The Heron, Fish, and Crab: The Law of Cause and Effect in Life
A Mendut Fable from Central Java (The story originally from India)
Long ago, there lived a crab and a group of fish in a small pond.
During a dry season, the water began to shrink, and the condition of the water animals in the pond became quite alarming.
Meanwhile, a heron stalked the pond and had an evil plan to make all the inhabitants of the pond his meals.
Later, the heron rested at the edge of the pond with a hopeless expression.
The fish asked the heron, "Sir, what are you thinking about?"
The heron replied, "I'm thinking about your lives. The drought is so bad. With less water, there will be less food for you. I'm afraid this pond will dry up in a few days, and you will die of the drought."
The fish asked, "What should we do, Sir?"
The heron replied, "If you trust me, I'll take all of you, one by one, to a big lake behind the forest. The lake is filled with lotus plants that will guarantee your survival."
The fish said, "Mr. Heron, since the beginning of time, there has never been a story of any heron caring about the welfare of fish. Frankly, we fear that each one of us will become a meal."
The heron said slowly, "I do not lie. Please choose one representative among you to see the lake that I told you about."
The fish then chose a big fish as a representative. The heron took the fish above the lake and then brought it back to the pond.
The fish finally believed and convinced the others to obey the heron, who then took them one by one to the lake.
However, the heron actually dropped the fish one by one onto a tree across the lake, eating them one by one. The fish turned into scattered bones under the tree.
Finally, the heron ate all the fish in the pond, leaving only a crab. The heron also wanted to eat the crab.
The heron said, "Don't you want to follow the fish and move to the lake?"
The crab said, "I would rather live alone in this pond."
Because the heron continued to persuade the crab, the crab eventually said, "I can hold myself stronger, Sir. So please let me hold your neck while flying towards the lake."
The heron flew over the lake but then headed towards the tree across the lake.
The crab asked, "Why are you taking me away from the lake?"
The heron said, "Stupid crab, I'm not your servant. Why should I take you there? Look, under the tree there are scattered fish bones. You will soon become my meal."
The crab said, "The deceiver has been deceived. That's your fate, Sir. Try feeling this, I am beginning to pinch your neck."
The heron was frightened because it was getting harder to breathe.
The crab said, "Now you are the stupid one, Mr. Heron. Take me to the lake so I can plunge in, and you will be free!"
The heron obeyed the crab's order to save its life.
When they arrived at the edge of the lake, the crab cut the heron's neck, and the heron died instantly. The crab then dove into the lake.
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Moral Message
Greed and deceit are often employed to achieve goals quickly. However, we must reflect on our actions, as even though success can be achieved in a short time, nature will not remain indifferent. The law of cause and effect will always prevail, and anyone who uses deceit will inevitably face the consequences in the future.