The King And The Foolish Monkey

Long ago in ancient India there lived a king name Vikrama. The King was quite fond of traveling. King Vikrama never visited his own country; instead he went to other countries. One day, he ordered his army to move out for a holiday to some distant country. The King and his soldiers walked for the whole morning in the forest. After this, they went into the camp to take some rest. 

The King and his soldiers were tired so they ate food. The king then ordered his servants to feed the horses and so the horses were fed with peas. A foolish Monkey, was watching the king and his soldiers from a distance. When he saw peas offered to the horses, he jumped down from the tree at once to get some of them. He quickly gobbled some peas, also filled his mouth and hands with them. Then, he went up the tree and sat down to eat the peas. 

The foolish monkey climbed the tree and sat there on a branch to eat peas; one pea fell from his hand to the ground. The greedy monkey dropped all the peas he had in his hands and ran down to look for the lost pea at once. Unluckily, he could not find that one pea. He climbed up the tree again and sat at rest. He was looking very sad. He said to himself, “To get one pea, I threw away what I had”. 

The King who was observing the monkey from his camp said to himself, “I would not be like this foolish monkey, who lost much to gain a little. I will go back to my own country and enjoy what I have”. Thus, the King and his army marched back to their own country.

Lesson For A Donkey

Long ago in a small village in India, there lived a Washerman. He had two pets one was the donkey and the other was the dog. The Dog used to guard his master’s house and escort him wherever he went. The Donkey used to carry stack of clothes on his back to and fro the river. Both of them slept in the Washer man’s courtyard. Like this, they were leading their life under the kind shelter of the Washerman. 

One night, when everyone was sleeping, a thief managed to enter into the Washer man's house. Even after seeing the thief, the Dog didn’t bark. When the Donkey saw the thief entering the house, he asked the Dog, “Dear Friend, Don’t you see that a thief had entered the house? Why don’t you bark to awake our master?” 

The Dog answered, “Mind your own business. Don't talk to me about my duties; I know how to guard my master. I have been guarding this house for long, but master doesn’t care for me. From the past few days, he doesn’t even feed me properly. He doesn’t know my worth. I won’t wake him up. When this thief will steal valuables from his house then only he will recognize my importance”.

The Donkey irritatingly said, “You fool! This is not the time to complain. This is the time for action. Be fast and do something to wake up the master”. The Dog replied angrily, “No. As he doesn’t care for me even I wont care for him”. The Donkey shouted, “O wicked creature, you are full of ingratitude towards your master. You are ignoring your duty just when you're required most. Fine, I will do your duty and wake him up”. 

Hence, the Donkey brayed at the top of his voice which made the Washerman to wake up. The thief quickly ran away from the scene. The Washerman looked around but could find anyone. He got furious at the Donkey who had disturbed his sleep. The Washerman thrashed the poor Donkey with a stick. The Donkey was left with pain for months.

The Foolish Traveller

Long ago, there lived a Tiger in a dense forest in India. After many years, the tiger became too old to hunt. One day, while the Tiger was walking by the side of a lake a gold bangle came across his sight. Quickly he picked up the bangle and thought that he could use it as an allure to catch someone. As he was under the thought process, the old tiger saw a traveller walking through the opposite side of the lake. 

The Tiger instantly thought to himself, “What a delicious meal he would make?” He planned a scheme to attract the traveler. He held the bangle in his paw making it visible to the traveler and said, “Would you like to take this gold bangle. I don’t require it”. At once, the traveller wanted to take the bangle, but he hesitated to go near the Tiger. He knew that it was risky, yet he sought the Gold Bangle. He planned to be cautious, so he asked the Tiger, “How can I believe you? I know you are a beast and would kill me”.

The Clever Tiger innocently said, “Listen Traveler, in my youth, I was wicked unquestionably, but now I have changed myself. With the advice of a Saint, I have left all evil. Now I am all alone in this world and have engaged myself in kind deeds. Moreover, I have grown old. I have no teeth and my claws are blunt. So, there is no need to fear from me”. The traveller was taken in by this smart talk and his love for gold soon overcame his fear of the Tiger. He jumped into the lake to wade across the Tiger. 

