Birdie was a partridge who lived in the hollow of a tree. He loved his tiny home. One day, he travelled to meet his friends living in another forest.

When he returned a few days later, he returned, and he was shocked. A furry being had occupied his home.

“Who are you? Why are you living in my house?” asked an angry Birdie. The animal was a rabbit named Swifty.

“This has been my home since I was born. I had just gone to visit some friends for a few days, and now you have occupied it. Now that I have returned, please leave,” said Birdie.

“That might have been the case, but you left this place. I have been living here for the last six months, and therefore I own it now,” replied Swifty.

They continued arguing for a long time but could not find any solution. Suddenly, there was a soft voice from a distance. The voice belonged to a cat named Tommy.

“Why are you two yelling and shouting? I am trying to meditate and you are disturbing my peace,” said Tommy.

“That cat looks wise and knowledgeable. Why don’t we ask him to judge our problem?” said Swifty.

Birdie cautioned, “Cats are our natural enemy. What if he wants to eat us? Let us ask him but from a distance.”

Birdie and Swifty began telling the story.

Tommy softly replied, “I am an old cat, and my hearing isn’t as it should be. Come near my ear and tell the story.” Birdie replied, “How can we trust you not to eat us?”

Birdie replied, “How can we trust you not to eat us?”

Tommy replied, “I am a peace-loving cat. I have given up on all worldly desires and spend my day meditating. You can trust me. Besides, I am so old that I can barely move.”

Ignoring caution, both Birdie and Swifty went near Tommy to whisper in his ears. Before they could react, Tommy seized Birdie with his paw and Swifty with his teeth, killing them both.

After eating his full, Tommy continued to act as a peace-loving cat waiting for another victim.

Author’s Note:

All Panchatantra Stories have Morals associated with them. The moral of this story is “When two people fight, a third party always benefits”.