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Panchatantra Tales
The Panchatantra are a collection of the earliest folktales in the world. A long time ago (maybe more
than 2000 years back), a king appointed a wise man to instruct his three sons. The wise man quickly
realised that his pupils were not exactly bright (which is why he was a wise man!). So he began to teach
them through these simple stories with talking animals, birds and plants. Each story had a message
intended to help the princes learn survival strategies for when they became rulers themselves.
Here’s one of the more popular tales from the Panchatantra.
The Monkey and the Crocodile
A monkey lived in a jamun tree on the banks
of a wide river. The jamuns on the tree were
particularly sweet and juicy. One day a crocodile
swam out of the river and lay sunning
himself under the tree. The monkey, being
a friendly soul, threw down a few fruit to the
crocodile and called out, “Try these, they’re
really good!” The crocodile ate a few and
said, “These are the best jamuns I’ve tasted
in my life!” The crocodile became a regular
visitor to the monkey’s home and the two of
them became good friends.
One day, the crocodile carried a few fruit
home to his wife. “Where did you get these,”
the wife asked in the surprise, “they are the
best jamuns I’ve eaten in my life, so sweet
and delicious!” “Oh,” the crocodile replied
casually, “from a tree on the river bank.”
“Are you trying to tell me you can now climb
trees” his wife demanded “No, I’ve made
friends with a monkey who lives in the tree.
He throws down the fruit and we both have
a chat.” “Oho!”exclaimed the wife, “so that’s
why you’ve been coming home late every
day!” Then in a sly sort of way, she said, “The
monkey that eats this fruit must taste quite
delicious himself. In fact, his heart must be
like nectar. Bring me the heart of this creature,
I want to eat it.”
The crocodile was aghast! “How could you
think I’d let you eat my friend!” “Oh friendshend,”
scoffed his ruthless wife, “just get
me the heart of that jamun-eating monkey or
I’ll never speak to you again!’ And with that
the crocodile wife shuffl ed off. She sulked
and sulked and threw awful tantrums till at
last the poor crocodile agreed to bring back
the monkey’s heart for lunch the next day.
His wife was naturally delighted.
With a heavy heart, the crocodile set out
the next day to deceive his good friend,
the monkey. When he got to the tree he
called out, “My wife has been nagging
me to invite you home for a meal. She
says I can’t keep eating your jamuns and
not return your hospitality. Why don’t you
come over to my place for lunch today
She’s cooking up something special.” The
monkey said, “How will I reach your home
I can’t swim.” “Don’t worry, jump down on
my back and I’ll take you across to our
island,” said the crocodile, miserable at
this deception.
The monkey jumped down with armfuls of
sweet jamuns for his hosts and off they
went across the river. But halfway across the
crocodile couldn’t bear the guilt any more.
“Look, I have to tell you something. My wife
has actually sent me to get you because she
wants to eat your heart....I’m really sorry, I
had no choice in the matter.”
The monkey replied quite calmly, “Oh is that
what she wants Why didn’t you tell me earlier
I would have been quite happy to bring it
along with me and give it to her myself!” “Why,
isn’t it with you right now,” asked the confused
crocodile” Naturally not! I didn’t think
I would need it today so I left it in a hollow in
my tree. Take me back and I’ll fetch it for you.”
The crocodile turned back and headed for
the river bank. Once there, the monkey clambered
up into the tree in a fl ash and didn’t
come down again.
The message Presence of mind can save
your life!