But as per the plan of the Tiger, he got trapped in the marsh. On seeing this, the Tiger consoled him and said, “Oh! You need not worry. I’ll help you”. Gradually he came towards the traveler and seized him. As the traveller was being dragged out, onto the bank, he thought to himself, “Oh! This beast's talk of saintliness took me in totally. A beast is always a beast. If only I had not let my greed overcome my reason, I could be alive”. However, it was too late; the Tiger killed the traveller and ate him up. Like this, the traveler became victim of greed and Tiger was successful in his evil plan.

Who Will Bell The Cat

Once upon a time, there lived many mice in a grocer’s shop. There in the shop, they ate delicious wheat and rice, pulses and nuts, bread and butter and biscuits. They grew fat day by day.

One day, the grocer thought about the heavy losses that he had to suffer because of the menace of the mice. This angered him so much, that the next day, he brought a big fat cat to his shop.

The big fat cat began to catch and kill the fat mice everyday.

The mice became worried. They called a meeting to discuss the problem.

"Let's get rid of this cruel fat cat," the leader of the mice said.

"But how?" the other mice asked.

All of them began to think. Then one mouse said, "We should tie a bell round the neck of the fat cat. So, whenever she would move towards us, the bell would ring and we will run into our holes immediately."

All the mice became very happy to hear this. They began dancing with joy. But their joy was short-lived. An old and experienced mouse interrupted their merry-making and shouted, “Fools, stop it and tell me, who’ll bell the cat?”

No mouse had the answer to this big question.

Moral Of The Story: Making a plan is one thing, but executing it is something entirely different.

Why The Donkey Has No Brain

Once there lived a Washer Man in a small town. He had a donkey who used to carry his load of clothes to the nearby pond for washing. The Washer Man used to take care of his donkey very well but the donkey was not satisfied. One day the greedy donkey decided to run away from his master so he started his journey towards the near-by jungle. The town was situated near a forest. There, in the forest lived king lion and his minister, a cunning fox. Once, king lion was badly wounded in a fierce fighting with an elephant. He became unable to hunt for his prey. So he asked his minister, the cunning fox to bring some good meal for him. As the fox used to share the prey, which king lion hunted for his meals, he at once, set out to search for food.

While wandering here and there, the fox met the donkey. The donkey looked foolish, nervous and hungry. The fox asked him, "Hello! you seem to be new to this forest. Where do you actually come from?"I come from the nearby town", said the donkey. "My master, the Washer Man makes me work all day, but doesn't feed me properly. So I've left my home to find a better place to live in and eat properly." "I see", said the fox. "Don't worry. I'm a senior minister in this forest kingdom. Come with me to the king's palace. Our king needs a bodyguard, who has the experience of town life. You will live in the palace and eat as you like ' " 

The donkey was very happy to listen to all this from the minister fox of the forest kingdom. He proceeded with him to the royal palace. Seeing a,donkey before him the king lion became highly impatient and pounced upon him immediately. But on account of constant hunger, the king lion had gone weak. He couldn't overpower the donkey. The donkey freed himself and ran for his life. "Your Majesty," said the fox to king lion, "you shouldn't have acted in such a haste. You have scared your prey." 

"I'm sorry," said king lion. "Try to bring him here once again." The hungry fox went again to the donkey and said to him, "What a funny fellow you are. Why did you run away like that?" "Why shouldn't I"? asked the donkey. 

"My dear," said the fox, "you were being tested for your alertness as a royal bodyguard of the king. Thank god, you showed a quick reflex, otherwise, you would have been rejected for the job." The donkey believed what the fox said and accompanied him once again to the palace. There at the palace the king lion was hiding behind the thick bushes. As soon as the donkey crossed the bushes, the lion pounced upon him and killed him instantly. 

