~
THIS FOOLISH VENTURE.
FOR THE FOOD SHE. SAW ON "lOUR TABLE.' PROMISED . TO GET IT FOR HER'::- AND I HAVE KEPT MV ............ PROMISE •
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RISK.ED '-lOUR VER"I L.IFE! WHY DID 'IOU DO IT ~.-""'::~
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THE BIRD WAS WILLING TO SACRIFICE HIS LIFE FOR. HIS KING! SUCH LOVALTV 15 RARE! HE MUST &E REWARDED.
SET HIM
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HENCEFORTH A PORTION OF THE
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FOOD COOKED FOR ME, SHALL 8E SENT EVERV DAV TO YOU AND "lOUR KING AND QUEEN. AND A LARGE MEASURE OF RICe. SHALL Bf. COOKED FOR 'fOUR KING'5 FOLLOWING. .
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ONCE THE KING OF THE BIROS ' TOOl( HIS FLOCK TO THE" HINlIJLAYAS IN SEIiRCH OF FOOO. AS THEY WANOEREt:> OFF, ONE OF THE 81RPS CnME TO A ROAP ALONG WHICH WIJGONS LOnPEP WITH GRIIIN USEO TO PI/55.
NOW GO AND LOOK FOR SEEDS AND GRAIN. WHEN '(OU FIND SOME, REPORT TO ME, 50 WE CAN ALL SHARE IT.
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LOOK A"T ALL THAT GRAIN ON THE ROAD. . .". _ " . " . ' WHAT A FEAST! I WON'T .1";_,' . :.:-:,.:':"., ,:':. ' TELL THE KING A80UT · . . '.. . , :::-THIS FIND! ~
BUT WHAT IF ONE OF THE OTHERS SHOULD FL'I THIS WAY AND ,-,SEE THE GRAIN If ___ .,
I KNOW'• l'lL TELL "THEM A80UT IT AND '1ET KEEP THEM ......, AWAV t.
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omar chitra katha
SHE FLEW BliCK.
'{OU'VE BEEN
NONE AT ALLI IN FACT) I VER'! NEARL'f LOST M"I LIFE'•
AWA'I A LONG TIME HAVE YOU HAD .........
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B/~OS WE~E
IIlL EIlRS.
WAGONS? THEN • "THERE MUST SE PLENTY OF GRAJN THERE'• AND •••
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I HA PPENED TO FLY OVER THE HIGHWA'f ! ELEPHANTS 'AND HORSES,AND WAGON5 DRAWN BY FIERCE BULLOCKS ALONG THAT ROUTE.
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THERE IS.8UT ONCE ~OU ALIGHT IT'S DIFFICULT TO SOAR UP AGAIN. DON'T GO THAT WA'1. IT'S DANGEROUS.
liFTER HER WARNING~ THE OTHER BIROS WERE CAREFUL TO AVOIO tHE. HIGHWfJY • ,
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THAT WAS CLEVER OF ME ! I HAVE ALL THIS GRAIN TO M"ISELF NOW
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BIROS FU,,-, IN AU "'flEC"fION8 III OF 7'H£1Il LQ5T COMPANION .
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WHAT A SAP FATE! 5~E .....ARNED
'IOu NOT TO 60 NEAR 1l1E HIGHWAY. lWT SliE COULD NOT CONTROL HER. G~E£D. LET THIS SE A 10 ALL OF
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THE GREEDY CROW
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WI1,1\T I liND GIVE UP WHAT
~~~.~.. TO "TOOCH MEN'S ....
I CA Me HERE FOR IN 'THE FIRST PlACE! HEYER!
GO~·~;!../~--~:::1:::":'=~;;::::;::;'1t--1
FOOP· roM!'.'fOU! LET'S _ UP WITH
I CAN EAT IT "THeRf. IN PaIIeE WITHOUT
TAIIE A LARtiE Of' FRIED FIftH FlY !lACK 1l) 1l116KET •
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aEING FOUND' OUT .
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~eMEMfI£R. .'IIoIYG'NE
WHO UO'ER$ nf€ COf\TEIIoT _ T SIT em liN EQUAtL'I WICK 8AANCH .
