Archive for July 6th, 2008
Posted by kathavarta on July 6, 2008
Once upon a time, there was a king who kept a monkey as a pet. The monkey served the king in whatever way he could. He had a free run of the royal household because he was the king’s pet.
One hot day the monkey sat fanning by the side of the king who was sleeping. He noticed a fly on the chest of the king and tried to swish it away. The fly would go away for the moment and come back again to sit on the king’s chest.
The monkey could take it no longer and decided to teach the fly a lesson. He looked for a dagger to kill it and when he found it brought it down with all force on the fly. The fly flew away but the king died as result of the dagger blow delivered by the monkey.
Moral:
A king who cares for his life should not have a fool as his servant.
(This Panchatantra story is from The Loss of Friends.)
Posted in Children story, Hindu story, Moral story, Panchatantra, Varta | Tagged: Advice, Alert, Care, Children story, Education, Experience, Fly, Foolish, Kids, King, Monkey, Moral story, Necessity, Panchatantra, Short Story, Trust, Varta | Leave a Comment »
Posted by kathavarta on July 6, 2008
A big banyan tree was home to a number of cranes in a forest. In the hollow of that tree lived a cobra, which used to feed on the young cranes which did not yet learn to fly. When the mother crane saw the cobra killing her offspring, she began crying. Seeing the sorrowing crane, a crab asked her what made her cry.
The crane told the crab, “Every day, the cobra living in this tree is killing my children. I am not able to contain my grief. Please show me some way to get rid of this cobra.”
The crab then thought, “These cranes are our born enemies. I shall give her advice that is misleading and suicidal. That will see the end of all these cranes. Elders have always said that if you want to wipe out your enemy your words should be soft like butter and your heart like a stone.
Then the crab told the crane, “Uncle, strew pieces of meat from the mongoose’s burrow to the hollow of the cobra. The mongoose will follow the trail of meat to the cobra burrow and will kill it.”
The crane did as the crab advised her. The mongoose came following the meat trail and killed not only the cobra but also all the cranes on the tree.
Moral:
If you have a strategy, you must also know what the strategy would lead to.
(This Panchatantra story is from The Loss of Friends.)
Posted in Children story, Hindu story, Moral story, Panchatantra, Varta | Tagged: Accuracy, Act, Alert, Children story, Cobra, Crab, Crane, Death, Enemy, Fear, Kids, Lie, Mongoose, Moral story, Panchatantra, Revenge, Short Story, Think, Truth, Varta | Leave a Comment »
Posted by kathavarta on July 6, 2008
A pair of sparrows made their home on a branch of a big tree and lived happily there. Soon it was winter and it began to rain heavily. Frequent gusts of wind made the cold unbearable. At this time, a monkey completely drenched in the rain and shivering from cold, came scurrying to the tree for cover.
Seeing the condition of the monkey, the female sparrow said, “Gentleman, with your feet and hands you seem to be a human being. Why didn’t you build a house for yourself?’ Angered by this uncalled for advice, the monkey said, “you stupid, why do not you shut up and mind your business?’ The monkey told himself, “My, what impudence! This bit of a creature has the cheek to offer me advice. Makes fun of me. Unnecessary prattle. I must teach her a lesson. Why shouldn’t I kill her?”
Turning to the female, the monkey said, “How does it help you to worry about my plight? Haven’t you heard this saying of the elders that you should offer advice to those who seek it and cherish it? Advice to him who is indifferent is like a cry in the wilderness. Don’t try to do that.”
When the female persisted, the monkey climbed up the tree and broke up the nest of the sparrow pair.
Moral:
If you counsel a fool it will only provoke him and not pacify. That’s why you should not offer advice to everyone.
(This Panchatantra story is from The Loss of Friends.)
Posted in Children story, Hindu story, Moral story, Panchatantra, Varta | Tagged: Advice, Anger, Children story, Clever, Counsel, Education, Experience, Foolish, Help, Kids, Listener, Monkey, Moral story, Necessity, Panchatantra, Short Story, Varta | Leave a Comment »
Posted by kathavarta on July 6, 2008
A gang of monkeys made their home in a mountain slope. When winter came, it brought not only severe cold but also heavy rains. Unable to stand the cold, the monkeys collected red berries wildly growing in the mountain slope. They gathered around the berries and began blowing air at them thinking they were embers.
Watching their vain effort in amusement, Suchimukha, a bird, told them, “You fools, they are not embers but red berries. Why do you waste your energy on them? This will not save you from cold. Go and look for a shelter in a cave or a place free from wind. The clouds are thick and there will be no immediate relief from rain.”