Just when the lion was about to begin eating the donkey, the fox said, "Your Majesty, you're going to have your meals after quite a few days. It's better you first take a bath and offer prayers." "Hmm!" the king lion roared and said to the fox, "Stay here. I'll be back right now." The lion went to take bath and offer his prayers. In the meantime, the fox ate the donkey's brain. When the king lion came back to eat his prey, he was surprised to see that the donkey's brain was missing. 

"Where is this donkey's brain?" The king lion roared in great anger. "The donkey's brain!" the fox expressed his surprise. "Your Majesty, you're fully aware that donkeys don't have a brain. Had that donkey ever had a brain, he would never have come with me to this palace for the second time." "Yes," agreed king lion, "that's the point." And he started eating happily the rest of the flesh of the dead donkey.

Moral Of The Story: Sometimes a cunning argument outwits normal intelligence.

The Stag And His Antlers

Once upon a time, there lived a stag in a dense forest. One day, he went to a nearby lake to quench his thirst. There he saw his reflection in the water and thought to himself; 'I've got beautiful antlers, but my legs are ugly. I can't understand, why God has given me such thin legs.'

Just then, he heard a lion roaring at a short distance. The stag knew that if he stayed there, the lion will kill him. So he started running. The lion too started chasing the stag.

The stag ran faster and faster and soon he outdistanced the lion. But alas! all of a sudden, the antlers of the stag got entangled with the overhanging branches. of a tree. The stag struggled hard, but could not free his antlers from the branches. He thought to himself, 'My thin legs helped me get away from the danger, but my antlers proved dangerous for me.’

By that time the lion had already reached there. He pounced upon the stag and killed him.

Moral Of The Story:A beautiful thing might not be useful also.

The Foolish Camel Betrayed By The Wicked Crow

Once upon a time, a lion lived in a forest as the king of that forest. The lion was served by a crow, a jackal and a tiger. One day, when they were roaming in the forest, they saw a huge camel in the forest. Since, the lion was seeing that camel for the first time, he asked his friends to go and bring that camel to him.

When the camel was brought in front of him, the lion asked camel, "You seem to be new in our forest. Who are you? and why have you come here?" The camel told his story about how he came came to that forest as a part of caravan from the nearby village and how he had lost his way. 

The lion felt very sad for that camel, but the cunning crow whispered "King, if we kill this animal, we all can eat him for several days", into the lion's ears. The lion replied, "No. We should not kill someone who had come seeking for hostage. Killing a guest is one of the worst sins in this world." Then the lion ordered his friends to include that camel also to be a member in their team.

After few days, one day the lion had a fight with an elephant, in which he was severely injured. The lion couldn't move anywhere away from its den. So he ordered his friends to go and find a good prey for its meal. But the friends could not find any animal. After coming back to the den, the camel again told the lion that if they kill that camel they could have food for many more days.

The lion was not willing to kill the innocent camel. This time the cunning crow thought about a wicked plan to trap the camel. He told the lion, "Dear king, it is a sin only if we kill the guest. If the camel himself offers his life for you, then it is not a sin at all." The lion nodded his head in acceptance to what the crow said.

The crow immediately, in a loud voice, said, "Since our king is starving without food. I request our king to have me for his meal. The one who lays his life for the lord will go to heaven". The camel believed the words of the crow were truth. He came forward and said, "Dear lord, the crow is a very small creature. Please take me as your meal. I will be very glad to give my life for you"

The tiger and the jackal, who already known about the crow's plan, were waiting for this moment. They immediately jumped over and killed the innocent camel. Poor camel died because he believed the wicked crow.

Moral Of The Story: Be careful about wicked people.

The Clever Frog

Long, long ago, there lived two fish and a frog with his wife in a pond. All four were great friends.

One day, when the friends were talking to each other on the edge of the pond, some fishermen were walking on the banks of the river. They were carrying baskets and nets with them. They saw the pond and said to one another, "This pond seems to be full of fish. Let's come tomorrow and catch them."

When the fishermen left the place, the frog said to the fish, "Friends, you also heard what the fishermen said. Let's leave this pond immediately and go to some other pond to save our lives."

