THE FARMER AND HIS LAZY SONS

 

 

In Madhanpur lived a very hardworking farmer named Gopal. He had three sons Ram, Laxman and Hanuman.  All three were strong  and healthy. But they were all lazy.

Gopal was sad thinking about his sons and the future of his farmland.

One day, Gopal got a flash of an idea. He called all his sons and said, “Ram! Laxman! And Hanuman! I have hidden a treasure in our farmland. You search and share the treasure among you”.

The three sons were overjoyed. They went to the fields and started searched. Ram! Laxman! and Hanuman! I have hidden a treasure in our farmland. You search and share the treasure among you”.

The three sons were overjoyed. They went to the fields and started searched. Ram started from one end, Laxman from the other end and Hanuman from the centre. They turned each and every nook of the field. But they could not find anything.

Gopal said to his sons, “Dear boys! Now that you have tooled and conditioned the field,, why not we sow a crop!” Off went the sons to sow the crops.

Days passed. Soon, the crops grew lushy green. The sons were delighted. The father said, “Sons, this is the real treasure I wanted you to share”.

MORAL: FRUITS OF HARDWORD ARE ALWAYS SWEET.

 

THE HORSE WHO WANTED SAFETY

 

On the lawns of a forest grazed a handsome horse. He was a fast runner. But, he was often frightened by a tiger who passed by now and then.

One day, as the horse was grazing, a man passed that way. He asked the man, “Sir, aren’t you afraid of lions and tigers?” The man laughed aloud and answered, “Me! Look what I have”. He showed a rifle and continued, “Should any animal approach me I can shoot and kill him”.

The horse asked, “If that is so, sir, will you help me? The man replied, “Of course I will. What will you do for me?” The horse said, “Anything you want of me, I will do”.

The horse told the man about the tiger. The man said, “If you let me saddle you and take you with me, you need not be afraid of the tiger”. The horse was too happy.

The man led the horse into town and left him in a stable. Now, the horse thought to himself, “I am indeed safe here, but, I don’t have any freedom”.

MORAL: THE OTHER SHORE ALWAYS LOOKS GREENER.

 

THE CAPSELLER’S WISDOM

 

 

There was a cap seller who sold beautiful caps. He carried boxful of caps and moved from town to town selling caps.

Once, after selling some caps in a village, the cap seller was crossing a patch of groove. He felt too tired to proceed. So, he kept his cap box down and lied down under a shady tree.

In this groove lived some monkeys. They found the cap box and saw the seller wearing a cap. Down they came and picked a cap each. They started playing with the caps.

After some time, the cap seller heard the clattering noise and woke up to see the empty box. He looked up and saw the caps on the monkeys.

He tried many tricks to get back the caps, but in vain. At last in utter disgust he threw down his cap. What a surprise! The next moment all the caps were flying down.

The cap seller picked up the caps and walked away happily.

MORAL: UNEXPECTED ACTIONS TOO CAN PAY YOU

 

THE SELFISH BATS

 

 

A long time ago there was a fighting between the birds and animals. All birds fought with their might against the animals and the animals gave fierce battle. The bats were indecisive. They thought “We can join with the birds because we can fly. We can also join with the animals because we don’t lay eggs. Anyway, we will wait and join with the winners”.

At one stage the birds were having a winning hand. The bats thought, “This is the time, we’ll join with the birds”. But lo! The times changed. The hands o hands of the animals began to be more powerful. The bats shifted support to animals.

After  a long time the battle ended and the birds and animals came to compromise. But, both now neglected the bats.

And, Bats began to live in holes. They came out only during dusk because that was the time when birds and animals would have returned home and the night animals and birds would not have left their homes.

 MORAL: A FAIR WEATHER FRIEND IS OFTEN ILL ACCEPTED

THE GRATEFUL MOUSE

 

 

There lived a lion in a forest bush. Near the bush lived a mouse in a hole.

It was a hot day and the lion was taking rest after a long hunt. The playful mouse came out of his hole and started climbing up and down the lion. This running of the mouse tickled the lion and he woke up.

