The Sage's Parrot

One day a traveller was passing through the jungle. He felt very tired so he decided to rest awhile under a Banyan tree Soon he found a shady tree and

settled under it for a nap "I get you! Just wait ! I'll kill you or catch you for

A harsh screechy voice scared the traveller. He got up and looked around. He saw a parrot in the leafy branches of the tree kill you or catch you for sure the parrot screeched again.

The traveller got up and walked a few steps. He saw another shady tree and sat down to rest "Welcome sir I Will you have some water or fruits?

Please relax."

A sweet voice greeted the traveller. As the traveller looked to find the source of the voice, he saw another parrot. It was almost exactly like the parrot he had seen before. Suddenly the parrot took flight. The traveller was surprised. How could such same looking parrots speak so differently? He decided to follow the flying parrot The parrot flew on and the traveller followed it. A few minutes later, the parrot flew into a large

ashram. The traveller entered the hut in the ashram. A sage sat there in deep meditation "Welcome, sir I Will you have some water or fruits? Please relax."

The parrot repeated once more. At the parrot's voice, the sage opened his eyes. Yes! What can I do for you the sage addressed the traveller

"Sir, I followed this sweet-talking parrot to the

ashram. In the jungle, I saw another such parrot who spoke rather harshly Will you clear this confusion I have ?" The sage smiled and said, " A she parrot had given

birth to two young ones. One of the young parrots

was caught by a hunter. The other young parrot fell

down from the tree. It was injured. I brought it up in my ashram. It has grown up hearing my pupils' polite words, so it merely repeats that, and the parrot caught by the hunter has learnt his rude language So even though they have the same mother, the parrots are different in behaviour."

MORAL: A person develops his character influenced by his environs not by his birth.