But the two fish laughed at the frog and said, "Well, as far as I think the fishermen will never come back to catch us. But even if they do, they'll never be able to trap us, because we're expert swimmers and we know how to save ourselves."

But the frog was not convinced with the views of the fish. He said, “But I find myself not so expert in swimming. I'll definitely leave this pond along with my family by this evening, to settle down in some other pond or well."

The same evening, the frog abandoned the pond along with his family and went to a nearby pond. The next day, the fishermen came to the pond. They cast their nets and caught all the fishes. The two fish tried to escape, but in vain. They also got trapped in the net and died.

When the frog and his wife saw the fishermen returning with a lot of fish in their net, they became very sad. They looked at the net with tearful eyes as they saw that their two friends, were dead.

Moral Of The Story: One should not turn a deaf ear to a friend's advice.

The Farmers Wife And The Mongoose

Once upon a time there lived a farmer and his wife. They had a new born son. The farmer's wife wanted to have a pet animal to protect the child which would also be a companion to the child. They debated and decided upon a mongoose. So they brought a mongoose and started rearing it.

A couple of months later, one day the farmer and his wife wanted to go out of the house leaving the child at home. The farmer thought that the mongoose would take care of the child while they were away. So they left the mongoose and the child at home and went out.

The farmer's wife returned earlier and on returning home found that the mouth of the mongoose was stained with blood and she immediately inferred that the mongoose had killed the child. In anger she threw a heavy box on the mongoose and the mongoose was hurt badly. She then rushed inside to see what happened to the child. She was surprised to find a dead snake lying in the room. She could infer that that the mongoose had saved the child's life by killing the snake. Realising the mistake she went out of the room only to find the mongoose dead on the floor. She cried out loud at her hasty action.

Moral Of The Story: One should avoid taking hasty decisions in sensitive matters.

Greediness Killed The Jackal

Once upon a time there lived a lazy jackal. Also in the hills there lived a hill man and a wild boar. Once when the hill man went to hunt, he saw the wold boar. He took a sharp aim with his arrow and stuck the boar. But the boar was only injured and it attacked the hill man and he died on the spot. But the boar also collapsed due to the injury and died.

The jackal happened to cross the area where the dead bodies lied. When the jackal saw the bodies he decided to eat them slowly. But he was excessively greedy and first wanted to eat the bowstring, before the other bodies. As he tried to eat the bowstring which was tightly attached to the bow, it snapped and the end of the string pierced the roof of its mouth and it stuck a big injury to the jackal and the jackal died on the spot.

Moral Of The Story: Too much of greed is harmful. Greed can only destroy a person.

The Doves And The Hunter

Once upon a time, there was a flock of doves that flew in search of food led by their king. One day, they found some rice scattered beneath a banyan tree. So all the doves landed and began to eat. Suddenly a net fell over them and they were all trapped. They saw a hunter approaching them carrying a huge club. The doves desperately fluttered their wings trying to get out, but to no avail. 

The king got an idea. He advised all the doves to fly up together carrying the net with them. He said that there was strength in unity. So each dove picked up a portion of the net and together they flew off carrying the net with them. The hunter looked up in astonishment. He tried to follow them, but they were flying high over hills and valleys. They flew to a hill near a city of temples where there lived a mouse who could help them. He was a faithful friend of the dove king. 

When the mouse heard the loud noise of their approach, he went into hiding. The dove king gently called out to him and then the mouse was happy to see him. The dove king explained that they had been caught in a trap and needed the mouse's help to chew the net with his teeth and set them free. The mouse agreed saying that he would set the king free first. The king insisted that he first free his subjects and the king last. The mouse understood the king’s feelings and compiled with his wishes. He began to cut the net and one by one all the doves were freed including the dove king.

They all thanked the mouse and flew away together united in their strength.

Moral Of The Story: Unity is Strength.

The Monkey And The Red Berries

Long, long ago, there lived a troop of monkeys in a hilly region. When winter fell, the monkeys began to shiver with cold. They had no place to protect themselves. One of the monkeys suggested that they should go to the nearby village and take shelter in the houses of human beings till the winter lasted. His suggestion was accepted by all the monkeys. All of them shifted from the hilly region to an adjoining village.