He caught the mouse and said, “You silly fool! You disturbed my sleep. I am going to kill you”.

The mouse looked at the lion with plea in his face and replied humbly, “Oh king of the forest! Please do have mercy on this small creature! I have committed a mistake. If you excuse and pardon me I will surely repay you in future”.

 

 

The lion was astonished by the bravery of the mouse and he let the mouse free. Days passed.

Once, when the lion went for a hunt he got trapped in a net. He started roaring. The mouse heard the roaring and thought, “The lion must have been trapped. I should help him”.

He ran to the net and started gnawing. Soon, the net gave way and the lion got free.

MORAL: EVEN TINY THINGS CAN BE OF IMMENSE HELP.

GOATS ACROSS A BRIDGE

 

 

There was a lushly meadow. Across this meadow ran a brooke. There was a bridge to connect the two parts of the meadow. Animals used to cross this bridge to graze on both the parts of the meadow.

Once, two goats who were grazing on either sides of the river wanted to cross the bridge at a time. But, the bridge was narrow to hold only one goat. Both the goats were so adamant to cross at the same time. This led to a quarrel among them. At the end both fell into the brooke and got drowned.

There were two other goats who wanted to cross the bridge. They were both understanding in nature. They were willing to adjust. One goat squatted on the bridge while the other crossed over this goat. After that goat had crosses, the goat which had squatted got up and walked across the bridge. Thus, both the goats crossed the bridge.

MORAL: PRIDE LEADS TO FALL. PATIENCE PAYS

THE TWO POTS

 

 

It was a cyclonic season. There was flood everywhere. Many houses drowned in the flood. There was a copper pot and an earthen pot in a house. Both these were washed away in the flood to a river.

The copper pot called the earthen pot and said, “My friend, you are made of mud. You are so weak. Please, come near me. I’ll save you”.

The earthen pot replied, “Thank you for your kindness, my friend. But, let me swim to the bank by myself”. The earthen pot began to swim towards the bank of the river.

As the copper pot tried to swim, water got filled into the pot and the copper pot drowned. But earthen pot reached the bank.

MORAL: WEAKNESS IS NOT IN APPEARANCE.

 

THE CAT AND THE FOX

 

 

A cat and a fox were once discussing about hounds.

The cat said, “I hate hounds. They are very nasty animals. They hunt and kill us”. The fox said, “I hate hounds more than you”.

The cat said, “I hate hounds. They are very nasty animals. They hunt and kill us”. The fox said, “I hate hounds more than you”.

The cat asked :How do you save yourself from hounds?” The fox replied, “There are many tricks to get away from hounds”.

The cat asked “Can you say what your tricks are?”

“They are very simple”, said the fox. He added, I can hide behind thick pushes. I can run along thorny hedges. I can hide in burrows. There are many more such tricks”.

Now it was the turn of the fox to ask the cat about her tricks.

The fox asked, “How many tricks do you know?” The cat replied, “I know just one trick”. The fox sneered, “Oh! How sad! You know only one trick? What is your trick”.

The cat was about to answer. But, she found a flock of hounds fast approach. She said, “I am going to do it now,  because, the hounds are coming”.

Saying these words, the cat ran up a nearby tree safe from the hounds. The fox tried all his tricks but the hounds out beat him “My one trick is better than all his trick”, said the cat to herself.

MORAL: IT IS BETTER TO BE A MASTER OF ONE ART THAN TO BE A JACK OF MANY ARTS.

SATAN IN DISGUISE

 

 

There lived an old tiger in a forest. He could not hunt animals as he used to do when he was young. It was becoming difficult to get prey. The tiger thought, “I have lost my strength and speed of my youth. Unless I find some trick, I will starve to death”.

After long thoughts, the tiger struck upon a plan. He began to keep on saying “I am very old. I have turned into a vegetarian”. “I have become a sanyasi”, “I will not hunt animals” and so on.

Soon these words spread in the jungle. Innocent animals came to pay respect to the tiger pounced on animals as and when they came to his cave.

These words fell in the ears of a fox. The fox began to think, “Can a tiger become a saint?” He was eager to find the truth.

