Witty Fox

 Once, a lion invited an ass to his house. As soon as he entered the lion's cave, the lion caught him. The lion told his minister, 'Fox, watch the ass. If you touch him, I shall be angry.' The fox waited but grew hungry. As the lion was nowhere in sight, he ate the ass's brain. The lion returned and roared, 'Fox, where is the ass's brain? The fox quickly said, 'Brain? The ass had none. Or he wouldn't have walked into your trap so easily.' The lion laughed and the fox was saved. 

Moral:- Quick wit always helps in tricky situations. 

Don't Believe in Rumours

 One day, a King heard about the friendship of a cow and lioness and decided to visit them. Meanwhile, a sly jackal thought, 'I'll make these friends fight with each other. Then, I shall eat them!' So, the jackal started creating ill will between them. The cow and the lioness believed him. One day, the cow heard a rumour and argued with the lioness. They fought bitterly and killed each other. When the King came to see the friends, they were dead! The King sighed, 'Rumours can ruin any friendship.'

Moral:- Always believe what you see and hear, not in rumours. 

A Father's Love

 Once, a farmer brought up his son all alone. Years  passed and the son grew into a bright young boy. The farmer had become old. He constantly asked his son to get food and water. This irritated his son greatly. One day, the son said angrily, 'Old man, I am fed up. I can't take care of you anymore.' The farmer said, 'Son, I nurtured you since you were a baby. I fed you before I ate. I never complained.' The son apologised to his father and took great care of him. 

Moral:- Look after your parents when they are old. 

Clever Jester

 Once, a wise and just King ruled a kingdom. King's royal jester Tucan was very clever. He cracked funny jokes and also helped the King in the court. Often, Tucan would even crack jokes at the King! One day, the King felt insulted at one of Tucan's jokes and said, 'Guards, seize this man! He will be hanged tomorrow!' When Tucan was to be hanged, the King asked, 'What is your last wish?' Clever Tucan replied, 'Majesty, I wish to die of old age.' The King began laughing at Tucan's wish and forgave him. 

Moral:- Humour can save one from difficulties. 

Trust your Abilities

 A fox asked a cat, 'How many tricks do you know?' The cat replied, 'I know only one trick. When the dogs chase me, I know how to climb trees and escape.' The fox said, 'I will show you my bagful of tricks.' Just then, the cat heard the hunters and their dogs. The fox said, 'Don't be afraid! I will teach you a good trick.' But the cat jumped on the tree. The dogs chased the fox and caught him. The cat shouted, 'Fox! All the tricks put together will not save you now!'

Morality:- Being boastful does not help in times of trouble. 

The Proud Goose

A proud goose always found faults in others. He said, 'Man is so proud of himself. He always talks bad about others and thinks he is superior.' Then, he said, 'The peacock always shows his colourful feathers and dances.' One day, the goose saw beautiful swans swimming in the stream. The goose said, 'These swans are imitating me. Once, I start swimming, they will realise  their fault.' When the goose started swimming, the swans started laughing. They said, 'You are too proud to see the beauty of other animals. We should respect everyone around us.'

Morality:- Don't be too proud of yourself. 

Queen Ella

 Queen Ella was known for her justice. Once, she went to a riverside and ordered her ministers to build a palace, there. The ministers said, 'Majesty, a poor woman's house is in the place where the palace is to be built. It will ruin the beauty of the palace.' The Queen said, 'She will be given a better place to live in.' But the old woman begged, 'I cannot leave my house. It is my dead husband's home.' The queen  understood the old woman's sentiments and let her house remain. 

Moral:- Be compassionate towards the poor and the needy. 

The Noble King

 A noble King once punished his wicked minister and sent him away. The wicked minister wanted revenge. So he helped the neighbouring King to defeat and capture the noble King. However, the noble King prayed to God. Immediately, his shackles became loose and he was able to escape. At the same time, a searing pain ran down the wicked minister's body. A wise man said, 'The King is noble and innocent. You are suffering because you tortured him.' The neighbouring King returned the noble King's kingdom and punished the minister. 

Morality:- The wicked always get punished for their deeds. 

Be Satisfied with What you Have

 During winter, a horse's stable became cold and he ate dry plants and straw. He sighed, 'I wish spring comes soon, then I'll eat fresh grass.' In spring, he had to carry heavy weights and thought, 'I wish summer comes soon and I'll have less work.' In hot summer, it was even more difficult to work. He waited for autumn. In autumn, the horse had to work as people stored food. He thought, 'I hated winter last year, now I am eagerly waiting for winter, so I can rest.'

Moral:- Happy people are those who are content with what they have. 

Everyone is Troubled

 Long ago, each man was created with a sack for his troubles. Once, God saw that men complained about being more troubled than the other. God angrily said, 'You all think that you are more troubled than the other and your sack of troubles is bigger. So, just exchange your sack with your neighbours.' Everyone joyfully turned to their neighbours. However, strangely, they saw that the neighbours' sacks were bigger than theirs! They said, 'Father, we are fine with our own troubles. Others are more troubled than us.' Then, they stopped complaining. 

Morality:- Solve your problems rather than comparing them with others. 

Bad Company brings Bad Habits

 Once, a dog decided to travel. His Mother advised him, 'Never be friendly with bad people because keeping bad company can spoil your character.' Soon, the dog felt thirsty and went to the river. A cunning crocodile called, 'Be my friend.' The dog and the crocodile became friends. One day, the crocodile said, 'Friend, please bring a lamb here. We can both eat it.' The dog went to a nearby farm. As he tried to lure the lamb, the farmer hit him with a stick. The poor dog said, 'Oh! My mother was so right.'

Moral:- Keep away from bad company. 