But, next morning, when the villagers saw a big troop of monkeys, all of a sudden, jumping from branches to branches and on their rooftops, they greeted them by pelting stones and showing sticks.

Thus, the monkeys, instead of getting shelter in the village, were compelled to retreat to the hilly region and face the chilly winds and the snowfalls once again.

Then, ultimately one of the monkeys thought of making a fire to warm up the surrounding. He had seen the villagers sitting around fire and warming up themselves. There were some red berry trees around. The monkeys mistook them for burning coals. They plucked those berries and placed them under a pile of dry sticks. They tried to make a fire by blowing into the pile. But there was no fire. The monkeys became sad.

There were also a few birds who lived in the same tree where the monkeys lived. Seeing the plight of the monkeys, one of the birds said to them, "What a fool you are, trying to make fire from those red fruits. Have the fruits ever made fire? Why don't all of you take shelter in the nearby cave?"

When the monkeys saw the birds advising them they became red with rage. One old monkey said, "You dare call us fools. Why do you poke your nose into our affairs?"

But the little bird kept on chirping and advising the monkeys. Then one huge monkey caught hold of the neck of that noisy bird and dashed it against the tree trunk. The bird died on the spot.

Moral Of The Story: It's no use advising idiots. Instead, it might create more troubles

The Clever Merchant

Once upon a time there lived a clever merchant in a village. He was very kind and honest. Once he had to attend a marriage in the next town. He had some gold ornaments with him. He was afraid to leave them at home. So, he went to his friend and said, “Dear friend, I am going to attend a marriage in another village. Please keep these ornaments with you. As you know, I cannot leave them at home as there is fear of robbers.I will collect them once I return from there.” His friend said, “Sure my friend. I will do anything for you.”

The merchant went to attend the wedding. He returned to his friend after one week. His friend received him warmly. They chatted for a while. When it was time to leave, the merchant said, “ As I have come back, I would like to take my gold ornaments back with me. Please let me have them.” His friend said” I am so sorry to say my dear friend. But your gold ornaments have been eaten away by the rats. I am helpless as I cannot return them to you now.” The merchant immediately understood that his friend wants to cheat him. He said coolly, “No problem my friend. What can you do for that. It is after all not your fault.” His friend was very surprised to listen to this as he thought that there would be arguments regarding this issue.He thought that he could fool his friend.

While leaving, the merchant called his friend’s son and said, “come dear son, I will get some sweets for you.” Saying this he took his friend’s son along with him. He went to his another friend’s house and told him the whole story. He asked his friend to keep the kid with him, so that he can teach a lesson to his friend.

He went back to his friend. He was surprised to see that his son was not with him. When he enquired, the merchant said” I am so sorry my dear friend, when we were coming out of the sweet shop, a crow came and took your son away. I could not catch the crow.” His friend was very angry. He said,” What nonsense are you talking? How can a crow take my son.” The merchant said, “ but this is what has exactly happened.” They both started quarreling.

The merchant and his friend went to the village head to solve their issue. The merchant’s friend said, “Sir, this person has taken my son to buy him some sweets. He says that my son has been carried away by a crow. Please give me justice and let me have my son back from this liar.”

The village head said to the merchant “How can a crow take away a kid? Are you mad?”

The merchant said “Dear sir, when rats can eat my gold ornaments, a crow can definitely take away a kid.” Saying so, he told his story to the village head. The village head asked the merchant’s friend to return his gold ornaments and warned him not to cheat anyone.

Once the merchant got back his gold ornaments, he told about his son. So the merchant taught his friend a lesson.

Moral Of The Story: Tit For Tat.

The Camel With A Bell Round His Neck

There lived a cart-maker who was not doing well in his business. Day by day, he was becoming poorer. Seeing no way out, the cart-maker decided to settle in some other town and try his luck there. 

