Panchatantra Moral Stories! | Dununu.com : Circle of Life

1. The Broken Pot

Once, there was a poor man who lived in a small house. One day, he was given a pot full of grain. He placed the pot in a corner and began to daydream about how he would sell the grain, buy some chickens with the money, sell their eggs, and eventually become rich. In his imagination, he saw himself building a large house, wearing fine clothes, and becoming a wealthy merchant.

As he daydreamed, the man kicked the pot of grain, spilling it all over the floor. His dreams of wealth were shattered, and he realized that daydreaming without effort would lead to nothing.

Moral: Don't count your chickens before they hatch.

An illustrated scene from the Panchatantra story 'The Greedy Jackal'. The image shows a jackal looking at a group of animals feasting near a lion, while the jackal waits greedily for leftovers. The background features a forest setting with trees and bushes.

2. The Greedy Jackal

In a forest, there lived a greedy jackal who always wanted more than his share. One day, the jackal watched as a lion hunted and shared his meal with other animals. The jackal, too scared to approach the lion directly, waited nearby, hoping to grab the leftovers after everyone had finished.

When the meal was over, the jackal rushed to the remains and ate as much as he could. However, in his greed, he ate too much and became sick. The other animals, seeing the jackal’s greed, learned to be content with what they were given.

Moral: Greed can lead to ruin.

An illustrated scene from the Panchatantra story 'The Monkey and the Crocodile'. The image shows a monkey sitting on a tree branch, while a crocodile is swimming below in the river, looking up at the monkey. The background includes a riverbank with trees and a bright sky.

3. The Monkey and the Crocodile

A clever monkey lived in a tree by the river, happily eating fruits. One day, a crocodile came to the riverbank and became friends with the monkey. The monkey, being kind, shared fruits with the crocodile every day. However, the crocodile’s wife grew jealous of their friendship and asked the crocodile to bring her the monkey’s heart to eat.

The crocodile, not wanting to harm his friend, but unable to refuse his wife, invited the monkey for a ride across the river. As they reached the middle of the river, the crocodile told the monkey about his wife’s plan. The monkey, quick-witted, said, “Oh no! I left my heart back in the tree! Let’s go back, and I’ll get it for you.”

The crocodile turned back, and as soon as they reached the tree, the monkey quickly climbed to safety, outsmarting the crocodile.

Moral: Quick thinking can save you from danger.

4. The Wolf and the Donkey

In a quiet forest, a wolf once came across a lonely donkey grazing peacefully. The wolf, wanting to eat the donkey, approached him with a friendly smile. "Oh dear friend," said the wolf, "I’ve been watching you for days and admire your strength and grace. Wouldn’t you like to join me and my friends in the forest for a feast?"

The donkey, sensing that the wolf’s intentions were not genuine, replied cautiously, "Thank you for your kind offer, but I prefer to graze in peace. I’ve heard many tales of wolves who pretend to be friendly but have other plans."

Realizing that the donkey was too clever to be tricked, the wolf gave up and slunk away, leaving the donkey unharmed.

Moral: Be cautious of false friends with hidden intentions.

5. The Mice and the Elephants

In a dense forest, there lived a large community of mice. Nearby, a herd of elephants passed through the forest regularly on their way to the waterhole. The elephants, unaware of the mice, would accidentally trample them underfoot, causing harm to many of the small creatures. Fearing for their lives, the leader of the mice approached the elephant king.

The mouse humbly asked the elephant king, "O mighty elephant, we are small but many. If you change your path slightly, we will no longer be in danger, and we will always be your friends." The elephant king, moved by the mouse’s words, agreed.

Some time later, the elephants were caught in a hunter’s net. The mice heard their cries for help and rushed to their aid, gnawing through the ropes to free the elephants. Grateful for the mice’s help, the elephants learned that even the smallest creatures can be of great assistance.

Moral: Kindness and cooperation can save the day, no matter how big or small you are.

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