Stealthily, the fox approached the tiger’s cave. He minutely and carefully examined the fool prints of animal. He found all foot prints going towards the cave but not returning from the cave. He declared throughout the forest “The tiger is a cheat. Don’t go to the cave”.

The tiger had to starve to death.

MORAL: SATANIC WORDS ARE NOT TO BE BELIEVED

 

 

THE FOOLISH WOLF’S FLUTE

 

 

There was a large flock of sheep grazing on a lawn. A wolf stealthily stole a lamb. The lamb tried hard to get away but it could not. As the wolf was about to kill the lamb, an idea struck in the lamb’s mind.

The lamb pleaded “Oh wolf! I know that I am going to die now. Will you be kind enough to fulfil my last wish?”

The wolf asked, “What is your last wish?” The lamb replied, “I am fond of music. Before I die, I wish to hear you play the flute”. The wolf agreed and played the flute.

When the wolf stopped the lamb said, “Oh! What beautiful music! Will you play a bit louder, please? You play far better than my shepherd”.

The wolf was pleased by the flattery and started to play louder. In the mean time, the shepherd and the dogs who were in search of the missing lamb heard sound. They came running and caught hold of e wolf. The lamb happily trotted away to his flock.

MORAL: IF THERE IS A WILL THERE IS A WAY.

 

THE HARE AND THE LION

 

 

A lion was getting fed up of hunting. He called all animals and passed an order, “Everyday one of you should come by yourself as my prey”. All animals started to  obey this order.

It was the hare’s day. The hare was very sad. As he was going to the lion’s den, he came across an old well. He looked  into it, it was very deep and dangerous. A plan came to his mind.

The lion was very angry that no animal had come. The hare slowly came towards the lion. The lion roared “Why are you late?” The hare humbly replied, “On my way another lion chased me. I got away with much difficulty to give my life to you, Your Majesty”.

The lion was pleased with the hare, but the thought  of another lion in the jungle made him angry. The lion roared “Do you know where he lives?” The hare replied “Yes, Sir. Please come with me”.

The hare took the lion to the old well. He said “Sir, that lion lives in this well”. The lion peeped into the well.  He mistook his reflection for another lion. He roared and there was an echo. He thought  that the other lion was roaring too, and jumped into the well. That was the end of the lion.

MORAL: WISDOM CAN WIN MIGHT

 

THE CROOKED TREE

 

 

It was a dense forest. All trees were straight and tall. Their trunks were broad and shapely. But, there was one tree which was having a crooked, shapeless trunk.

The crooked tree was sad. He thought “How ugly I am! All others are straight and shapely. I alone am crooked.”

One day a wood-cutter came there. He looked around and said “I will cut all trees here except that crooked tree. That is of no use to me”. He cut way all other trees.

Now, the crooked tree was happy for its crookedness.

MORAL: BE HAPPY WITH WHAT YOU ARE.

 

THE PEACOCK AND THE CRANE

 

  

There was a peacock who often boasted about his beauty. Everyday he walked to the banks of a large lake and look at his own reflections and say “Oh! What a beautiful bird I am! Look at my colourful tail!”

Once the peacock saw a crane on the banks of the lake. He said with a sneer to the crane, “What a colourless bird you are! You have no beautiful and colourful feathers like mine”.

The crane replied, “Of course! I don’t have beautiful feathers. But, my feathers can make me fly across the lake. Can you feathers can make me fly across the lake. Can you feathers make you fly?” There was no reply from the peacock.

 

MORAL: IT IS BETTER TO BE USEFUL THAN TO BE BEAUTIFUL

THE WISE JUDGE

 

 



Two women were brought before King Solomon. Both these women had a quarrel over a single baby. Each woman was saying that she was the baby’s mother.

One lady said, “Oh king! I am the baby’s mother”.

The other lady said, “Oh king! Believe her not. She is not the mother. I am the mother of the child”.

King Solomon was confused. After a deep thought he said, “Cut the baby into two and give one part to each mother”. One woman was silent. The other cried “Oh king! Let she have the baby. Let the baby live”. The king gave the child to the crying mother.