While the cart-maker and his family were travelling through a jungle, they saw a female camel suffering from labour pains. Seeing the female camel whining in pain, the cart-maker's wife pleaded with him to detain their journey for some time so that the poor animal could be rendered some help at this vital hour. The cart-maker 's family stopped there and his wife began nursing the female camel. Soon, she gave birth to a baby camel.The cart-maker and his wife took great care of her and brought her to his house along with her baby Gradually the baby camel grew to full size. 

Fondly, the cart-maker tied a bell round the neck of the young camel. Now whenever, the young camel would move around, the bell would jingle. The cart-maker would sell the milk of the female camel and earn a lot of money. Soon he purchased one more female camel. The fortune smiled on the cart-maker and soon he became the owner of a number of camels. 

All the camels used to go together to graze in a nearby jungle. The young camel was in a habit of trailing behind other camels.This was of great concern to other camels. They advised the young camel not to stay behind. But the young camel didn't pay heed to their advice. 

One day, the camels were grazing in a nearby jungle. A lion heard the jingling of the bells. He followed the sound and saw a caravan of young camels grazing. He noticed one camel with a bell round his neck, strayed behind and the camel was grazing the leaves. The other camels fulfilled their hunger and went back home. The young camel began to loiter around. The lion in the meantime, hid himself behind a bush. When the camel with the jingling bells came grazing near the bush the lion pounced upon him; killed and ate him.

Moral Of The Story: Take Heed Of A Good Advice.

The Crow And The Snake

Once upon a time there lived a crow couple, who had built a nest on the top of a tree. But unfortunately the tree was inhabited by a serpent at its bottom. So the serpent used to crawl up the tree and eat all the eggs that the lady crow used to lay. The crow couple were deeply grieved and when this happened time after time, then they decided that the serpent was to be get rid of by a plan.

So the crow then approached his friend the jackal and asked for a plan. The jackal then told him to go and fetch a costly thing from the palace of the king and throw the thing in the burrow of the snake. The crow went to palace, and stole a necklace of the queen while she was bathing. The gaurds of the palace ran after it. The crow then dropped the necklace in the burrow of the snake beneath the tree.

The gaurds on reaching the bottom of the tree, found the necklace gaurded by the serpent. Then they killed the serpent and recovered the necklace. So the crow family was now happy that their eggs were safe now.

Moral Of The Story: Intelligence Wins Over Might.

The Mouse And The Bull

Once upon a time there lived a big bull in a village. The village was situated near a lake. One day, when the bull felt thirsty, he started walking towards the lake.

There was a tiny mouse living in the same village. The mouse was sitting by the side of the lake and basking in the sun. The bull who was going to drink water from the lake stepped on the tail of the mouse. The mouse squeeked in pain. He looked at his tail. It was completely crushed. 'This foolish bull has crushed my tail. I'll bite this bull to death.' The mouse said to himself and jumped on to the bull's back and started biting him with his sharp teeth. The bull didn't feel any pain. He was rather unaware of the presence of a little mouse on his back.

After sometime the mouse was tired of biting the bull. Seeing no reaction, he jumped off the bull's back and stood before him blocking his way. The bull looked at the mouse and asked, "Why do you block my way? Get out of my path, otherwise, you'll be crushed."

"You've already done it," said the mouse angrily. He showed his tail to the bull and said, "I bit you all over your back. Didn't you feel any pain?"

The bull was surprised to listen to this. He laughed and replied, "Did I really stamp on your tail and did you really bite me all over my body? I never realised both. However I'm sorry, if it really happened?”

The mouse was left speechless to hear the bull's answer. He thought to himself that it was quite useless to argue with that thick skinned animal. The mouse felt very much disgusted and went to his home crying in pain.

Moral Of The Story: It's No Use Arguing With A Stupid Person.