The Greedy Hawker and the Golden Bowl

 An old woman rarely used a golden bowl, so it was completely covered with dirt. Also, she never knew that it was made of gold. She went to a hawker and wanted a pan in exchange for the bowl. The greedy hawker realised that it was gold. He said, 'It's worth just a small pot.' The old woman went to another hawker. This honest man gave 500 pieces of silver and many goods. Later, the greedy hawker visited the woman again. She scolded him, 'You lied to me. I sold it to an honest person.'

Moral:- Never cheat or fool anyone. 

Don't Share Secrets

 A King ruled over his kingdom. One day, his step-son went to the King's servant and said, 'The king wants to kill me. Promise to save my life!' The servant readily promised. Soon, the King asked the servant to poison the prince. The servant warned the prince, at once. A few days later, the King fell ill and died. The prince became the new King and said, 'Servant, the old King trusted you. But, you told me his secret. You will never keep my secrets. Go away.'

Morality:- If someone trusts you with their secret, don't tell it to anyone. 

Check Twice than checking only Once

 Once, a she goat said to her son, 'I am going out. Do not open the door to anyone but me.' The kid said. 'Mother, how will I know that it is you on the door?' She said, 'Open the door only when I call out, 'Beware of the Wolf'. 'A cunning wolf heard the password. He shouted after a while, 'Beware of the Wolf.' The kid thought, 'Should I open the door or check again?' Then, he said, 'Show me your white paw.' The wolf had brown, furry paws and left the house. 

Moral:- It is always better to check your doubts, twice. 

The King and the Elephant

 Once, a thorn pierced an elephant's foot. He cried out in pain! A King was hunting nearby. He took out the thorn and asked the elephant to live in the palace. The elephant agreed and helped the King fight battles. After a few years, the King died. An enemy King declared a battle. The Queen went to the elephant and said, 'Your master is dead. My son is very young. He can't fight a battle. Please, win the kingdom back for him.' The elephant led the army and defeated the enemy King. 

Moral:- A small kind deed can bring great returns. 

Be Considerate towards Others

 A cook had a hen and a pet parrot. The hen knew that the cook could cook her. She hid in the kitchen all day. One day, the cook tried to bring the hen to the cooking stove. However, she jumped up on a cupboard. The parrot said, 'Hen, go to the cook, as I do when he calls me.' The poor hen replied, 'The cook's call for me is a sign of death. To you, it is not a matter of worry, though. Be thoughtful towards other's situation.' The parrot apologised to the hen. 

Morality:- Be sympathetic towards others' problems. 

Stubbornness Brings Pain

 A young woman was always sad because she had no children. A few months later, a fairy appeared and said, 'What do you want, my child?' 'I want a son!' the woman said. The fairy said, 'I can grant you a daughter.' 'I want a son!' said the woman. The fairy said, 'I will grant you a son, but your stubbornness will bring you pain.' Soon, the woman had a son. But the boy was disobedient and dishonest. He earned bad name for her. The woman realised how wrong she was. 

Moral:- Listen to the advice given by the wise people. 

The King's Nightingale

 A King kept a nightingale in a cage and fed him good food. However, he was sad. He thought the birds outside had wonderful and happy lives. One day, his master forgot to latch the cage door. The Nightingale flew straight out of the window to a large shady tree. 'Ah! This is wonderful, ' he cried. However, the nightingale did not know how to get food. Also, he could not sleep in the open. Then, a thunderstorm broke out. The nightingale felt cold and cried out, 'I wish I was in my cage! '

Moral:- The grass is greener on the other side. 

The Beautiful Robe

 Catalina was once watching the King's procession. The queen was dressed in beautiful robes. Catalina wondered how she could get such a robe. Then, she began working in the palace and served the queen well. The queen presented her with a beautiful robe. On her way home, Catalina saw a hermit shivering and gave him her robe. The hermit said, "I bless you. Go bathe  in the river. It will make you most beautiful." Catalina did as the hermit said and saw her beautiful reflection. Then, a prince was passing by. He fell in love and married her. 

Moral:- A kind act can bring a blessing in disguise. 

Memories

 A man was selling off his parent's old home. His mother was very sad, she did not want to leave her home but her son would not agree. The man was emptying all rooms. He found an old photo album in a room. He showed it to his mother. His mother said, " Son, see how your father and I kept all your growing up memories in this album. We treasured every picture. And you can't treasure a house built by your father! ' The man was ashamed. He hugged his mother and said, 'I won't sell the house!'

Moral:- Treasure old memories. 

The Prince Learns a Lesson

 A prince and a minister's son, Simon, grew up together. One day, the prince said, 'Simon, father is not passing on the throne to me. So, I will kill him.' Simon said, 'Money and power will come. But if you kill your father, he won't come back.' However, the prince spoke to some soldiers. They told the King about the Prince's plans. The King said, 'You don't have to kill me, Son. I give you my kingdom.' Saying this, tears ran down his eyes. The prince was ashamed and apologised to his father. 

Moral:- Guide your friends in the right direction. 

The Captain and the Sailors

 A ship was loaded with heavy iron and wood. So, the sailors were unable to turn the ship. The captain said, 'Throw the extra iron and  wood into the sea. Then the ship will start moving faster.' The sailors did as they were told. Suddenly, a storm rose. The waves started rising high. The light ship moved from one side to the other. Soon, the ship completely tilted to one side and all the sailors drowned. If the captain had kept the extra weight on the ship, the ship would have not drowned. 

Moral:- All things have their own importance. 