MORAL: TRUTH ALWAYS TRIUMPHS.

 

SHEBA AND THE MONKEY

  

 

Sheba, the queen of jungle, was very fond of babies. Once, she announced, “I order all animals to come to my palace with their babies. The animal who has the most beautiful baby will be awarded a prize.”

All animals came to sheba’s palace with their babies. Sheba was inspecting. She came to a monkey and said “What an ugly baby! You will not get the prize.

The baby monkey started to cry. The monkey said. “What a foolish queen she is! Who wants her prize! You are my jewel, my dear child. You are more precious than anything the sky”.

 

MORAL: MOTHER’S LOVE HAS NO EQUALS.

 

THE WOLF IN SHEEPSKIN 

 

 

 

A wolf was in the countryside. He found a sheepskin spread on the ground. He thought, “I wear this skin and get mixed up in a flock. The shepherd will not suspect me. At night, I will kill a stout sheep and then take him away with me”.

The wolf covered himself with the sheepskin and gets mixed up with a flock of sheep. As he had expected, the shepherd took him for a sheep and shut him also in the pen. The wolf was waiting for night.

The shepherd had a feast that night. He sent a servant to fetch a fat sheep. The servant saw the sheepskin covered wolf by chance. That night, the quests had the wolf for supper.

 

MORAL:EVIL THOUGHTS HAVE EVIL ENDS

 

THE COWS AND THE LION

 

 

There was a village near a jungle. The village cows used to go up to the jungle in search of food.

In the forest there lived a wicked lion. He used to kill a cow now and then and eat her. This was happening for quite some time. The cows were frightened.

One day, all the cows held a meeting. An old cow said, “Listen everybody, the lion eats one of us only because we go into jungle separately. From now on we will all be together”.

From then on, all the cows went into the jungle in a herd. When they heard or saw the lion, all of them unitedly moo and chased him away.

 

 

MORAL: DIVIDED WE FALL, UNITED WE STAND.

HURTFUL TRUTH

Jupiter, he chief of Gods was to celebrate his marriage function in a grand manner. So he invited all the animals living on land and in water to participate in the grand feast.

When the day came all the animals assembled to attend the feast but the tortoise didn’t come. Jupiter was much worried and surprised at the absence of the tortoise.

After a few days, Jupiter came across the tortoise. He asked him, “How are you? Why were you not present at the feast held in honour of my marriage?”

 

 

 

“I am a stay-at-home type of animal and I never care to attend petty affairs. So why should I trouble myself when there is no place like home?” boasted the tortoise.

No doubt, what the tortoise said was true. But the way it said was very hurtful. It hurt the chief of Gods and so he uttered a curse on the tortoise.

“You will always have your home on your back. You will never unload it.”

That is why every tortoise is carrying its home on its back.

 

MORAL: SPEAK THE TRUTH WITHOUT HURTING OTHERS.

 

FACE THE MYSTERY WITHOUT FEAR

 

 

A boy was playing near some hedges laden with berries that looked juicy and attractive. The boy’s mouth watered and he licked his lips.

So he began to gather the berries. He thought of enjoying them after collecting some more berries. Just then, he was stung by a sharp nettle. Soon a rash appeared on his hand and he suffered from acute pain.

 

At once the boy left the collection of berries in the ground and ran home to his mother and narrated to her everything tearfully. Sobbing hard he said, “Mom, I touched them lightly but they stung me hard.”

The mother smiled and caressing him said, “They stung you because you touched them lightly. If you had held them firmly they won’t have hurt you. Dare to face anything even in your mysterious situation.”

 

MORAL: WITHOUTCROSSING THE WORST SITUATIONS, NO ONE CAN TOUCH THE BEST CORNERS OF LIFE.

 

MISERABLE FRIENDSHIP

 

 

A mouse was living in a hole near a pool. A frog who was living in the pool came out often to bask in the sun. Soon the mouse and frog became thick friends. I t was the starting of something tragic. Because, the frog had his home in water while the mouse on land. One day the frog said to the mouse, “Let’s bind ourselves together with a string so that we may not be separated.”