The Wise Crab

There stood two big banyan trees, side by side, in a dense forest. In fact, they were at such a short distance from each other that they formed one huge banyan tree. Thousands of cranes lived in this tree. In a deep hole in its trunk, there also lived a big black snake. The snake used to climb up the tree to its branches and eat the baby cranes from their nests, when their parents were away in search of food. This had become a daily routine. And the unfortunate cranes were the soft targets. Every evening, on return to their nests, the hapless cranes would find their nestlings missing, and they were so helpless that they could not do anything to get rid of the big black snake. One day, a crab saw some cranes standing by the side of the lake and weeping bitterly. He asked them the reason of their grief. The cranes said, "There's a big black snake living in the banyan tree. Everyday he eats up our babies. We don't know how to get rid of him." The crab thought to himself that the cranes too were crabs' enemies. They ate crabs' babies. Why not give the cranes an idea which not only would kill the snake but finish the cranes also. So, the crab said, "Don't weep. I've an idea which will help kill the snake."  "Yes, please help us," requested the cranes. "There is a big mongoose living at a little distance from the banyan trees. You put a few fish all along the path running from the mongoose's hole to the banyan tree. The mongoose will eat the fish one by one and then reach the snake's hole. Now you can yourself imagine, what will happen thereafter." The cranes became very happy to get such a brilliant idea. They acted according to the plan. Thereafter, the mongoose ate up all the fish put all along the path leading up to his home and then reached the banyan tree. There he found the snake in the hole. A fierce fighting took place between them and the mongoose killed the snake. But instead of going back to his hole after killing the serpent, the mongoose further climbed up the tree and started aeting the baby cranes, one by one. Soon the mongoose ate up all the baby cranes living in the banyan tree. After eating a large number of baby cranes, the mongoose became very fat and lazy. One day, while he was sleeping on a branch of a tree, he slipped and fell on to the ground and died then and there. Moral Of The Story: Never Act Hastily On Your Enemy's Advice.

The Four Scholars

Once upon a time there lived four friends. Three of them were well versed with Holy Scriptures  but they had only little common sense. The Fourth friend was completely ignorant of holy vedas, but he had a very good common sense. Many times the three learned friends used to make fun of the fourth friend, for not knowing about holy scriptures.

One day, the four friends were walking though a thick jungle. On the way they found the bones of a dead lion. On seeing the bone, one of the friends said, "Let us all put our scholarship to test. Here lies a dead lion. We will see if we can bring back his life". Saying this, he collected all the bones and made a skeleton of lion. The second friend enchanted some mantra and put flesh and blood into it. The third friend said he could give life for that lion.

Just when he was about to say some prayer, the fourth friend shouted, "Dear Friends, for God's sake please don't give life to this animal. If you bring this dead lion to life, he will kill all of us". Sadly, none of the friends listened to him, instead they made fun of him. They thought, he was jelous about their knowledge and power. 

Knowing that his friends would not listen to him, the fourth man said, "All right, you do as per your wish, but please wait a minute, while I climb up this tree". He went up the tree while the third scholar said some prayers and brought life to that lion. The lion immediately jumped over them and killed all the three scholars. The fourth one who climbed up the tree escaped because of his common sense.

Moral Of The Story: Common Sense Is More Powerful Than Literature Knowledge.

The Rotating Wheel

Once upon a time, there lived four friends in a village. They were very poor. They wanted to earn a lot of money, but didn't know how to do it? 

After a lot of thinking they decided to leave their village and go somewhere else in search of wealth. So, after a few days of journey, they reached a place called Awanti. The four friends first bathed in the nearby river and then worshipped in a temple. There in front of the temple they met a Sage. They bowed before him in respect. The sage asked, "From where have you come? What's the purpose of your visit to this town?" 

"We four are friends," said one of them. "All of us are very poor. So, in a bid to try our luck we left our village, and now, we are here. Since, you are an eminent sage, we expect you kindly to help us become wealthy." 

The Sage was very pleased with those four friends. He gave them four cotton wicks, one to each of them and said, "Go in the direction of the Himalayas carrying the wicks in your hands. At whatever places your wicks drop, dig up that spot, collect the buried treasure whatever it is and return home." 

The four friends became very happy. They set off in the direction of the Himalayas. They had hardly covered some distance in the Himalayas that the wick fell from the hands of one of the friends. He quickly dug up the spot and uncovered a treasure of copper. He invited his other companions to collect their share and return home. But his three friends called him 'stupid' and proceeded deeper into the Himalayas to find more wealth.The one who had found copper returned home cheerfully, with his wealth. 

