The Snake and the Frogs in the Well

There was an old abandoned well in a forest.  It was a very old well.  Once upon a time, the well was full of water and people from the surrounding villages used to draw water from it.  However, over the years, the well had gradually fallen into disuse.  The water level in the well had gradually fallen as the rains had failed for a couple of years.  The water was now muddy and unfit for use for either drinking or washing.  People no longer came to draw water from the well.

The well was now home to a colony of frogs.  The frog lived by eating the little insects which lived in the water.  On the wall of well were some small steps which led out of the well and into the forest.  Sometimes, the frogs would hop up the steps and reach the land outside the well.  They would move around in search of some food.  They would be lucky to find a tasty grasshopper or a dragonfly.  Having eaten their fill, they would then return to the safety of their home in the well.

This went on for several months.  One day, a quarrel broke out between two frogs over an insect both of them claimed to have caught.  They two frogs argued with each other.  Soon their friends joined in support of the two frogs.  The argument soon turned into a bitter fight with the other frogs taking sides.  Thus the colony was divided into two groups now.  The frogs stopped talking to one another.  The two groups of frogs divided the well into two parts.  From then on, the frogs did not venture on to the group of the rival side.  They caught insects on their side alone.

This hostile environment continued for many days.  One day, another fight broke out between two frogs belonging to the rival groups.  One group claimed that a frog from the opposite side had entered their area to catch an insect.  The fight became very violent and many frogs were injured in the clash. 
One day, a particularly violent fight left many frogs injured.  The leader of one of the groups, Rajayona was also among the injured frogs.  Rajayona was an elderly frog.  He was angry at the insult.  He could not move for many days.  After he recovered, Rajayona decided to take revenge on the other frogs.  He could not live together in the same well with them.  He pondered over what he could do for many days.  He and his friends could not defeat the other group of frogs.  They were too strong for them.

One day, Rajayona hopped over the steps of the well and came up to the forest.  The previous few days had been too much for him.  Bruised and battered, he now needed some fresh air and a change of environment.  The forest and its many delights had a soothing influence on him.  Rajayona, though, was still angry and resentful.

As Rajayona, was walking through the forest, he came across a tortoise.  The tortoise asked him the reason for his sorrowful appearance.  Rajayona, at first, pretended not to listen to him.  The tortoise asked him again.  Rajayona narrated the story of the frogs and their quarrels in the well.  He told the tortoise how he and his followers had got beaten up.

The tortoise told him that he knew of a snake which lived further away.  The snake, he said, would gobble up his enemies.  Rajayona was too angry to think much of the idea.  He just wanted to get rid of the rival frogs.   Nevertheless, Rajayona was afraid of the snake.  But the tortoise reassured him saying that the snake would eat only the frogs he was asked to eat.  Rajayona was still nervous.  The tortoise then took him to the snake’s hole under a rock and called out to the snake.  The snake slithered out of its hole.  The tortoise told the snake of Rajayona’s plight and asked for his help.
The snake gladly agreed.  He was happy at the prospect of easy meals for a few days.  Rajayona, thus led the snake to the well.  The sight of the snake led the frogs scurrying under water.  The snake crawled down the well and found a hole in the wall of the well.  It made its home there.

Over the next few days, the snake gobbled up the enemies of Rajayona one by one.  Rajayona was pleased.  He had gotten rid of his enemies.  The well would now belong to only him and his friends.  Soon, all the frogs of the rival group had been eliminated.  Rajayona and his friends were delighted.
But their joy was short lived.  A week later, Rajayona was shocked to find one of his own followers go missing.  The other frogs searched everywhere in the well.  Scout parties were sent into the forest to see if the frog had gone to the forest.  But no trace of the missing frog could be found.  A few days later, two more frogs went missing.  Rajayona was now greatly disturbed and rather frightened.

He now knew what was happening.  The snake was hunting his own followers.  He cursed himself for being such a fool.  Consumed by anger and a thirst for revenge, he had brought about the destruction of his own kind.  But it was too late.  He was too afraid to confront his snake.