“Oh! What a splendid idea” replied the mouse, without thinking.

 

 

So, both the friends tied themselves together leg-to-leg. Though on land, it went quite well, yet in the pool, e frog swam delightfully, dragging the mouse with him. Soon the mouse was drowned and his dead body floated on the surface of the pool.

A kite roaming in the sky saw the dead mouse. It swooped down to carry if off. But it was miserable that the frog as well up to be the kite’s meal.

MORAL: UNWISE START LEADS TO MISERABLE END.

 

 

 

BEAUTY MAKES DECEPTIVE, UGLY MAKES WORTHFUL

 

 

Once upon a time in a thick forest a hefty stag went to a pool to quench his thirst. The water was so clear that the stag could see his reflection quite vividly.

On seeing his antler’s image in the water the stag felt very proud of their beauty. But suddenly on seeing his fore-legs being very slender the stag felt very sad without thinking that they gave him his high speed.

 

 

 

After quenching his thirst, the stag raised his head and was shocked to see a lion nearing him. So, he took to his heels and the lion was left far behind.

But unluckily, the stag’s antlers were caught in a thick bush. He tried his best to relieve from it but he could not. The stag now realised his mistake of  praising his horns and condemning his legs. But it was too late. The lion came there, caught him and tore it pieces.

 

MORAL: APPEARANCE IS OFTEN DECEPTIVE.

EXPECTATION LEADSTO DISAPPOINTMENT

 

 

Mercury, the god of skill, once got an idea to find out how he was respected by the people. He became curious to know how men estimated his worth when compared to other gods.

So, Mercury disguised himself as a human-being and came to the earth. Roaming about, Mercury saw a sculptor who was famous for making idols. He had done the idols of various gods including Mercury.  On seeing his idol, Mercury asked the sculptor, “What is the price for the idol of Jupiter?”

 

The sculptor replied, “One Pound.”

“For the idol of Juno?” asked Mercury.

“Half a pound” said the sculptor. With a great expectation Mercury asked, “And how much for the idol of Mercury?” The sculptor without any heritation replied, “Oh that! I hall give t free to those who buy the other two.” Mercury who did not expected this disappeared quickly.

 

MORAL: DON’T BOAST UPON YOURSELF. ONLY OTHERS CAN TELL YOUR WORTH.

 

BE EVER-READY AGAINST YOUR ENEMIES

 

 

One day a fox was roaming about in a thick forest in search of food. Suddenly he caught sight of a wild boar rubbing his tusks against the trunk of a tree.

The fox looked around and it could not see any danger for the boar anywhere. Despite his wisdom, he couldn’t follow why, after all, the boar was doing that.

Unable to understand, the fox went to the boar and asked, “Why are you doing that, Mr.Boar?”

 

The boar replied, “It is not wise to dig a well when a fire has broken out. We are living in a forest where enemies are there at every step. Who knows when I’ll have to face an enemy and use my tusks against him? If I don’t do it now, I may not get any time to sharpen my tusks when I need them most.” Saying s the boar went away.

 

MORAL: ALWAYS  PREPARED  THE WORST THAT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME.

 

THE BLAMING SAILOR

 

 

Once upon a time a ship was in a violent storm. It wrecked the ship and the waves casted the men on the sands of the shore. Among them there was a sailor. When he saw that he was casted ashore by the sea he cursed the sea. He said, “The sea is a cheat indeed. It attracts men with its cool and calm waters. But once they are in its grips, it turn furious and destroys them.”

The sea on hearing the sailor’s reproach felt pinched. But it didn’t want the sailor to be caught in trouble. So, it came in the form of a beautiful damsel in front of the sailor.

 

“Who are you, O lovely lady?” asked the sailor. “I am the sea and I am indeed so lovely as you see me now. You are cursing me for the wreck. But it isn’t just.”

“What is just then?” asked the sailor. The sea said, “That wreck was caused by cruel winds which created stormy waves in my calm waters.” The sailor couldn’t say anything, but felt sorry for blaming the sea.

 

MORAL:DON’T BLAME OTHERS WITHOUT KNOWING JUSTICE.