Long ago, there ruled a king who had a great passion for animals and birds. To satisfy his love, he built a magnificent aviary right next to his palace. He traveled to distant lands to collect the most beautiful and rare birds, keeping them all within the golden bars of his garden.
One evening, while the king was taking a quiet stroll near the aviary, he overheard a conversation between a bright blue bird and her young fledgling.
"Mother, why are our wings so long and wide?" the little bird asked curiously.
"My dear," the mother bird replied gently, "these wings allow us to glide through the vast forests and soar high above the mountains without getting tired."
"And why are our claws so strong and sharp?" the little one continued.
"Those are for gripping the branches tightly during a storm and for walking firmly on the forest floor," the mother explained.
Then, the little bird’s voice turned sad. "But Mother, if we have all these gifts to fly in the sky and live in the wild, why are we trapped in this small cage? What is the purpose of these walls?"
The king stood frozen. His heart sank as he realized his mistake. He had brought these creatures away from their homes just to admire them, forgetting that their true beauty lies in their freedom. He felt a deep sense of regret for his selfishness.
The very next morning, the king ordered his servants to open all the cages. He arranged for the birds to be released back into the deep forests and high mountains where they belonged. As the birds flew away into the sunset, the king realized that true joy comes from seeing others live freely.
Moral
True happiness lies in respecting the freedom of all living beings.
