panchatantra -The LAPWINGS AND THE SEA

THE LAPWINGS AND THE SEA

One should always fight against injustice

Once upon a time, there lived a lapwing and his wife on a sea-shore. When it was time for the lapwing's wife to lay eggs, she said to her husband. "I don't want to lay eggs here on the sea shore. The sea might eat up my eggs. Let us go to some pond or lake." "Don't be foolish", said the lapwing. "Even our ancestors laid eggs here. Let the sea eat our eggs. I'll teach him a lesson, if he tries to do so . The lapwing's wife laid eggs on the sea-shore and flew in the sky in search of food. But when she came back to the sea-shore, she was shocked to see all her eggs missing. She began to weep. When the lapwing came to know about it, he became red with rage. He called a meeting of all the birds and narrated to them the unjust and cruel exercise of power by the sea. Addressing all the other birds around him, he said, "Today the sea has swept away our eggs. Tomorrow it might be your turn." The birds understood the logic and became highly upset over this incidence. They decided to meet their king, the eagle. The king eagle was infuriated to hear the story of the lapwing. He said to the birds, "Don't worry. I'll punish the sea for his misdeeds right now. I'll suck all its water and make it dry." Lord Vishnu who was holding a conference in the heaven heard the outcry of the birds. He despatched his messenger to king eagle and told him to wait. Then Lord Vishnu himself addressed the sea and put a condition before him that either he should return the lapwing's eggs or else he should be prepared to lose existence. The sea god was frightened to hear Lord Vishnu's commands. He returned the eggs to the lapwing. He also promised that he will never wash away the birds'eggs lying on the sea-shore, in future.

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panchatantra-THE JACKAL AND THE DRUM

           THE JACKAL AND THE DRUM
                           
                                  Greed is always harmful

Once upon a time, in a jungle there lived a jackal by the name of Gomaya. One day, he was very hungry and was wandering in search of food. While wandering, he came across a battle field. There he saw a big drum lying under a tree. When the wind blew, a tender branch grown at the root of the tree struck the drum producing sound of a drum beat. The jackal examined the drum from all sides and then beat the drum with his front paws. The drum made a sound. Now the jackal thought that there might be some other small animal inside the drum and that would make a very tasty meal for him. But he found the top of the drum too tough to tear off. 

The jackal thought of a plan and began to beat the drum with both his front paws.The sound of drumbeat filled the whole jungle. A leopard who was attracted towards the sound of the drum, came near it. The jackal said to the leopard, "Your Majesty, there is some animal hiding inside the drum. Since you have sharp claws and strong teeth, you can tear off the top of the drum and catch your prey inside the drum. 

The leopard was himself hungry So he hit the top of the drum with his heavy paws. The drum burst with a sound, but there was no animal inside. The drum was empty. 

Seeing the empty drum, the leopard became very angry and said to the jackal, "You have wasted my time. There is no food inside the drum. So I will kill and eat you." 

The leopard pounced upon the jackal and killed and ate him.

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