Story

Unity is strength

Once upon a time, there was a flock of doves that flew in search of food led by their king. One day, they had flown a long distance and were very tired. The dove king encouraged them to fly a little further. The smallest dove picked up speed and 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 carrying a huge club. The doves desperately fluttered their wings trying to get out, but to no avail. The king had an idea. He advised all the doves to fly up together carrying the net with them. He said that there was strength in unity.

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 gnaw at 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 complied 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.

No Gain without Pain

Once a thirsty crow was flying hither and thither in search of water. It was the month of June. The sun was very hot. It had not rained for some days. So, all the tanks and ponds had dried up. After a long labour, he saw a pitcher.

He flew to the pitcher. He found that water was just at the bottom of the pitcher. He tried his level best to sip the water with his beak but could not succeed.

He saw some pebbles lying nearby. He carried the pebbles with his beak and dropped them into the pitcher one by one. The level of the water started rising. As it came up to the mouth of the pitcher, the crow was able to quench his thirst. So, he drank water and flew away saying akin, akin.

Greed is a Curse

Once a man had a strange goose. It laid an egg of gold daily. Soon he grew very rich. But he was not satisfied with getting one egg of gold a day. He was a greedy fellow.

Once day he thought seriously about the goose. He concluded that the body of the goose must be full of golden eggs. He said to himself, “If I cut the goose open, I shall get all the eggs at one time”.

So he took a knife and killed the goose. He cut it open and began to look for a number of golden eggs. There was none to be found. The greedy man beat his brow. He repented of his folly. He had lost the goose that laid the golden eggs.

Honesty is The Best Policy

Once a poor woodcutter was cutting a tree on the bank of a river. Suddenly his axe slipped and fell into the water. The poor fellow was very sad. The angel of mercy happened to pass that way. He asked him, “Why are you so sad?” The woodcutter told him about his loss. The angel took pity on him. He dived into the water and brought out a golden axe. The woodcutter said, “it is not mine”. The angel dived again and this time brought out a silver axe. The woodcutter refused again saying. “My axe is made of iron.” The angel dived again and brought out an iron axe. He cried out with joy. “This is my axe.” The angel was much pleased with his honesty and gave him the other two axes as a reward for his honesty.

AS YOU SOW, SO SHALL YOU REAP

One night, three thieves stole a lot of money from a rich man’s house. They put the money in a bag and went to the forest. They felt very hungry. So, one of them went to a nearby village to buy food. The other two remained in the forest to take care of the bag of money. The thief that went for food had an evil idea. He ate his food at a hotel. Then he bought food for his two mates in the forest. He mixed a strong poison with the food. He thought, “Those two will eat this poisoned food and die. Then I will get all the money for myself.” Meanwhile, the two wicked men in the forest decided to kill their mate on return. They thought that they would divide the money between the two of them. All the three wicked men carried out their cruel plans. The thief who wanted all the money for himself came to the forest with the poisoned food. The two men in the forest hit him and killed him. Then they ate the poisoned food and died. Thus, these evil people met with an evil end.

Once there lived a mouse in a forest. It used to find eatables in nearby fields. Some pigeons also used to land on those fields to find the feed. The mouse and the pigeons became friends.

Where there's is a will there's a way

One day the pigeons were flying over a field. They saw some grains on the land below. They decided to land there to pick the grains. There was an old and wise pigeon among them. He said, "It seems that these grains have been spread by a bird catcher. I think we should not take the risk." The pigeons were hungry. They would not listen to the advice of the wise pigeon. They all landed there and started picking the grains.

Suddenly they were caught in a net. They were now helpless. They began to flutter but all in vain. They saw the bird catcher coming towards them at a distance. The wise pigeon was also among them. He said, "Listen carefully! We can do nothing except to do one thing. Let us all fly together with our full force. It may pull the net out and we may fly with this net." The pigeons liked the idea. They all flew together with full force. Due to forcefull pull, the net was pulled away and the birds flew away.

The bird catcher was taken aback on the act of the birds but could do nothing. They landed near the hole of their friend mouse. It came out and cut the ropes with its sharp teeth. Soon, all the birds were free. They thanked their friend mouse.

Moral lesson: Where there is a will there is a way

United we Stand Divided we Fall

Once upon a time, there lived a farmer in a village. He had three sons. They always quarrelled with one another. The farmer was much worried about them. He advised them to live in peace but all in vain. One day he fell seriously ill.

He planned to advise them for the last time. He sent for his Sons. They came at once. He asked them to bring a bundle of sticks. When they did so, he ordered them to break the bundle one by one. They tried their best to break it but none could succeed.

At last, the farmer untied the bundle and asked each of them to break a stick one by one. Everyone broke his stick quite easily. The farmer then advised them that if they are united like the sticks, no one would harm them. But they would be ruined, if they were divided.