The Miser and the Pixies

 Once, a friend gifted some fish to miser Lance. He thought, 'I shall not share it but will cook it in the forest.' But the smell of the dish spread and the pixies were tempted. They asked, 'Please give us some fish.' Lance replied, 'Sorry! This dish is for me only.' The pixies said, 'Just like taking so much trouble to cook the fish so far away in the forest just to eat it by yourself, there is no point in storing money if you cannot enjoy it.' Lance understood and thanked them. 

Moral:- Learn to share as it brings joy. 

Liars will Certainly be caught

 A naughty rabbit was very troublesome. One day, he shouted, 'Sister! I smell something odd!' His sister knew her little brother well; so she did not react. He screamed again, 'Sister! Do help! I can hear the noise of a hundred explosions!' The sister still did not say anything. The rabbit stopped near the mouth of the burrow and shouted, 'Oh! What is it that I am seeing? It is the fire from a huge furnace!' The sister replied, 'Do not tell such a lie, for if there was a fire, we would be burning, too.'

Moral:- Don't lie to attract attention. 

Having Many Friends Means No Good Friends

 A hare heard the hounds coming to catch her. So, the hare went to the horse for help. The horse said, 'I have to do some work for my master.' The hare asked the bull and he replied, 'I have a meeting with a friend.' The lamb said, 'I can't help you because hounds eat lambs also.' Finally, the hare asked the calf for help. The calf said, 'How can I help you when the others cannot help you?' The hounds had come very close. The hare quickly ran and saved herself. 

Moral:- Trust your own abilities. Don't expect from others. 

Think before Blaming Others

 A miser was counting his money. A magpie flew into his house and took one of his gold coins, slyly. Then, he hid himself in a hole in the wall. As the miser looked for his missing gold coin, he found the magpie with it. The miser said, 'Thief! You stole my gold coin. You did not ask me if you could borrow it.' The magpie replied, 'You made this money by fooling people and lying to them. You are calling me a thief! I only hid the gold coin here.'

Moral:- Learn to share your things with others. 

The Greedy Fisherman

 A fisherman found a crocodile's egg on the riverbank. It was a magical egg that took whatever shape it wished. Soon, the egg hatched, It had a human body with scaly crocodile skin. His wiife cared for it like it was her own child. The crocodille said, 'If I enter a river, I will lose my human body. So, make a pond here and you will be rich.' The rich fisherman greedily thought, 'If my son comes to the river, I will catch more fish!' When the crocodile saw the river, he slipped away. 

Moral:- Greed will only make you lose everything. 

The Bully

 A proud crow felt that all the animals should obey her. One day, the crow saw some sheep grazing. She arrogantly said to a sheep, 'I am  tired of flying. You will carry me on your back today.' The poor sheep carried the crow around. Soon, he was tired and said, 'If you had treated a dog this way, he would have bitten you.' The crow said, 'I only order around those who are weak. I know exactly who to bully and who to flatter.' The Sheep never talked to the crow again. 

Morality:- Cunning creatures should be treated sternly and not feared. 

The Greedy Cat

 Once, a cat was very sad. She wanted to eat fish and meat. But her poor master could not afford that. One day, the cat saw a dovecote. A few chicks had hatched out of the eggs. The cat thought, 'How tasty they would be to eat!' She slowly went to catch the chicks. The owner, who was watching, trapped the cat with his net and beat her up. When the cat's master saw her, he cried, 'My poor cat! If only you were satisfied with the food I gave you, you would be safe.'

Moral:- Be satisfied with what you have. 

Valuable Words

 A gardener worked hard all day. At night, he lay under a tree and heard a nightingale sing beautifully. Her song was so sweet that he forgot his aching body and felt peaceful. He put the nightingale in a cage. The nightingale said, 'Free me, and I will tell you three very valuable things. When the gardener set the nightingale free, she flew to a high branch and saib, ' Never take a prisoner's promise seriously. Be happy with what you have, Don't be sad about what is lost.' Then, the nightingale flew away. 

Moral:- Do not harm animals or birds. 

The Cruel Wolf

 Once, a wolf killed a wise bear. The wolf bribed the animals not to speak against him. However, everyone went to the meeting. When the lion asked, 'Who saw the wolf kill the bear?' The deer said, 'The wolf snatched honey from the bear and ran away. The hawk said, 'When the bear ran to take the honey back, the wolf threw him on the ground.' 'I saw the wolf kill the bear,' said the sparrow. The lion shouted, 'Since there are so many witnesses, I order that the wolf be punished severely.'

Moral:- Cruel people don't have any friends. 

Bad Deeds are always Punished

 A notorious robber was taken to court. The judge asked, 'Why did you rob so many people?' The robber replied, 'If I have commited a crime, it is God's will.' The judge said, 'All right. But give me all your gold or I'll get your head chopped.' When the robber gave the gold, the judge said, 'You will be killed now.' The robber shouted, 'I gave you gold to save my life not to kill me.' The judge replied, 'It was God's will that I lie. Now, I'll take your gold and get you killed. Why blame me?'

Morality:- It is wrong to steal. 

Don't Blame Others

 A hungry fox was chasing a small dog. The dog ran fast and jumped over a thorny hedge. The fox also tried to jump, but he fell on a bramble bush. He was scratched badly by the thorny bramble. The fox blamed the thorny bramble and said, 'I held on to you to save myself from falling and you hurt me so badly.' The thorny bramble replied, 'With so many thorns, how could you even think of holding on to me without getting hurt? Do not blame someone else for your foolish actions.'

Moral:- Blaming others for your mistakes is wrong. 

Path of Goodness and Truth

 A school Teacher had lost his young son. He was very sad. His student said, 'Teacher, in my house, no one has died young.' The teacher was amazed. He was curious to know more and went to the young boy's house. He met the boy's father and asked, 'What is the reason behind your family's long life? The boy's father said, 'We follow the path of goodness and believe that whatever happens, happens for a reason. Therefore, we are always happy and blessed with a long life.' The teacher learnt a valuable lesson and taught good always. 

