Category Archives: PANCHATANTRA TALES
58. THE GOLDEN BIRDS AND THE GOLDEN SWANS
Once upon a time there lived a mighty king in the state of Rajasthan. He had a beautiful palace in the ‘city of lakes’. One such lake surrounded his palace with a beautiful garden around it. There were many golden swans living at this lake. These golden swans used to shed golden feathers everyday. The king collected all such feathers and kept them in his state treasury.
Once, a huge golden bird came flying to the lake. He perched on the branch of a tall tree standing near the lake. He liked the lake’s sweet water very much and decided to make the lake his home. But the other swans didn’t tolerate his presence there.
57. THE GOLDEN BIRD AND THE KING
Long, long ago, there lived a magic bird by the name of Sindhuka in a thick forest. It laid golden eggs.
Once a fowler came to the forest. While hunting, he came near the tree in which lived the magic bird. He saw the bird laying golden eggs. He caught the bird in his net and returned home. But he was afraid of keeping the bird in his captivity. He thought that the magic bird would lay him golden eggs. Soon he would be rich. The king might think that he became rich by stealing others’ money. He might send him to jail. So it was better that he himself presented the magic bird to the king.
56. THE GIRL WHO MARRIED A SNAKE
Once upon a time, there lived a Brahmin and his wife who had no children. They prayed to God every day in the hope that they would be blessed with a child.
One fine day, the Brahmin’s wife did give birth to a baby, but it was a snake! All the villagers, their friends and relatives advised them to get rid of the baby snake. But the Brahmin’s wife did not care that her baby was a snake. She loved it all the same and refused to get rid of it.
55. THE GIANT AND THE HORSE THIEF
Long ago, there lived a king by the name of Bhadrasen. He had a beautiful daughter, whose name was Ratnavati. Besides these two, there was the third, a giant, living in the nearby forest. The wicked giant had evil designs on princess Ratnavati. The giant loved her and wanted to marry her. But he was unable to lay his hands on the princess because she wore an amulet round her neck, which saved her from all the evils. The giant used to come to the room of the princess and embarrass her in many ways.
Once the giant entered the room of the princess and hid himself behind a long curtain. He heard the princess talking to her friends and saying, “I’m very much pestered by a powerful giant everyday. Can you suggest some way to kill him?”