That evening, he quietly summoned his followers and told him about the tragedy that was unfolding.  His followers were too scared even to speak.  The next morning, before dawn, the Rajayona and his followed sneaked out of the well.  The snake was asleep in its hole.

Rajayona and his followers reached the forest.  They were homeless now.  They spent the rest of their lives wandering about the forest.  Every now and then, Rajayona would think of the well and the happy times he spent in it along with the other frogs and how he lost it because he wanted to see his rivals punished.

Children, this story tell us how we should always be able to reconcile our differences even with people who differ with us.  Had the frogs sorted out their differences when the first argument over the insect had cropped up, all of them could have lived in peace in the well.

The Snake and the Ants

Once upon a time there lived a snake in a forest.  The snake was extremely powerful and strong.  It had lived there for many years.  It was also extremely poisonous.  Besides, it was also very wicked at heart.

All the other inhabitants of the forest lived in terror of the snake.  The snake would slither about the forest floor.  It would strike without warning with its sharp and venomous fangs.  Any small animal which was unlucky enough to be in the snake’s path met a terrifying death.

Once there lived a pair of birds which built a nest on a tree.  The branch was high on the tree.  But that was no defence against the snake as it could climb trees.

The birds built their nest in one of the branches.  Soon, the female bird laid three eggs.  The eggs were the pride and joy of the birds.  The sat over it to keep it warm.  After a few days, three beautiful chicks emerged from the eggs.  The joy of the parents knew no bounds.

Every day, the birds flew far and wide in search of food for their young ones.  They returned in the evening with food for their hungry chicks.  The chicks were growing fast.  The birds were very happy.

But one day, tragedy struck.  The chirps of the young birds had attracted the evil snake.  The snake crept up the tree stealthily.   The parents were away in their search for food.   Soon the snake reached the nest where the three chicks lay helpless.  Within no time, the snake gobbled them up.

It was a heart rending sight when the parents returned home and found the nest empty and their precious babies gone.  The birds were heartbroken.  They mourned their kids for many days.  The other animals and birds which lived nearby were sad at the tragedy which had befallen the birds.
They were angry at the snake.  But they were powerless to act against it.

There were many animals in the forest which had suffered at the hands of the wicked snake.  Some had lost young ones.  Others had been seriously wounded by the snake’s venom.
There was an anthill in the forest.  The anthill was home to thousands of tiny ants.  These ants lived on the forest floor.  They were a disciplined lot.  The worked hard the whole year and stored their food in the anthill.

The anthill had many chambers.  Some of these chambers contained food which the ants had collected as they foraged about the forest floor.

Other chambers contained the larvae of the ants.  These larvae which looked like small worms would eventually grow into adult ants.  At the centre of the colony was the queen.  The queen was the mother of the colony.  All the ants had hatched out of the eggs she had laid.

The ants were thus one big family.  They had lived in the colony for many generations.
One day, as the snake was moving about in the forest, he came across the ant hill.  The snake had been looking for a new burrow to stay in.  He had grown big and fat and felt that his home was too small for him.

As he looked at the ant-hill, he knew that it was the right place for him.  The ant hill was made of soft mud which would be warm and cozy. 

The snake looked to see whose house it was.  As he looked closely, he could see the ants.  They were tiny and appeared to be week.  He sneered at the ants in disdain.  He stood in front of the ant-hill and put up his threatening pose.  He lifted his head and spread his hood.  Any other animal would have fled in terror at such as frightening display.  But not the ants, they went about their task as usual.
The snake was incensed. He was used to seeing animals fleeing for their lives as he approached.  Here were teeny-weeny ants not even bothering about his presence.

Seething with anger, the snake pounced on the ant-hill.  But it soon realized its folly; the ants were too small for the snake to the attack.  It thrashed about the anthill in vain.

