The Foolish Crane and the Crab

Several cranes lived on a giant banyan tree. In a cavity of the tree lived a snake that used to eat the young cranes. When one crane realized the snake was eating its children, it began to cry. A crab came by and asked why it was crying. The crane told the crab everything and asked if there was any way to get rid of the snake.

"The crane has always been my enemy," thought the crab. "I should give it bad advice."

So the crab advised the crane to scatter pieces of meat from the mongoose’s hole all the way to the banyan tree. "The mongoose will eat the pieces, find its way to the banyan tree, and kill the snake," said the crab.

The crane followed the crab's advice. The mongoose came, killed the snake—but also killed all the cranes in the tree.

Don't take advice from someone who isn't your friend.