The Crow and the Deer

To eat the young birds (nestlings) living on the tree

Step 1: The text says: 'Once it happened that a cat named Dirghakarna reached there with the intention of eating the nestlings.' Step 2: Nestlings are young birds that are too small to leave the nest – they are easy prey for a cat. Step 3: However, when the cat saw the vulture, he got frightened and quickly changed his strategy. Step 4: He decided to deceive the vulture by pretending to be a pious and non-violent follower of dharma. Step 5: This deception allowed the cat to stay on the tree and eventually carry out his original plan of eating the young birds. Options A, B, and D describe what

By claiming to be a pious vegetarian who follows dharma and nonviolence

Step 1: When the vulture threatened to kill the cat, the cat remained calm and used clever arguments. Step 2: He claimed to bathe daily in the Ganges, practise celibacy, and observe chandrayan-vrats (fasting rituals). Step 3: He quoted scriptures about nonviolence being the highest form of righteousness: 'Marked by nonviolence, tolerance and lending a helping hand.' Step 4: He also quoted sayings about hospitality, saying guests should always be welcomed. Step 5: By quoting holy scriptures and presenting himself as deeply religious and harmless, he won the vulture's trust completely. This is a

He was killed by all the birds who blamed him for the missing nestlings

Step 1: After gaining the vulture's trust, the cat began secretly eating the young birds and hiding their bones in the vulture's hollow. Step 2: When the birds noticed their young ones were missing, they searched frantically. Step 3: The cat then fled the hollow before being discovered. Step 4: The distressed birds found the bones of their chicks inside the vulture's hollow. Step 5: Believing the blind and helpless vulture had eaten their young ones, 'all the birds killed the old vulture.' This tragic ending shows how an innocent person can suffer due to misplaced trust – the very lesson the c

He pointed out that even the crow was a stranger to the deer when they first met

Step 1: After the crow narrated the tale of the vulture and the cat, the jackal responded with anger. Step 2: His key argument was: 'Even your family and character were not known to the deer on the very first day you met him.' Step 3: This was actually a clever counter-argument – the jackal highlighted the crow's own hypocrisy in warning against unknown friendships. Step 4: The jackal also quoted a saying about broad-mindedness: 'The whole Earth is a family for benevolent and broad minds.' Step 5: This argument is logically challenging but ignores the difference in behaviour – the crow genuine