Once, an old man and his son were going on foot to sell their donkey.
When they passed by a market, someone said, “Look! Though they have a donkey, they are going on foot.”
“Why doesn’t one of you sit on the donkey?” said a man.
The old man answered, “You are right.” He put his son on the donkey.
When they passed by a village, a man taunted, “The father is going on foot and the son is riding on the donkey.”
Now, the old man asked his son to step down and he himself sat on the donkey.
They had gone a little further, when suddenly a woman shouted, “Look at that old man. He sits on the donkey and his son is going on foot. Why don’t they both sit over it.”
Now, both the father and the son sat on the donkey and moved ahead.
On the way, a man stopped them and said, “What a shame! You both have sat on this weak donkey.”
Now, they tied the donkey’s legs and hung it upside down on a wooden pole. Putting it on their shoulders they proceeded further.
When the passers-by saw them, they started laughing. Extensive noise disturbed the donkey’s peace of mind.
The donkey started throwing its legs. As a result, the rope broke down and the donkey fell into the river and died.
Moral : Don’t put ears to sundry talks.
The Clever Jackals
There lived a wicked elephant in a forest. He felt pleasure in killing jackals.
Fed up with the elephant’s menace the jackals called a meeting to discuss how to get rid of the elephant. Many suggestions were put forward.
But there was no consensus on any alternative.
To break the stalemate an old jackal put forward a plan which was accepted by all.
Working on the plan a jackal went over to the elephant and said, “We have elected you our king. Come with me for the coronation ceremony.”
Pleased with flattery the elephant accompanied the jackal for the so-called crowning ceremony.
The elephant walked proudly to become the king. He lost his senses due to haughtiness.
According to their plan, the jackals covered a marshy land with leaves.
The elephant couldn’t notice it. He went ahead and stuck in the marsh.
The elephant tried hard to come out, but all his efforts failed.
Gradually, the elephant completely sank in the marsh and died.
Moral : Evil begets an evil end.