Moral:- Doing good has its own blessings. 

The True Friend

 A prince and the priest's son were best friends. When the prince was crowned King, he made his friend a commander. However, the priest son refused the post and went away to lead a monk's life. Years later, the King fell I'll. When the monk heard, he went to the palace. The king asked, 'It has been so many years. How are you? The monk replied, 'I will always be there for you.' Soon, by the power of his meditation, he healed the king. The king thanked him and seeked his counsel always. 

Moral:- A true friend always helps during problems. 

The Hermit and the Princess

 A king prayed as his kingdom was facing severe drought. People and cattle were dying. The angels appeared in his dream and said, 'A powerful man with magical powers lived on the mountains. Send your daughter there. If he marries her, then he will come to the city.' The princess agreed. She met the man and impressed him with her beauty and intelligence. He married her and travelled back to the palace. He prayed sincerely for many days, and soon, it started raining. The king thanked the man. The princess and the man lived happily. 

Morality:- Help others with your talents. 

The Hawk and the Nightingale

 A hawk spotted a nightingale and caught her. The nightingale pleaded, 'Why do you want to eat me? I am so small. You will still be hungry.' The hawk said, 'I am hungry and have not eaten for days.' The nightingale said, 'Why don't you hunt for bigger birds?'  The hawk said, 'Do you think I am foolish that I will let go of you to catch something that I can't even see now? I will first eat you and then hunt for more food.' He ate the nightingale. 

Moral:- Look  for a way out rather than pleading with the wicked. 

The Corn and the Thresher

 Once, a sheaf of corn was being thrashed by the thresher. The corn said to the thresher, 'Nature has covered me with a nice green leaf. Humans like me because I am their food, then why do they treat me so badly?' The thresher said, 'Your seeds are eaten by humans. It is only when you are thrashed that your seeds come out. If you are not thrashed then your seeds aren't discovered.' The corn realised that he was considered useful only after being thrashed. He never complained about being thrashed or beaten again. 

Morality:- One must not complain as difficulties have hidden blessings. 

The Water Demon's Question

 Three princes were hunting in the forest. The youngest prince went for a drink in a lake when a water demon appeared and asked, 'Who is truly good?' He said, 'The sun and the moon.' The answer was wrong. So the demon pulled him inside the pool. When the second prince came, the water demon asked the same question. His reply was wrong, so he was pulled inside the pool, too. To the demon's question, the eldest prince replied, 'He who does no wrong is truely good!' This was correct! The water demon, happily, released his two brothers. 

Moral:- Use your common sense. 

The Teacher and the Farmer

 A teacher and a farmer went on a voyage. A storm broke out and the ship sunk. They escaped by clinging to a plank and floated to an island. The farmer found food and they ate well. Soon, a giant appeared and said, 'I am the keeper of this island. You can't stay here without answering my questions!' The teacher requested him to return after two days. In that time, he taught the farmer everything he knew. When the giant returned, he asked them questions and was satisfied with their knowledge. He changed into a boat and took them home safely. 

Moral:- Share your knowledge with others. 

Don't Trust Flatterers

 A clever rat lived in a hole with other rats. One day, the rat was hungry and peeped to see if it was safe outside. But he saw a cat waiting outside the hole. The clever rat said to another rat, 'I want to have the honour of your famous company.' 'Lead the way,' said the other rat. The rat said, 'How could I possibly go before such a famous rat?' The other rat was flattered and went out of the hole. The cat carried him away, immediately. The rat went out happily. 

Morality:- We must not trust flattery or flatterers. 

The Farmer and his Son

 A farmer's father passed away. He was so sad, he stopped eating or drinking or working in his fields. His son, Bipul thought, 'I must make father forget his grief.' He sat beside a dead cow and started crying. Then, he stopped eating and working. The farmer said, 'Your crying and not working will not bring the dead cow back!' Mike replied, 'If you think my actions are useless, then why are you crying over someone who is gone?' The farmer realised his mistake. He began to eat and work again. 

Moral:- There is no use crying over spilt milk. 

The Man and his Daughters

 A good man had two daughters. Chitra took care of the crops and Munia did pottery. One day, the man asked Chitra, 'How is your work?' She said, 'I hope that it rains as the crops need water!' But Munia said, 'I pray for dry weather to harden the pots!' The man prayed sincerely for his daughters as they wanted opposite things. Suddenly, the angel of kindness appeared and said, 'Your intentions are good. Don't be sad!' The next morning, his daughters said, 'Father! It rained in the fields! But, there was bright sunshine over the pots! Our work went on very well!'

Moral Gist:- If we wish well for all, only good things will happen. 

The Old Man's Treasure

 An old man thought, 'After my death, my wife might spend all the money.' So, he took his treasure to the forest and buried it. He said to his servant, 'Reveal this place only to my son.' Soon, he died. The wife said, 'My son, go with the servant and bring the hidden treasure.' But the servant started abusing the son in the forest. Disturbed, the son went to a wise man. He said, 'The place where the servant abused is the place where the treasure is buried. Just dig there.' The son found the treasure. 

Moral:- Cheaters are always caught. 

The Wicked Minister and the Cart Driver

 Once, a wicked minister had to halt his horse-cart as another cart had blocked the road. Enraged by the delay, the minister threw a stick at the cart driver. Strangely, the stick hit the cart, bounced back and hit the minister on his head. The angry minister complained to the King that the cart driver attacked him. But the King's chief advisor protested, 'A just King should not imprison the cart driver without hearing his side of the story.' The King learnt that the minister alone was to be blamed. He punished him. 

