Category Archives: PANCHATANTRA TALES
34. THE DAY DREAMING BRAMIN
Long time ago there lived a who was extremely lazy and poor at the same time. He did not want to do any hard work but used to dream of being rich one day. He got his food by begging for alms. One morning he got a pot of milk as part of the alms. He was extremely delighted and went home with the pot of milk. He boiled the milk, drank some of it and put the remaining milk in a pot. He added slight curds in the pot for converting the milk to curd. He then lay down to sleep.
33. THE CROW AND THE WATER PITCHER
Long ago, there lived a crow in a jungle. Once he was wandering in search of water to quench his thirst. At last, he came flying over a village. There he saw a pitcher lying in front of a house. There was some water in it. The crow tried to reach the water, but couldn’t succeed. The water level was too low in the pitcher. The crow began to think of some practicable device and finally came up with a bright idea. He looked around and found a pebble. He picked up the pebble in his beak and dropped it into the pitcher.
The crow realised that the water level had risen a little. So he dropped more pebbles in the pitcher till the water level was high enough for his beak to touch it.
The thirsty crow then drank the water to his hearts content and flew away.
❖ Necessity is the mother of invention.
32. THE CRAB AND THE SNAKE
Once upon a time, there lived in a village, a youth by the name of Brahmadatta. One day, Brahmadatta had to go to some other town for some important business. His mother called Brahmadatta and said to him, “My dear son, don’t travel alone. Better take a companion with you. He can help you, at least, when you are in trouble.”
But Brahmadatta said, “Mother, I am a young man. I can very well take care of myself. Besides, who do I take with me as companion?”
31. THE CLEVER JACKAL AND DEAD ELEPHANT
Once upon a time, there lived a jackal in a dense forest. His name was Mahachaturaka. He was very clever. One day, while he was wandering in search of food, he came across a dead elephant. He wanted to eat its flesh, but his teeth were not strong enough to cut through the tough hide of the elephant. So, he waited patiently for someone to come around.
In the meantime, a lion came there. The jackal said to him, “Your Majesty, please have a taste of the elephant. I have been guarding it for you only.”
