The below Panchatantra Stories teach us How cautious we ought to be when making new friends.

Once upon a time, in a bustling village, lived a kind merchant named Krishna. He had a sturdy bullock cart pulled by two strong bullocks, Sanjaya, the elder one with wise brown eyes, and Mahi, the younger one with playful black horns. Krishna loved his bullocks dearly and treated them like family.

One sunny morning, Krishna set off for the lively town of Mathura, his cart piled high with colorful spices and beautiful silk fabrics. The journey followed the sparkling river Yamuna, its blue water reflecting the clear sky. Sanjaya and Mahi walked side-by-side, their hooves creating a rhythmic clop-clop on the dusty path.

Suddenly, the path took a steep turn, leading them through a patch of tall reeds. As they entered, the ground softened beneath Sanjaya’s feet. He panicked, sinking deeper with each step! Krishna tried his best to pull him out, shouting encouraging words. But the soft mud held Sanjaya fast.

Long shadows were created as the sun started to set. With a heavy heart, Krishna knew it was getting too late to stay. He had promised to deliver his goods in Mathura by morning, and Sanjaya was stuck. With a tearful goodbye, Krishna untied Sanjaya’s harness and continued his journey with a heavy heart, leaving Mahi to comfort her distraught friend.

Sanjaya felt a wave of loneliness wash over him. He was scared and alone, the sounds of the night making him jumpy. But slowly, a spark of determination ignited within him. He remembered how Krishna always said, “Never give up, Sanjaya!”, Sanjaya contemplated his situation and decided to muster his strength to escape. With determination, he struggled and eventually managed to break free from the swamp.

Exhausted but relieved, Sanjaya limped out of the swamp. He was far from home and unsure where to go. But his belly rumbled, reminding him of his hunger. The nearby forest offered juicy green grass, and the Yamuna, cool and refreshing water. Days turned into weeks, and Sanjaya, fueled by resilience, regained his strength. One thing he missed most was his friend Mahi. Often, he’d stand by the riverbank, letting out a long, sad bellow that echoed across the vast land.

One day, a mighty roar resonated through the valley. It belonged to Simha, the noble lion king, known for his courage and wisdom. He was on a patrol with his two jackal advisors, Gatika and Golu. The earth trembled at the sound, sending a shiver down Golu’s spine. But Gatika, known for his cunning mind, saw an opportunity.

“Your Majesty!” he exclaimed, puffing out his chest. A beast must have been sent to challenge your throne!

Simha, though brave, was also cautious. He decided to investigate. But Golu, a timid jackal, didn’t want any part of this adventure. So, Gatika set off alone, following the sound to find Sanjaya. When he saw the strong bull, Gatika’s mind raced.

He approached Sanjaya cautiously, pretending to be friendly. “Greetings, mighty beast! I am Gatika, advisor to the great lion king Simha. What brings you to our kingdom?”

Sanjaya, surprised but trusting, shared his story. Gatika listened intently, a sly smile playing on his lips. He had a plan. He told Sanjaya a lie, “The king is afraid of your power and wants to capture you!”

Horrified, Sanjaya bellowed with rage. Meanwhile, Gatika returned to the king, weaving a web of deceit. “The beast says he’s a warrior sent by the gods to take your throne,” lied his Majesty.

Fear clouded the king’s judgment. He had never encountered such a powerful creature. Gatika, pretending to be helpful, suggested a fight to settle the matter.

Simha, filled with false fear, marched towards the riverbank with Golu trailing behind, whimpering. There he saw Sanjaya, eyes blazing with anger. Before either could speak, a fierce battle erupted. Sanjaya, fueled by betrayal, fought valiantly. But Simha, the king, was a skilled warrior. The fight ended with a heavy heart as the king emerged victorious.

Simha, filled with remorse, realized he had been tricked. When Golu, who had witnessed everything from afar, stammered out the truth, Simha banished Gatika from the kingdom for his lies and deceit. The king mourned the loss of his friend, Sanjaya, a friend he had never truly known. He vowed to be a wiser ruler, learning a valuable lesson: Never trust someone who whispers lies and creates fear.

From that day on, King Simha ruled with fairness and justice. He remembered Sanjaya’s story whenever a tough decision arose, reminding him to trust his own heart and seek the truth.

The moral of the story is this: Don’t let lies and whispers cloud your judgment. Trust goes a long way, but always seek the truth before making a decision, especially a big one.

Lies can lead to fights: Gatika’s lies caused Sanjaya and Simha to fight, even though they could have been friends.

Fear clouds judgment: Simha was scared of Sanjaya because of Gatika’s lie, and that led to a fight.

Truth brings understanding: If Simha had known the truth, he wouldn’t have fought Sanjaya, and they could have been friends.

By remembering Sanjaya’s story, King Simha became a better ruler. You can be a better friend too, by being honest and seeking the truth before jumping to conclusions.

The moral of the Panchatantra stories is to be honest and truthful, as lies can lead to misunderstandings and harm. Deceiving others can create problems for everyone involved.

2. The Stubborn Monkeys and the Wise Bird

Once upon a time, there was a group of monkeys living in a hilly area. When winter arrived, they started feeling the cold intensely as they had no shelter. One of the monkeys suggested seeking refuge in the nearby village’s houses until winter passed. The rest of the monkeys agreed, so they all moved from the hills to the village.

However, the next morning, the villagers were startled to see a large group of monkeys suddenly appearing, leaping from tree to tree and onto their rooftops. Reacting with fear, they started throwing stones and brandishing sticks at the monkeys.

Instead of finding shelter in the village, the monkeys were forced to return to the hills and endure the harsh cold once again.

Eventually, one of the monkeys had an idea to create warmth by making a fire. They picked some red berries, thinking they were coals, and buried them beneath a stack of dry sticks after seeing the villagers gathering around fires to warm themselves. They felt discouraged since they tried to start a fire by blowing on the pile, but they were unsuccessful.

Among them were also a few birds who shared the same tree with the monkeys. Seeing their struggle, one bird advised them to seek shelter in a nearby cave instead of trying to make fire from the berries, pointing out that berries had never made fire before.

But the monkeys reacted violently, rejecting the bird’s advice, rather than taking it to heart. Even more, the bird was confronted by an elder monkey for interfering with their business.

Despite the monkeys’ hostility, the bird persisted in trying to help them. In frustration, The noisy bird was then flung against the tree trunk by a massive monkey that grabbed hold of its neck. The bird instantly passed away.

The moral of the Panchatantra stories is giving foolish people advice is pointless. On the contrary, it could make matters worse.