Moral:- Listen to both sides of the story. 

The Proud Spring

 Two Springs of water fell out of the fountain on a hill. One spring flowed slowly, while the other rushed noisily. The fast spring said proudly, 'Sister, if you flow so slowly, you may become dry. Look at me, people will use me to travel. Ships will sail wherever I flow, then I shall empty myself into the ocean.' Her sister calmly flowed down where many small brooks joined her along the way. But as luck has it, the fast spring joined her sister who had now become a river. She was ashamed and apologised for her pride. 

Moral:- Do not be too proud of your abilities. 

The Foolish Bird

 A beautiful Singing Bird lived in a cage. When the other birds were asleep, she sang throughout the night. One night, a Bat asked, 'Why do you only sing at night?' The bird replied, 'I am in this cage because I sang during the day. A bird catcher heard me and caught me. So, I only sing at night.' The Bat said, 'If you had done this before  you  may  be  free today. Your beautiful voice  should be heard in the day by people who are awake. Now, you disturb everyone at night!'

Moral:- There is no use thinking of the past. 

The Kind King and the Fairies

 A wise King ruled a country. There were constant droughts in his kingdom; crops failed and cattle died. Many people suffered without food and water. A sorcerer suggested, 'We must offer some animals.' The King did not agree as he was against the killing of animals. The ogres heard this and were displeased. They hid in the King's bedroom to kill him. However, the fairies drove the ogres away. Hearing the noise, the King woke up. The fairies said, 'Kind King, from now there will never be a shortage of food and water.'

Moral:- It is wrong to kill innocent animals. 

Encouraging Words Always Pay

 Once, an elephant trainer trained the King's elephant well. The King thought, 'This elephant will win every battle for me!' He challenged the neighbouring ruler to a battle. With the King on his back, the elephant entered the battlefield. He saw wounded soldiers and scary weapons and ran away. The trainer encouraged, 'Brave elephant! You are the most powerful creature! Win the battle and make your king proud!' The elephant was encouraged. He fought the enemy well. The King won the battle and rewarded the trainer for encouraging the elephant. 

Moral Gist:- A right word used at the right time always helps. 

Be Yourself

 Once, a music concert was held in the forest. All the birds took part in it. They came and sang their songs. When it was the mockingbird's chance to sing, he started imitating the other birds. All the birds were angry. They didn't like the mockingbird imitating them. A wren said, 'Mockingbird! You can sing beautifully. All the birds in the forest want to listen to your song. Please sing a new song for us. The Mockingbird tried but he could not sing a song of his own. He felt embarrassed and flew away. 

Moral:- Do not copy others. 

The Two Best Friends

 Hema and  Sulata lived in an orphanage. They were best friends. One day, two different families adopted them. So, they started living in two different towns. The girls exchanged pendants and promised to find each other when they grew up. Hema's parents loved her a lot. But Sulata's parents made her do all the chores. Many years passed. Once, Sulata was selling vegetables in the market. Suddenly, a beautiful girl stopped by. She stared  at Sulata's pendant and said, 'Sulata, I am Hema, your friend.' Sulata was very happy. Hema hugged her and took her home. 

Moral:- True friendship never fades. 

A Mother's Love

 A mother goose used to feed her young ones by the pond. She didn't allow any other animal to drink from the pond, thinking they might harm her babies. The goose drove away the ducks, chicken and cat. One day, a big strong dog came to drink. The mother goose pecked him and slapped him with her feathers. The furious dog said to the goose, 'Neither are you strong nor you have sharp teeth. But, I won't say anything to you because you are only protecting your children.' He drank water and went away. 

Moral Gist:- One must be sympathetic towards other's situation. 

The Wicked Gardener

 An old man had an orchard. When he died, his wicked gardener built a house in the orchard and declared it was his. The fairies in the orchard decided to teach him a lesson. They caused a strong wind to blow down all the fruits! The angry gardener shouted at four travellers who who were passing by, 'You spoiled my orchard!' He picked up a stick to beat them. However, being stronger than him, these travellers beat him very badly. Then, they carried him to the King's court. The King made enquiries and jailed the gardener for cheating! 

Morality:- Cheating and dishonesty are grave crimes. 

The Big Tree

A monkey, a sparrow and a fox lived near a big tree. One day, the monkey asked, 'Do you remember how big the tree was when you first saw it?' The fox said, 'When I was a baby, it was a mere bush.' The monkey said, 'When I was very young, I had to stretch my neck to reach its topmost leaves.' The sparrow said, 'I carried the seeds of a great tree here. That was the origin of this tree. So, I have known it since its birth.' The others respected the sparrow even more. 

Moral Gist:- Don't judge anyone by their size as each one has their own  value. 

No Job is Bad

 Once, a witch owned a broomstick. She used to fly everywhere on it and also used it to sweep her house. One day, the broomstick said, 'I have such a bad job. Every day, I carefully carry you around. Yet, you use me to sweep the floor. I think I should have a higher job.' The witch smiled and started cleaning her chimney with the broom. The broomstick started to complain again. The witch said, 'Instead of complaining, you should do your work well. No job is good or bad, as long as it is done properly!' The broomstick finally stopped complaining. 

Morality:- Love what you do. 

Dead Mouse Brought Luck

 A man could read signs and predict future. One day, he saw a dead mouse lying on the road. He said, 'Whoever picks up this dead mouse will soon start a business and marry a beautiful girl.' Young John overheard him. So, he picked up the dead mouse and sold it to a lady for her cat. With the money, he bought molasses, which he sold to a gardener. Thus, whatever work John did, he was always given a better reward. Soon, John set up a business and married a beautiful girl. They lived happily. 

