# XXIX: The Pigeon and the Crow explained — Indian Fairy Tales

> Chapter companion for Indian Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs.

## What happens

The chapter presents the Lola Jataka, an animal fable illustrating the consequences of greed and ingratitude. A pigeon kindly brings a greedy crow to a kitchen to share food, but the crow's gluttony leads to its capture and punishment by the cook. The story serves as a moral lesson, typical of Jataka tales, showing how greed leads to downfall.

## Themes in this chapter

### Greed and Its Consequences

The crow's greed leads to its capture and punishment, illustrating the moral that greed brings ruin.

### Gratitude and Ingratitude

The pigeon shows kindness by sharing food, but the crow's ingratitude and greed result in its downfall.

## Character check-ins

### The Pigeon

The kind pigeon who brings the greedy crow to the kitchen to share food.

### Mr. Crow

The greedy crow who is caught and punished for stealing fish.

### Buddha

Referenced as the future Buddha or Bodhisat, the moral exemplar in Jataka tales.

## Key lines

> We began with an animal Jataka, and may appropriately finish with one which shows how effectively the writers of the Jatakas could represent animal folk, and how terribly moral they invariably were in their tales.

The chapter ends with an animal Jataka that demonstrates the skill of Jataka writers in portraying animal characters and the strong moral lessons embedded in their stories.

_Reflects on the literary and moral purpose of the Jataka tales._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se/chapters/xxix-the-pigeon-and-the-crow
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se/chapters