The angry ants swarmed over the snake and bit it.  The snake wild with pain tried hard to shake off the ants.  But, the ants were too numerous.  As the snake rolled over the anthill, more and more ants began to swarm the snake.  Soon, there were thousands of angry ants over the snake.  The snake’s weapons, its sharp and poisonous fangs, which could have killed any animal in the forest, was useless in front of the  tiny ants.

The snake now realized what a terrible mistake he had made.  But it was too late.    The ants swarmed all over him and attacked him.  Soon, the snake was dead.

Children, this story teach us to be kind and humble when we have strength.  We should not bully the weak and the helpless.  One day, we might find that the tables are turned and we may be at others’ mercy.

The Snake and Frog-king

Once upon a time, there lived a snake beside a lake.  It lived by hunting and eating small birds, frogs and other small animals which came to the lake to drink.  The snake was happy.  All the animals had to come to the lake in search of water.  It had no shortage of prey.

The years passed, the snake grew old.  It lost its speed and strength. It could no longer hunt as before.   As it lay in its burrow thinking, it suddenly hit upon a plan.

The next day, it slithered to the shore of the lake and lay in the sand at the water’s edge.  It lay absolutely still.

A few  days later, the king of the frogs gathered enough courage to come near the motionless snake.  He asked the snake the reason for his strange behaviour.  The snake put on a saintly look and replied, ”O king! Thank you for your concern.  I have been a sinner all my life.  I have killed and eaten many frogs, birds and mice.  I have even eaten my fellow snakes.”  The frog-king was taken aback by this strange confession.  The snake went on, ”I became proud and haughty and one day, last month, I bit the son of a holy man who lives in the nearby forest.  The holy man grew angry at my wickedness and cursed me with a strange sickness which has made me weak. He said that my sickness will be cured only if I make penance for my sins by serving you”, he said.

The Frog-king was happy to see a former predator brought to its knees.  With a pompous smile, he said, “How can you be of service to us?”.  The wily snake replied, “If Your Majesty permits, I can carry you and your subjects on my back around the lake for 90 days.  That should be penance enough”, it said.

The frog-king was delighted at the thought of him riding a snake around the lake.  No other frog in the world would have this privilege.  He would make his mark in history.

The next day, the inhabitants of the lake witnessed the strangest sight they had seen in their lifetimes.  The snake carrying the frog-king and his subjects on his back.  The frog-king was delighted.  His adoring subjects hailed him as the “Emperor of the lake”.  His pride and joy knew no bounds.

This went on for a few weeks.  One day the snake lay on the shore of the lake.  It appeared to be weak and emaciated.  The Frog-king asked him the reason.  The snake replied, “I have not had food for a week.  I am very weak.  I may not be able to carry you any more.  I have only one request.  If it pleases your majesty, may I be permitted to eat one frog every two days”.

The frog-king was angered at the snake’s audacity.  He was asking his permission to eat his own subjects.

However, his vanity got the better of him.  He loved his imperious rides on the snake’s back around the lake.  He secretly acceded to the snake’s request.  His subjects were unaware of this.

The next day, the frogs and the snake went on their ride across the lake.  When no one was looking, the snake gobbled a frog.  The frog-king noticed this but said nothing.  This went one over the next few weeks.  The frogs began to notice the disappearance of their friends and relatives.  They even brought this to the notice of the king.  But, the king dismissed their concerns.  “They must have gone away on some business”, he told the frogs, “They will return soon”.

As weeks passed, there were fewer and fewer frogs. Soon there was only the king left.  The foolish king did not see through the plan of the snake even then.  He was too carried away by the rides through the lake.

The next day, the snake took up his position on the lake.  He frog-king came alone.  He tried to mount the snake and climb on to his back.  The snake gave a wicked grin and gobbled the frog-king.  That was the sad end of the vain and foolish king and his innocent subjects.

Children, this story tells us how obsession with power and position can destroy us and those around us.  Some people get carried away with power and position that they are ready to sacrifice anything and to compromise on their principles. 

