Panchatantra Stories

The Elephant and the Tailor

Once upon a time, there was a kind elephant who used to visit a friendly tailor's shop every day. The tailor would always feed the elephant a banana, and they became good friends. One day, the tailor was in a bad mood because of a disagreement with a customer. When the elephant came by, instead of giving him a banana, the angry tailor pricked the elephant’s trunk with a needle.

The elephant was hurt but didn't react immediately. He quietly walked to a nearby river, filled his trunk with muddy water, and returned to the tailor's shop. The elephant sprayed the muddy water all over the tailor and his shop, ruining the fabrics. The tailor realized his mistake and apologized to the elephant.

Moral: Be kind to others, for your actions will come back to you.

The Crocodile and the Stork

In a peaceful river, a wise old stork used to catch fish to feed herself. One day, a crocodile swam up to the stork and said, "You look so hungry. I know a place where there are plenty of fish. Come with me, and I’ll show you."

The stork, sensing that the crocodile had bad intentions, politely refused and continued catching fish near the riverbank. The crocodile tried again, saying, "You must trust me. I have been helping animals in this river for a long time."

The wise stork still didn't trust the crocodile and moved to another part of the river. Soon after, she saw the crocodile trying to trick other animals, waiting for a chance to eat them. The stork was glad she had trusted her instincts.

Moral: Be cautious and trust your instincts, especially when faced with danger.

The Monkey and the Wedge

Once upon a time, a group of carpenters was building a large house in a forest. During their lunch break, they left behind a partially sawed log with a wedge placed in it to keep the wood from closing. A curious monkey, watching from a nearby tree, climbed down and started playing with the wedge.

Ignoring the fact that the wedge was important for keeping the log apart, the monkey decided to pull it out. As soon as he removed the wedge, the log snapped shut, trapping the monkey's tail. The poor monkey was in great pain and learned the hard way not to meddle in things he didn’t understand.

Moral: Don’t interfere in matters you do not understand.

The Clever Goat

One day, a fierce tiger was walking along a narrow mountain path when he encountered a goat standing in his way. The tiger, thinking he could easily scare the goat, growled loudly and said, "Move aside, or I will eat you."

But the clever goat didn’t flinch. Instead, the goat confidently replied, "You may be able to eat me, but I’m more dangerous than you think. I’ve defeated many tigers like you before. If you come any closer, I’ll throw you off this mountain."

The tiger, confused and unsure whether the goat was telling the truth, decided not to take the risk. He backed away and ran off, leaving the goat unharmed. The clever goat had used his wit to escape danger.

Moral: Intelligence and confidence can help you avoid danger.

The Donkey and the Lapdog

A man once owned both a donkey and a little lapdog. The lapdog was playful and affectionate, always jumping onto his master’s lap and being petted. The donkey, seeing how the lapdog was treated, began to feel envious. He thought, "If I behave like the lapdog, my master will love me just as much."

One day, the donkey tried to imitate the lapdog. He ran into the house, stood on his hind legs, and attempted to wag his tail. But the donkey was too big and clumsy. He knocked over furniture and scared everyone in the house. Instead of being petted, the donkey was scolded and sent back outside.

Moral: Be yourself, and don’t try to be something you're not.

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