Stories from Aparïksitakárakam (Imprudence)
The stories from Aparïksitakárakam, Imprudence (Panchatantra – Book 5)can help kids understand the repercussions of acting without thinking. It tells us that we can easily lose what is important to us if we act without thinking.
Read Also: Panchatantra Stories- Moral Stories for Kids
The Musical Donkey
Once upon a time, there was a donkey that worked for a washerman. The donkey carried loads during the night and was set free to graze in the nearby fields at night. One night, while grazing he meets a jackal and they think of working together. They became friends. Both of them used to meet every night and would get food from nearby farms while the farmers slept. The donkey fed on vegetables whereas the jackal attacked the farmer’s poultry.
The donkey loved singing. One night, when they were stealing vegetables, the donkey expressed his desire to sing. The jackal rebuked donkey’s plan. He warned him that singing while stealing vegetables from a farm is not a wise idea. The donkey did not listen to the advice by the jackal and started singing. His song woke the farmers up. The jackal ran to save his life while the donkey was beaten up with sticks.
Short Panchatantra Stories: Moral of the Story
There is always a right time and place for everything.
Read Also: Top 6 Short Panchatantra Stories for Kids
The Mongoose and The Brahmin’s Wife
Once upon a time, in a village, there lived a Brahmin’s family. The Brahmin, his wife, and his baby boy lived in their small house. They had a pet mongoose. The little boy and the pet played together and were very fond of each other. One day, when the brahmin was busy in the fields, his wife let the little boy in the cradle and went to the market. While the mongoose was guarding the baby, he saw the cobra entering the house. As soon as the mongoose saw the snake come near the boy’s cradle, he quickly attacked him and killed him.
When the mongoose welcomed the Brahmin’s wife with blood all over his mouth. The Brahmin’s wife panicked and thought that the mongoose had killed the baby. She immediately lifted her stick and beat the mongoose up until he was dead. When she went inside, she found that the baby was sleeping peacefully in his cradle.
She repented her action and realized her mistake.
Short Panchatantra Stories: Moral of the Story
One should always think before acting. Do not act in haste.
The Lion That Sprang to Life
Once upon a time, four brahmin friends lived in a village. Three of them had in-depth knowledge of the holy scriptures. The fourth one was not very well versed with the scriptures. They decided to come into the eyes of the king with the display of the knowledge. The went to the king’s court and took their dimwitted fourth friend with them.
On their way to the king’s court, they saw something lying on the ground. Boasting their skills, all of them started guessing what it was. It was the carcass of a lion. The three learned brahmins decided that with the use of their skills, they will bring the lion back to life. The fourth friend requested not to make the dead lion alive and pointed out that it can be a dangerous idea. None of them listened to him. The fourth friend quickly climbed the tree before the three learned brahmins started executing their plan. The three brothers were extremely glad by seeing that their plan actually worked. But as soon as the lion came back to life, he killed the three learned Brahmins and ate them.
Short Panchatantra Stories: Moral of the Story
Knowledge without common sense is useless.
Read Also: Panchatantra Stories – Stories from Mitralabha (Gaining of Friends)
The Tale of Two Fishes and A Frog
Once upon a time, there lived many fishes and a frog in a pond. All of them were very good friends. They all played happily in the pond. They were together all the time. One day, two fishermen came to their pond and laid their eyes on the fishes. They decided to come the next day to catch the fishes. The friends overheard two fishermen talking. The frog suggested that they should leave this pond and move to another pond. The fishes refused to leave. Seeing this the frog couple decided to go away from the pond to save its life.
The fishes thought that they could easily fool the fishermen with their swimming tricks. Next day, both the fishes were caught into the fisherman’s trap. They tried to escape but in vain.
Short Panchatantra Stories: Moral of the Story
Safety comes first, don’t be overconfident in the face of danger.
The Bird with Two Heads
Once upon a time, a strange bird lived on a tree. The bird had two heads. Each head had a mind of its own. Each head would happily cooperate with the other head for the survival of the bird. The bird lived a very normal life. One day while the heads saw a fruit on the other tree. Both the heads found the fruit to be very exotic. The heads started fighting. Both the heads wanted the fruit for himself. One of the heads suggested that they should not fight and instead give the fruit to the wife.
Although the other head agreed, he was not happy. The other head decided to teach a lesson to the first head. On finding a poisonous fruit on a tree, the other head offered it to the first head. The first head consumed it happily. The bird died immediately after consuming the fruit, leaving both the minds useless.
Short Panchatantra Stories: Moral of the Story
This story has two morals: Being in a state of two minds is dangerous. And, every part of the body is important – loss of even can harm the whole body.
Read Also: Best Panchatantra Stories for Kids
The Brahmin’s Dream
Once upon a time, there lived a poor Brahmin in a village. He was all alone and had no relatives and friends. He begged for his living and sometimes he had to go without food for many days. One day, he received an earthen pot full of porridge by a generous person. He took the pot home carefully and hung it beside his bed. He lay on the bed and fell asleep. He soon started dreaming and dreamt that his village was affected by a famine. He dreamt of having exchanged his pot for a hundred gold coins.
He kept on dreaming and dreamt that with the hundred gold coins, he brought a pair of cows and goats. He dreamt of making more money by trading milk. He also dreamt of marrying a rich merchant’s daughter. In his dream, he sees himself relaxing at home when a group of kids would disturb him. He tried to scare the kids away in his sleep by a stick. He starts waving the stick around.
The brahmin wakes up immediately realizing that he had destroyed the only food he had. He repented his actions.
Short Panchatantra Stories: Moral of the Story
One should not build castles in the air.
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