Moral:- It is not good luck but enterprise and hard work that always pays. 

Good Company

 A King was fond of his elephant. Once, for two weeks, every night, the elephant heard thieves talking behind his shed. He grew violent. The King asked for his minister's help. That night, the minister stayed near the shed. He heard the conversation of the thieves and ordered, 'Post two soldiers near the shed. From tomorrow, the priests will speak of good values outside the elephant's shed.' The elephant heard only about goodness and kindness. He became calm and friendly again. The minister said, 'It is Important for us to keep good company.'

Moral:- One learns good things from good company. 

Kakali and Sumana

 Pretty Kakali only made friends with pretty children. One day, Kakali and her friends went for a school picnic and enjoyed themselves. One of her classmates, Sumana asked, 'Will you play with me?' Kakali said, 'I don't like to talk to ugly people like you.' Sumana felt very bad but kept quiet. After sometime, 'she heard a loud shriek. She saw that Kakali had fallen in the lake and was drowning. Sumana jumped into the lake and saved Kakali's life. Kakali was very ashamed. She apologised to Sumana and they became friends. 

Moral:- A good heart is better than good looks. 

Quality Matters, Not Quantity

 Once, the people of a kingdom started quarreling about their children. They said, 'Whoever has the most children is the most superior!' A woman said, 'Let us go to our King and ask him.' They asked, 'Majesty! Please tell us, who among us has the most number of children? That person will be superior-most in the kingdom.' The wise King said, 'I have only one daughter. She is a kind, honest and a well-mannered child. Indeed, I am very proud of her.' The people realised their mistake and stopped fighting. 

Moral:- It is better to have a good child than many bad children. 

Clever Jatin

 Jatin was educated but unemployed. He decided to wait for the king at the palace gate and ask for a job. While waiting, Jatin counted the people who went in through the palace gate. When the King came out for a walk, Jatin said, 'Majesty, I waited all day to see you. In the meantime, I noticed that out of ten strangers that went in, only nine came out.' The soldiers found the stranger hiding in the King's chamber, ready to kill him. The grateful King appointed Jatin as an army commander. 

Moral Gist:- Observe more than just looking at things. 

Revenge Brings No Good

 A cat and a sparrow were best friends. They always played together. One day, the sparrow met another sparrow. The two started talking and became friends. One day, the two sparrows had a big fight. When the first sparrow returned home, she said, 'Dear friend cat! I want to take revenge on the other sparrow. Please kill her!' The cat pounced on the other sparrow and ate her up. She thought, 'Ah! I didn't know that sparrows are so tasty!' Thus, she went home and ate her friend sparrow, too. 

Moral:- Don't be revengeful but learn to forgive. 

Arnab's House

 Once, Arnab decided to build a house for himself. His friends said, 'Arnab's house would be the envy of all.' After some months, Arnab's house was ready. Everybody gathered to see how the new house looked. The house was very small in size. It did not have many rooms or a large garden. Arnab's friends said, 'This looks like a store room! There is no space outside, too, to grow plants.' Arnab replied, 'I created this house for myself not for you. In fact, if you were my true friends, you all would have not been so critical.'

Morality:- True friends are better than many friends. 

The Wise Man's Justice

 There were four wicked ministers in a King's court. They were unjust and took bribes. Everyone was troubled by them, but could not openly complain to the King. Then, some people met a wise man and asked for his help. The wise man spoke to the King, 'Majesty, you need to check your ministers. They are unjust and wicked.' When the King enquired about his ministers, he realised that the wise man was right. So, he banished the ministers and appointed the wise man as his chief justice. The wise man did his duty well. 

Moral Gist:- Always be fair and just. 

Education is Important

 A great King wanted to send his son to a good school. However, the son pleaded, 'Father, I don't want to leave the comfortable liife.' The King replied, 'Son, you must be welleducated. It will help you  to rule the kingdom well.' Unwillingly, the son left. Five years later, the enemies attacked. The son was well trained. So, he fought and defeated the enemies. The king said, 'Son, never misunderstand your parents. All parents take decisions for their children's good.' The son apologised to his father for mistaking his motive. 

Moral Gist:- Education and learning helps a man throughout his life. 

Don't Trust Strangers

 Mary was a rich but foolish girl. She would blindly trust strangers. Once, she visited a new coffee shop. Mary decided to buy it and asked a man, 'Excuse me! I want to buy this shop. Where can I find the owner?' The man said, 'I am the owner. Give me hundred gold coins and the shop is yours.' Then, he took the money and went away. Mary said, 'Waiters, I am the new owner of this shop.' A lady said, 'But this shop is mine!' Mary was careful with strangers from that day on. 

Moral Gist:- Strangers must not be trusted. 

The Chameleon

 Once, a man said, 'The chameleon is green as I saw it sitting on a tree yesterday.' His friend said, 'I know the chameleon is blue for I saw it under the clear blue sky.' The third friend said, 'Don't fight. I caught a black chameleon last night.' He came back with the chameleon in a white paper box. The three friends were shocked because it was white! The chameleon said, 'God has blessed me with the power to change the colour of my body according to the surroundings and protect myself from my enemies.' 

Moral:- Do not believe in rumours. 

The Royal Priest's Son

 A royal priest used to arrange for an Annual Festival in a kingdom. When he died, the ministers said, 'Majesty, the priest's Son is young and doesn't know anything. He can't conduct the Festival.' The son begged, 'The Festival is weeks away, Majesty. I will study hard and become capable. Please, give me two weeks time.' The King agreed. After 2 weeks, the priest's son went to the king and said, 'Majesty, allow me to arrange the Festival as I have the skills.' The King allowed him to arrange the Festival and he did really well. 