An old member of the monkey gang angrily told the bird, “Why do you poke your nose in our affairs? Go away. Haven’t the elders said that he who cherishes his welfare should not talk to a gambler or an inefficient workman. So is the person a fool who talks to an idiot or a pleasure seeker.”
Disregarding the old monkey’s anger and not giving room to any other monkey to talk, Suchimukha went on repeating his advice to them to seek shelter elsewhere. Tired with the bird’s unwanted advice, one of the monkeys sprang at the bird and bashed him against a rock till he was dead.
Moral:
If you counsel a fool it will only provoke him and not pacify. That’s why you should not offer advice to everyone.
(This Panchatantra story is from The Loss of Friends.)
Posted in Children story, Hindu story, Moral story, Panchatantra, Varta | Tagged: Advice, Bird, Care, Children story, Clever, Counsel, Education, Experience, Help, Listener, Monkey, Moral story, Necessity, Panchatantra, Short Story, Truth, Varta | Leave a Comment »
Posted by kathavarta on July 6, 2008
Three fish lived in a pond. Their names were Anagatavidhata, Pratyutpannamati and Yadbhavishya. Some fishermen passing by the pond wondered, “Hey, we have never seen this pond. It seems to be full of fish. It is now evening. Let us come at dawn tomorrow and bag as many fish as we can.”
Hearing the fisherman, Anagatavidhata (the one who foresees a danger in time) called a meeting of all the fish and told them, “Haven’t you heard what the fishermen were saying? We must move out of this pond tonight itself. As the wise men have said weak men should flee when a strong man invades or seek refuge in a fort. There is no alternative.”
“The fisherman will come tomorrow. I think we should not be here for even a moment more,” said Anagatavidhata.
“That’s true. I endorse your suggestion,” said Pratyutpannamati. “Let’s go elsewhere. Those who are afraid of foreign lands and those who are bound to their soil will die in their own country. He who can prosper anywhere does not die in his own land clinging to sentiment.”
Loudly laughing, Yadbhavishya said, “Your plans are not good. Why should we leave this pond, ancient home of our forefathers, because the fishermen have evil intentions. If it is destined, we cannot escape death even if we go elsewhere. Everything is in the hands of God. You cannot dispose what he proposes. Without his blessings people will die even if they have protection. With his blessings nobody can kill them even if they do not have protection.
Unable to convince him, the other two fish left the pond. Coming the next day, the fishermen took a big catch of fish in the pond. Yadbhavishya was one among them.
Moral:
Those who foresee the problem and those who deal with the problem when it arises are always victors and those who trust their luck are the losers.
(This Panchatantra story is from The Loss of Friends.)
Posted in Children story, Hindu story, Moral story, Panchatantra, Varta | Tagged: Act, Advice, Affection, Alert, Children story, Education, Experience, Fish, Kids, Life, Love, Moral story, Opportunity, Panchatantra, Prosperity, Short Story, Trust, Varta | Leave a Comment »
Posted by kathavarta on July 6, 2008
Once upon a time a turtle called Kambugriva lived in a pond. He had two swans, Sankat and Vikat, as good friends. Every day they would meet on the rim of the pond and discuss legends of yore. They would disperse with sunset. That year there were no rains and the water in the pond began slowly disappearing.
Worried, the swans told the turtle, “Friend, What will happen to you? We are concerned.”
“I appreciate your interest in me. There is trouble ahead. Please find a way out of this crisis. But it is important that we should not give in to despair. According to Manu, all good men should come to the rescue of friends and relatives in times of need. Look for a stick or a rope. I will hang on to it as both of you hold the two sides of the stick or rope and ferry me to safety.”
“We shall do as you say,” the swans said. “But you have to shut your mouth. Otherwise, you will crash to the ground.”
On Kambugriva agreeing to the plan, the swans brought a stick and asked the turtle to hold it with his teeth. When everything was ready, the swans flew off with the turtle hanging from it. On the way people saw this sight and exclaimed, “see, how clever the birds are.” In trying to respond to the people, the turtle opened his mouth and fell to the ground and the people at once killed him.
Moral:
Those who do not heed the advice of their well-wishers meet their end.
(This Panchatantra story is from The Loss of Friends.)
Posted in Children story, Hindu story, Moral story, Panchatantra, Varta | Tagged: Advice, Care, Children story, Companion, Education, Experience, Friend, Help, Kids, Listener, Moral story, Panchatantra, Short Story, Swan, Trust, Turtle, Varta | Leave a Comment »
