A couple of sparrows lived happily in their nest on top of a huge tree in a jungle. 
 
The Elephant And The Sparrow - Panchatantra Story PictureThe female sparrow had laid her eggs in the nest and they were expecting their newborns soon. 
 
On a particular day, unable to bear the heat of the summer sun, an elephant went berserk. 
 
He crashed into all trees in his way. On his way, he broke the branches of the tree that supported the nest of the sparrow couple. 
 
As the branches fell, so did the nest and all the newly laid eggs smashed against the ground. 
 
Although the sparrows managed to escape by flying away, they were heart-broken to see that they had lost the eggs. The female sparrow began to cry and wail loudly. 
 
The Elephant And The Sparrow - Panchatantra Story PictureA woodpecker, who was at a little distance, was touched by cries. 
 
He went to her and said, "Dear good sparrow! There is nothing you can do by crying. What is destined to happen, will happen for sure." 
 
The female sparrow replied, "That is indeed true. But all my children were killed by this wicked elephant, this is also true. We had done no harm to him."