Morality:- No one is too young to perform big tasks. 

The Boastful Prince

 A boastful prince once told his friends, 'Tomorrow, I shall go to the forest and hunt a bear.' His friends said, 'Let's see what he does!' The next day, as they walked through the forest, the prince asked a woodcutter, 'Have you seen the footprints of a bear?' 'Yes,' said the woodcutter, 'I will take you to it's den.' The prince went pale with fear. 'That won't be necessary!' he stammered. 'I am looking for tracks, not for the bear itself!' The Prince's friends realised that he had been lying about her bravery. 

Moral Gist:- Boasting does not save you from difficulties. 

The Priest's Son

 A Priest's son wanted to become a hermit and pray all day long. But his parents wanted him to marry and have a family. One day, he made a girl's image in gold and said, 'I will only marry a girl like her, who is pure and calm.' The priest searched everywhere for the girl. Finally, in a village, the people said, 'This looks just like the headman's daughter. She prays to God all day long.' The priest's son married the girl and they both lived happily ever after. 

Moral Gist:- People who think alike can be very happy together. 

Don't Set Bad Examples

 A monkey once lived with the humans. He learnt to live and dress like humans. One day, the monkey went to the forest. When his brothers saw him, they were impressed with his dress and manners. The monkey said, 'If you all want to look like me then follow what I tell you to do.' Then he told them about the bad habits of the humans. The other monkeys happily followed that monkey. They started hurting their closest friends and started lying. An old monkey stopped them and said, 'Learn only good habits from others.'

Morality:- Do not teach bad habits to others. 

Lion's Friendship with the Jackal

 A lion fell into wet mud and was stuck. A jackal pulled him out. The lion was so greatful that he invited the jackal and his family to live near his cave. One day, the lioness thought, 'What if the jackal and his family harm the lion?' She frightened the jackal's family. They were about to leave when the lion stopped them. Then he told the lioness, 'A friend can be small or weak. Do not hurt or frighten the jackal or his family again!' The lioness never troubled the jackal family again. 

Moral Gist:- Friendship doesn't see size or power. 

A Partridge's Sorrow

A hunter trained a Partridge to attract and kill other birds. The sad Partridge vowed to keep quiet. However, the angry hunter hit on its head and the Partridge cried out in pain. Many birds flew towards it and were captured. One day, the hunter felt thirsty and went to the monk's house. With its master asleep, the Partridge asked the monk, 'Is it my mistake that birds die?' The monk said, 'You never intended to get the poor birds killed. So, you aren't guilty.' The happy Partridge flew away from there. 

Morality:- Do not force others to commit crimes. 

The King who Hated Old People

 A King disliked old People. After ordering his parents to leave his kingdom, he declared, 'All the old must leave the kingdom.' Out of fear, the people followed the King's orders. Without the experience and wisdom of the elderly people, things started going wrong. The fairy queen disguised herself as an old woman. The king saw her and said, 'You are old. You can't live here!' The old woman smiled and the king suddenly became old. 'We will leave together,' she said. 'All the old people must return,' said the king realising his mistake. 

Moral Gist:- Show kindness and compassion towards the old. 

Wise Saul

 Joe went on a journey. He met some wicked goblins who said, 'Don't carry water! There is a lake ahead!' Joe ordered his men to throw away jars. Later, the thirsty men found no water! While they slept, goblins ate them. Joe's friend Saul met goblins too on his journey. Not believing them, Saul said, 'Men, preserve water and use it wisely. Keep your spears handy!' Saul saw Joe's abandoned carts and took them. His men were armed so, the goblins didn't attack. Saul earned great profits by selling his goods. 

Moral Concept:- Wisdom and presence of mind helps during problems. 

The Clever Friends

 Once, a little Rabbit lived in an underground burrow. He had seen a sly Fox many times, waiting for him to come out as he could not enter the burrow through the small hole. One day, the Rabbit saw the fox chatting with the weasel. The Rabbit thought, 'Their friendship cannot possibly bring me any harm.' But he was wrong. Soon the weasel entered his burrow and attacked the Rabbit. The Rabbit had to run out of the burrow to save himself from the Weasel. But the fox, waiting outside, immediately pounced on him. 

Moral:- We should always be cautious. 

The Foolish Sparrows

 A flock of sparrows lived in a farmyard. One day, a kite came to the farmyard and searched for food. The sparrows said to each other, 'We must do something, otherwise the kite it will eat us.' So, the oldest sparrow asked a hawk, who lived close by, 'A kite is trying to kill all the sparrows. Please help us by killing the kite.' The hawk agreed. The next day, The hawk easily killed the kite. The sparrows happiness didn't last long. The hawk started killing the sparrows for food. 

Morality:- If you hurt someone, you will be hurt, too. 

The Hunter is Tricked

 A hunter followed a fox to her house. He dug a pit, covered it with twigs and put a piece of meat on it. Then, he hid behind a tree and waited. After some time, the fox came out and saw the piece of meat. He thought, 'This looks like trouble. I will not eat it.' He Went back in her house. Later, a tiger saw the piece of meat. He leapt and fell inside the pit. The hunter heard the noise and jumped inside the pit. The tiger at once killed him and ate him. 

Moral:- Look Before you leap. 

The Monk and the Tree Spirit

 A monk went to a forest. He lit a lamp and offered flowers and incense to the spirit residing in the tree. The spirit, disguised as an old man, asked the monk, 'Why do you worship this tree?' The monk replied, 'I want to start a school for needy children. I am praying to the tree spirit as I need money.' The tree spirit said, 'Your devotion will be rewarded.' Then, it gave the monk a treasure that was buried under the tree. The monk's school soon opened and flourished. 

