<p>All of us know that we imbibe and inculcate behaviour, values and mindsets from the people we are surrounded by and the situations we are exposed to. We cannot actively alter our parents, immediate family or the environment we grow up in. However, we can be wise in choosing our friends and the company we keep for it can leave a major impression on our lives.</p>.<p>A story from the Hitopadesha by Narayana Panditha speaks about how the world judges us on the basis of the people we are associated with.</p>.<p>Once all the birds decided to celebrate Garuda Panchami on the seashore. The were flying in flocks. A lone quail fell behind because he was weak and obese. He continued to fly at a low altitude. Most of the birds had flown miles ahead of him. At that time his friend the crow joined him and offered to keep him company. Soon the crow was tired of flying slowly. When he looked down, he saw a cowherd carrying a pot of curds on his head. He distracted himself by flying down to peck at it from time to time. The quail was too tired to feel amused or berate his friend for his misdemeanour.</p>.<p> When this continued for a while, the cowherd was annoyed. He could not look up with the large pot on his head. When he could take it no longer, he put the pot down and looked up.</p>.<p>The cunning crow took cue when the pot was being set down and flew away in a trice. When the cowherd looked up, he saw the quail hovering right above him. He assumed that the <br>avian was the malefactor and flung a sharp stone at the bird and brought him down.</p>.<p> As one can see, the quail was innocent. In fact, he was hardly inclined towards a mischievous disposition, given his condition. Yet he had to pay heavily, for the prank of his so-called friend. Had the crow been a genuine friend with a fun-loving nature, he may have still been up to tricks but would have never deserted his friend in times of crisis. Since the quail had turned a blind eye to the crows faults he had to pay the price for not fault of his for the world believes in the saying, “Show me your friend and I will tell who you are!”</p>
<p>All of us know that we imbibe and inculcate behaviour, values and mindsets from the people we are surrounded by and the situations we are exposed to. We cannot actively alter our parents, immediate family or the environment we grow up in. However, we can be wise in choosing our friends and the company we keep for it can leave a major impression on our lives.</p>.<p>A story from the Hitopadesha by Narayana Panditha speaks about how the world judges us on the basis of the people we are associated with.</p>.<p>Once all the birds decided to celebrate Garuda Panchami on the seashore. The were flying in flocks. A lone quail fell behind because he was weak and obese. He continued to fly at a low altitude. Most of the birds had flown miles ahead of him. At that time his friend the crow joined him and offered to keep him company. Soon the crow was tired of flying slowly. When he looked down, he saw a cowherd carrying a pot of curds on his head. He distracted himself by flying down to peck at it from time to time. The quail was too tired to feel amused or berate his friend for his misdemeanour.</p>.<p> When this continued for a while, the cowherd was annoyed. He could not look up with the large pot on his head. When he could take it no longer, he put the pot down and looked up.</p>.<p>The cunning crow took cue when the pot was being set down and flew away in a trice. When the cowherd looked up, he saw the quail hovering right above him. He assumed that the <br>avian was the malefactor and flung a sharp stone at the bird and brought him down.</p>.<p> As one can see, the quail was innocent. In fact, he was hardly inclined towards a mischievous disposition, given his condition. Yet he had to pay heavily, for the prank of his so-called friend. Had the crow been a genuine friend with a fun-loving nature, he may have still been up to tricks but would have never deserted his friend in times of crisis. Since the quail had turned a blind eye to the crows faults he had to pay the price for not fault of his for the world believes in the saying, “Show me your friend and I will tell who you are!”</p>