After a journey of few days, the wick of the second friend dropped on the ground. He immediately dug up the place and found a treasure of silver. He called his two friends and asked them to pick up their share of silver and return home. But the other two called him 'Stupid' and continued with their journey. The one who had dug up the treasure returned home with the wealth of silver. 

After a journey of few days, the third friend also dropped his wick. He dug up the spot where the wick had fallen and uncovered a big treasure of gold. He yelled in delight and said to his last friend, "Come, let's share this booty. It's enough for two of us. Why go alone any farther." 

But the fourth friend continued with his journey, saying that he hoped to find diamonds. So, the one who had found gold, returned home with the heap of gold. 

The fourth friend started walking in the direction alone, where he hoped to find diamonds. But the wick he was holding, didn't fall from his hands. The fourth friend lost his way. He began wandering and was totally sad. 

While still wandering, he came across a strange man standing at a place. His body was drenched in blood. The most strange thing was a big wheel, whirling over his head. 

The fourth friend went to him quietly and asked in surprise, "Who're you and what kind of wheel is this, whirling over your head?" 

Hardly had the fourth friend finished his question that the big wheel shifted its position and came straight over the head of the fourth friend, still whirling. 

The fourth friend cried in pain and disbelief: "Friend, what is this? It's giving me tremendous pain." 

"This wheel was attached to my head also in a similar fashion," the other man replied. 

"And when will I get rid of it?" asked the fourth friend and started weeping. 

"Only when someone carrying the magic wick comes wandering at this place and speaks to you," said the man.

"Please tell me how long have you been here?" The fourth friend asked still sobbing. 

"Even I myself don't have the right answer to your question", replied the man. "But I came here during long ago. I was a poor man like you. Somehow, I got a magic wick and came to this place in search of diamonds. I saw a man standing here with this wheel whirling over his head. As soon as, I put up this question, as you put up to me a moment ago, the wheel came upon me." 

"How did you manage your food during such a long period?" asked the fourth friend in a trembling voice. 

"You don't ever need food or water. You are also free from sleep, old age or death. You only suffer pain, for centuries, unless someone approaches you with the same magic wick. In fact, this wheel was made by god to guard his wealth against the thieves and robbers. So goodbye my friend." 

The man went away leaving the fourth friend with the wheel whirling over his head. 

Now, when the third friend found that his friend was taking too long to return, he set out to find him. He finally arrived at the same place, where his fourth friend was standing drenched in blood, with a wheel whirling over his head. 

"What is this?" he asked his fourth friend in great astonishment. 

"This is the result of my greed for wealth," replied the fourth friend and narrated the whole story, weeping and moaning. 

"I'm sorry to see your ill-fate, friend. But you didn't listen to me, when I offered you gold. You wanted more. Now I can only wish you all the best," said the third friend and went away with a sad heart.

Moral Of The Story: One Bird In The Hand Is Better Than Two Birds In The Bush.

The Fox And The Lion kids

Once upon a time a lion lived with his wife lioness in a dense forest. They gave birth to two cubs. The Lion asked the lioness to stay at home and take care of the cubs. One day, the lion could not find any animal to hunt. When returning back to home, he found a little fox on the way. The Lion took the little fox to their home and gave it as a gift to the lioness.

The Lioness was very happy about the gift. She brought the fox kid with the same love as she showed to her cubs. The three little animals grew together. One day, when the three animals were playing together, they saw an elephant. The two lions wanted to fight and hunt the animal, but the fox was frightened and asked even the lion cubs to run away.

So they ran away from that place and back at their home, the two lion cubs told about what happened to their lion. Mother Lioness laughed at this and told the little fox that even though he was brought up like other lion kid, he was still a fox. She said foxes do not hunt elephants and this is why the little fox was not ready to fight with an elephant. 

The fox felt very bad about this and did not want to live anymore with the lions. He left their home to join his fox family.

Moral Of The Story: One Should Always Be In Ones Own Company.