midst of those swans capable of traversing great distances,
desired to enquire as to who amongst them was their
leader. The foolish crow at last challenged him
amongst those birds of tireless wings whom he regarded
their leader, saying, ‘Let us compete in flight.’
Hearing those words of the raving crow, the swans that
had assembled there, those foremost of birds endued
with great strength, began to laugh. The swans
then, that were capable of going everywhere at will,
addressed the crow, saying. ’We are swans,
having our abode in the Manasa lake. We traverse
the whole Earth, and amongst winged creatures we are
always applauded for the length of the distances we
traverse. Being, as thou art, only a crow, how
canst thou, O fool, challenge a swan endued with might,
capable of going everywhere at will, and doing large
distances in course of his flight? Tell us, O
crow, how thou shalt fly with us.’ The
boastful crow, in consequence of the foolishness of
his species, repeatedly finding fault with the words
of that swan, at last gave this answer. The crow
said, ’I shall without doubt fly displaying a
hundred and one different kinds of motion. Doing
every hundred Yojanas in a separate and beautiful
kind of motion, I shall display all those motions.
Rising up, and swooping down, and whirling around,
and coursing straight, and proceeding gently, and
advancing steadily, and performing the diverse courses
up and receding back, and soaring high, and darting
forward and soaring upwards with fiercer velocity,
and once more proceeding gently and then proceeding
with great impetuosity, and once again swooping down
and whirling around and advancing steadily, and rising
up by the jerks, and soaring straight, and once more
falling down and wheeling in a circle and rushing
proudly, and diverse other kinds of motion, these
all I shall display in the sight of all you. Ye
shall then witness my strength. With one of these
different kinds of motion I shall presently rise into
the sky. Point out duly, ye swans, by which of
these motions I shall course through space. Settling
the kind of motion amongst yourselves, you will have
to course with me. Adopting all those different
motion, ye shall have to course with me through supportless
space.’ The crow having said these words,
one of the swans addressed him, ’Listen, O son
of Radha, to the words that the swan said. The
swan spoke, ’Thou, O crow, wilt doubtless fly
the hundred and one different kinds of flight.
I shall, however, fly in that one kind of motion that
all (other) birds know, for I do not, O crow, know
any other. As regards thee, O thou of red eyes,
fly thou in any kind of course that thou likest.’
At these words, those crows that had been assembled
there laughed aloud, saying, ’How will the swan
with only one kind of flight get the better of a hundred
different kinds of flight?’


