Once two partridges, a husband and wife, were going on a trip.

Before they left, the wife laid some eggs

near the ocean. Then the husband said to the sea, “We are going on a sea voyage. You must take care of
these eggs for us. if we don’t find the eggs when we return, we’ll empty you.”

The sea agreed to take care of the eggs, and it kept them safe. A few days later the two partridges came
back, but they couldn’t find the eggs. They screamed at the sea. The sea wanted to give them the eggs,
but it couldn’t find them. The birds cursed the sea; they began taking out a drop of water at a time and
throwing it on the land.

“We are going to empty you,” they said to the sea.

Some little birds saw all this and they asked, “What are you doing?”

The partridges replied, “We are punishing the sea because it didn’t keep its promise to look after our
eggs.”

The little birds thought it was a noble task and they joined the partridges. After a while some big birds
took up their cause. They also started taking out water drop by drop. This went on for weeks.

News of the effort of this birds camo to powerful Garuda, personal carrer of Lord Vishnu. So Garuda
came and asked, “What are you doing?”

The birds said, “Can’t you see? We are emptying the sea. ”

Garuda said, “You fools, how long will this take? You will never be able to do it. The sea is vast, infinite.”

But the birds answered, “No, we have determination and perseverance.”

Garuda was very surprised and said, “Let me show them Compassion. I’ll ask Lord Vishnu to help them. If
Vishnu helps, then certainly they will be able to find their eggs. If the eggs are still in good condition,
Vishnu will be able to return them. But if they are destroyed, he can do nothing for them.”

He went to Vishnu. “Vishnu, I have never seen fools like these. If you really care for fools, then will you
do them a favor?” Garuda then told him the whole story.

Vishnu said, “No, they are not fools. They are showing the spirit of patience and perseverance. This is
how human beings must try to empty the ignorance from the sea of life, drop by drop. It is what seekers
must and should do. The ignorance-sea is vast. If sincere seekers want to empty it and replace it with
knowledge-light, then they must do it the same way, drop by drop. I am very pleased with these birds. I
will command the sea to return the eggs.”

Garuda said, “The sea wanted to give them the eggs but it misplaced them and believes they are
destroyed.”

Vishnu said, “I will use my psychic power to show the sea where they are.”

He used his psychic power and the sea immediately found the eggs and returned them to the partridges.
Then Vishnu said to the birds, “Perseverance, patience and self-giving all are of paramount importance
to fulfill one’s divine task. ”

Spirtual lesson:
Lesson from this story is so clear. We must be determined on our spiritual life to achieve our sandya,
goal. God help those who help themselves. In our life there may be so many obstacles but we should not
give up. When Lord see our determination he will come and help us.

Sri Krishna says in Bhagavad gita 2.41:

vyavasayatmika buddhir

ekeha kuru-nandana

bahu-sakha hy anantas ca

buddhayo ‘vyavasayinam

Those who are on this path are resolute in purpose, and their aim is one. O beloved child of the Kurus,
the intelligence of those who are irresolute is many-branched.