hear. You, on the other hand, can’t even speak, barring your dangerous hiss that frightens everyone.”
A tortoise, who happened to be nearby, was listening to this heated argument. He had never thought of life in this manner. He had always believed that all living beings are creations of God and are equal. After a while, when the argument did not subside, he could no longer hold himself back and decided to intervene in the matter.
“What is the argument about and why are the two of you fighting?” asked the tortoise.
“Because this stupid bird is not ready to accept the great and deadly qualities of a snake. Snakes are the most grounded beings on earth,” explained the snake.
“And birds are the most intelligent

and knowledgeable beings because they fly to so many places and see so many events which the snake is not ready to accept,” said the bird. “Snakes spend all their lives in their holes.”
“Can I say something?” The tortoise looked at both of them; one, up on the tree and the other, on the ground, and continued, “Birds are God’s emissaries in the sky and snakes are God’s emissaries under the ground. But sadly, you both are unaware of each other’s role in God’s scheme of things because you both live in your own world. If a bird is asked to go under the ground, it won’t be able to do so. In the same way, if a snake is asked to fly, it won’t be able to do so. Every being on this planet is a creation of God with a specific purpose.”

Bhavan's Journal,May 15, 2022∎ 65