A Threat to Others is a Threat to Ourselves

Once upon a time, there lived a mouse called Chintu in a farm.  He had lived in the farm for many years.  The farm was a large one.  Ratanlal was the owner of the farm.  He was a very rich man.  He lived in a large house beside the farm.

Chintu  lived in an animal shed inside the farm.  In the shed were the animals Ratanlal raised.  There was a hen.  It was a large and hefty bird. There was also a goat.  The goat was an aloof and distant creature.  It did not care for any body.     Every morning, the servants would bring a big bundle of green leaves for the goat to feed on.  That was all it cared about.

Being a mouse, Chintu was an unwelcome resident in the farm.  Ratanlal considered all mice to be pests which damaged his crops and stole his grain.

One day, Chintu was shocked to see a strange device in the Ratanlal’s hands.  It appeared to be a a metal plate.  Besides that was a hook with a spring.  Chintu was shocked.  He had seen the device at another farm nearby.  He knew what it was. It was a mousetrap.

Chintu was afraid.  Mousetraps could be dangerous, particularly when he was foraging at night for food.  He had to be more careful. That night, he gingerly stepped out of his hole.  He  moved very cautiously.  The mousetrap could be anywhere beneath his feet. 

He could eat very little food that night.  It managed to sneak back into his hole before dawn.

Soon it was day.  He looked out of his hole.  He could see the mousetrap.  It was hidden below some hay.  It was a wonder that he did not step on it.  He knew that he had to do something about the mousetrap.

The next day, he went to the hen and told him about the mousetrap and asked for its help in removing it.  But the hen looked at him with disdain.  “That is not my problem”, it said, “I will never get trapped in it.  Why should I care ?”.

Disappointed,  Chintu went to the goat.  “Surely, the goat will help.”, he thought.  He went to the goat and told him about the mousetrap.  The goat was eating some leaves.  He was angry at being disturbed.  “Why should a goat worry about a mousetrap ?”, he said.  “You don’t even deserve to be here. Who would care if you are alive or dead ?”, he said with a sarcastic smile.  Chintu, the mouse, felt helpless.

He went to his hole and stayed there.  He was scared of going out now.  Who knew where the servants hid the mousetrap; one false step and he would be dead even before he knew what was happening.

It was getting dark.    Chintu stayed at the hole.  He did not eat anything that night.  He soon fell asleep.  A few hours later, there was a snapping noise.  A few minutes later a cry of pain rang through the night.

Chintu warily peered out of his hole.  A few servants were hurriedly running to and fro.  In the distance, he could see Leelavati, the landlord’s wife. She was crying in pain.  He gradually learned
 what had happened.  A snake had accidentally crawled over the trap.  The trap had swung shut and the snake had got trapped.  Hearing the noise, the woman had come to see the trap.  She lifted the trap from the ground expecting to find a mouse.  As he put her hand on the trap, the snake had bit her.

Leelavati was made to rest in a bed.  Ratanlal, hurriedly called the doctor.  The snake was not a poisonous one.  Nevertheless, the bite made Leelavati very sick and weak.  She lay in bed for many days.

The neighbours came to visit her.  One of them, an elderly woman, asked Ratanlal to give his wife some chicken soup.  Ratanlal thought that it was a good idea.  He asked his servants to prepare chicken.  The servants caught the hen and slaughtered it.  The hen was dead.

Leelavati recovered gradually.  Ratanlal was immensely relieved.  He wanted to celebrate his good fortune by throwing a feast for all his friends and relatives.  Now, it was the goat’s turn.  He was slaughtered for his meat and a sumptuous feast was made out of him.

Only the mouse was alive.  The mouse trap was discarded.  Chintu lived there for many years  happily.

Children, this story teaches us to consider a danger to others as a danger to ourselves.  If we think a threat is others’ problem, then we are mistaken.  We need to help other with their problems and help them from danger before the danger eventually reaches us.