Moral:- If your intention is good, God will always help you. 

You Reap What You Sow

 One day, a cruel King went for hunting in the forest. The King saw a wolf chase a fox. The wolf bit the fox, but the fox managed to escape. Soon, he saw a hunter shoot the same wolf. Within minutes, the Hunter's horse stepped over his foot and lamed him forever. The King realised that they were all punished for doing bad to others. He prayed, 'Dear God! Please forgive me for being cruel.' The King went back and apologised to his people. He became a kind and loving King. 

Moral:- Do good and others will do good for you. 

Nice People Always Get Help

 A lion killed a deer and was eating it. Just then, a thief passed through the forest. He said, 'Dear lion! I am hungry. Why don't you share this food with me? The lion replied, 'I will not share with you. You always steal things that do not belong to you.' Hearing this, the thief went away. Then a traveller walked through the forest and tended to an injured bird. The lion said, 'Come and share this food with me.' The traveller took the deer. The lion took this and share to his den. 

Morality:- No one likes to help dishonest people. 

The Monkey and the Crocodile

 A monkey lived on a tree near a river. A crocodile couple wanted to eat the monkey's heart. Once, the husband said to the monkey, 'Climb up on my back. I'll take you to a place where there are tasty berries.' The monkey agreed. Soon, the crocodile dived into the water saying, 'My wife wants to eat your heart.' The clever monkey said, 'But I have left my heart on the tree! Let's bring it.' When the husband swam back to the bank, the clever monkey jumped off and climed his tree. 

Morality:- A witty mind always saves one from danger. 

The King and the Wise Man

 A king invited a wise man to his palace. He was extremely impressed by the wise man's conduct and said, 'My palace will be blessed if you start living here.' The wise man replied, 'A true hermit must live in nature. I have nothing to do with royalty.' The King said, 'Sir, before you leave, ask for anything you want. I shall not refuse it.' The wise man replied, 'I have all I need. You are a king. Rule well and be a just king.' The King always did his duty well. 

MORAL:- Don't be too greedy for material things. 

The Talkative King

 A King was very talkative. One day, the King was walking in his garden with his chief advisor. Suddenly, a young cuckoo fell dead at the King's feet. The wise advisor said, 'Majesty, a crow mistook an egg for its own. However, when it hatched and cried out, the crow understood that it was not a young crow. So, the crow pecked at it till it died and he pushed it out of the nest. Whoever speaks too much, human or bird, suffers the same fate.' The King took care not to speak more than required. 

MORAL:- Silence is Golden. 

Stealing is a Sin

 Once, a scholar said to his students, 'Whoever steals and brings gold and silver ornaments to me will marry my beautiful daughter.' All the boys wanted to marry the beautiful girl. So, they set off. However, one of the boys did not go and said, 'Sir, stealing is a Sin. I can't commit a sin just to marry the girl I desire. If this angers you, I will leave.' The scholar said, 'I had decided to test you all. You alone have proven to be worthy of her.' The boy and scholar's daughter were married. 

Morality:- An honest man is always rewarded. 

The Two Doctors

 An old man fell ill and called for a doctor. Soon, the old man sent for another doctor. The second doctor gave a different treatment from what was advised by the first doctor. The two doctors continued treating the old man for two different sicknesses. One day, the doctors met by chance at the old man's bedside and started arguing. The old man woke up and said, 'Please stop arguing. You didn't ask me the problem just prescribed medicines. I have been well for ten days without taking either of your medicines.'

Morality:- A doctor should listen well to his patients. 

The Happy Hen

 A hen was crackling on a firm, near a swamp. A frog called out, 'Mrs. Hen, please be quiet.' The hen stopped at once and looked up at the frog in surprise. The frog continued, 'Why are you making such a racket?' The hen asked, 'Can't you see I have laid an egg?' Oh, such a lot of noise over one egg!' said the frog. 'I never complain when you croak at night. Today, I am singing because I have done something good, though it may be small.' said the hen. 

Morality:- You must learn to share the happiness of others. 

Love Your True Self

 God created man as his best work. When animals saw man, they started imitating him. The lion took on man's strength and dynamism. The fox imitated man's cleverness. The dog gained man's friendly nature. The parrot started talking in the human tongue. The ape controlled his hands. The cat adopted man's elegant walk, sharp looks and serious nature. But Destiny said, 'You all have gained manly qualities but you should not be unhappy with their original selves.' Destiny taught them to inculcate the qualities of others, but not to dislike their true self. 

MORAL:- Everyone has unique qualities in them. 

The Merchant and the Mermaid

 A kind merchant always fed the poor. Soon, his money ran out. He thought, 'I must go to the enchanted city and bring more gold.' While sailing, he stopped at an island and met an old man. He gave him food and water. Soon, a storm arose and the ship sank. When he was drowning, a mermaid rescued him. She said, 'I am the old man you were so kind to. What do you want?' The merchant said, 'Gold to provide for the poor.' She gave him a ship and lots of gold. 

Moral:- Help the poor and God will help you. 

The Brave Horse

 A dog was roaming in the jungle. Just then, he saw a horse wearing a decorated saddle. The dog asked, 'Are you going for an important competition?' The horse said, 'I am going to the battle field.' The dog said, 'You are going to fight the enemy and you could lose your life. Stay back and we will enjoy.' The horse said, 'If I die, I shall die fulfilling my duty. I will protect my country and thus leave the memory of a good name behind.' The dog was impressed with his bravery and sacrifice. 

MORALITY:- ALWAYS FIGHT BRAVELY FOR THE RIGHT CAUSE.