Ancient Wisdom

Once upon a time, a Lion was rudely awakened from his slumber by a little Mouse scampering over his face. In a flash of anger, the Lion caught him and was ready to end his life. However, the Mouse, trembling with fear, pleaded, "Please spare my life, and I promise to repay your kindness someday." Amused by the idea, the Lion chuckled and released him. Not long after, the Lion found himself ensnared by some hunters, bound tightly to the ground with strong ropes. Hearing the Lion's mighty roar, the Mouse hurried to his side and gnawed through the ropes with his sharp teeth, setting the Lion free. "You once laughed at the thought of me ever helping you or repaying your favor," said the Mouse. "But now you see, even a tiny Mouse can bring great benefits to a mighty Lion."

  Once upon a time, two mules were making their way along a dusty path, each burdened with heavy packs. One mule carried panniers brimming with money, while the other bore sacks filled with grain. The mule with the treasure walked proudly, head held high, the bells on his neck jingling melodiously. His companion, carrying the grain, followed with a calm and steady gait. Suddenly, a band of robbers sprang from their hiding places and attacked. In the chaos, the mule carrying the treasure was wounded by a sword, and the robbers eagerly seized the money. They paid no attention to the grain. The injured mule lamented his fate, crying out in pain and sorrow. His companion, unscathed and still carrying his load of grain, replied, "I am indeed fortunate that I was deemed unimportant. I have lost nothing and have not been hurt."

A dog, accustomed to eating eggs, came across an oyster one day. Mistaking it for an egg, he eagerly swallowed it whole. Soon after, he experienced severe stomach pain and lamented, “I deserve this agony for foolishly assuming that everything round is an egg.” Moral: Acting without proper thought can lead to unexpected trouble

An eagle was captured by a man who clipped its wings and placed it in his poultry yard with other birds. The eagle, weighed down with grief, was unable to fly. Later, a kind neighbour bought the eagle and allowed its feathers to grow back. Once the eagle regained its ability to fly, it caught a hare and brought it as a gift to its benefactor. A fox, observing this, advised the eagle, “Do not seek the favour of this man, but of your former owner, lest he capture you again and clip your wings once more.”

  A cat fell in love with a handsome young man and entreated Venus to change her into the form of a woman. Venus consented to her request and transformed her into a beautiful damsel. The youth saw her, loved her, and took her home as his bride. While they were reclining in their chamber, Venus, wishing to discover if the cat, in her change of shape, had also altered her habits of life, let down a mouse in the middle of the room. She, quite forgetting her present condition, started up from the couch and pursued the mouse, wishing to eat it. Venus, much disappointed, again caused her to return to her former shape. Nature exceeds Nurture.  

Once upon a time, in the vast expanse of the natural world, an unlikely feud brewed between two creatures: the majestic Eagle and the unassuming Beetle. Their enmity ran deep, fueled by territorial disputes and a thirst for vengeance. The Eagle, with its regal wingspan and piercing gaze, ruled the skies. It had little patience for the tiny Beetle, whose humble existence seemed inconsequential. But the Beetle harboured a secret grudge, nursing wounds inflicted by the Eagle’s cruel actions. One fateful day, the Eagle descended upon the Beetle’s nest, seizing its young ones and devouring them without remorse. The Beetle, fueled by grief and rage, plotted its retaliation. Under the cover of darkness, it infiltrated the Eagle’s lofty nest, rolling out the precious eggs one by one. The Beetle’s audacity knew no bounds. It followed the Eagle to the highest peak, where the gods themselves resided. There, in the presence of mighty Jupiter, the Beetle confronted its adversary. The Eagle, indigna...

Once upon a time, in the rolling hills of Mount Olympus, the She-goats gathered under the watchful gaze of Jupiter. They had a peculiar request: they wanted beards. Yes, beards—the very symbol of masculinity that adorned the chins of their He-goat counterparts. Jupiter, amused by their audacity, granted their wish. Suddenly, the She-goats strutted about with newfound pride, their chins adorned with soft tufts of hair. They revealed in their bearded glory, believing it elevated their status. But the He-goats were not pleased. They grumbled and bleated, their hooves stamping the earth. “This is an outrage!” they cried. “How can the females dare to equal us in dignity?” Jupiter, ever wise, listened to their complaints. He raised an eyebrow and spoke, his voice echoing through the hills. “Fear not,” he said. “Let them enjoy their empty honour—the illusion of equality. For true strength lies not in appearances but in deeds.” And so, the She-goats continued to wear their beards, strutting an...

Once upon a time, there lived a Camel. One day, as he gazed upon the magnificent Bull adorned with impressive horns, envy gnawed at his heart. He longed for the same honour and grace. Determined to transform himself, the Camel sought an audience with Jupiter, the mighty god. “Grant me horns,” he implored, “so that I may be as majestic as the Bull.” Jupiter frowned, vexed by Camel's audacity. Not content with his existing size and strength, the Camel desire knew no bounds. In response, Jupiter not only denied him horns but also took away a portion of his ears. And so, the once envious Camel learned a valuable lesson: True honour lies not in imitation, but in embracing one’s own unique qualities. 🌟

In the sun-drenched grove, an Olive-tree stood proud, its leaves a perpetual green. Beside it, the Fig-tree danced with the seasons, shedding its foliage in a delicate waltz. The Olive, evergreen and unyielding, mocked its neighbour’s transient attire. One fateful day, a shower of snow descended, blanketing both trees. The Olive, its branches laden with leaves, bore the weight stoically. But the snow, relentless, broke its limbs, stripping it of its beauty and life. Across the way, the Fig-tree stood bare, its branches stark against the white canvas. The snow, finding no purchase, fell through to the ground, leaving the Fig unscathed. And so, the Olive learned a harsh truth: Adaptability, not stubbornness, ensures survival. The Fig, with its seasonal shifts, thrived—its leaves fleeting but resilient. In the dance of nature, it was the Fig that whispered wisdom to the wind, while the Olive lay broken, a monument to rigidity.

An Ass belonging to a herb-seller, who gave him too little food and too much work, made a petition to Jupiter that he would release him from his present service, and provide him with another master. Jupiter, after warning him that he would repent his request, caused him to be sold to a tile-maker. Shortly afterwards, finding that he had heavier loads to carry, and harder work in the brick-field, he petitioned for another change of master. Jupiter, telling him that it should be the last time that he could grant his request, ordained that he should be sold to a tanner. The Ass finding that he had fallen into worse hands, and nothing his master's occupation, said, groaning: "It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him."

A Lion that had grown old, and had no more strength to forage for food, saw that he must get it by cunning. He went into his den and crept into a corner, and make believe that he was very sick. All the animals about came in to take a look at him, and as they came, he snapped them up. When a good many beasts had been caught in this way, the Fox who guessed his trick, came along. He took his stand a little way from the den, and asked the Lion how he did. The Lion said he was very sick, and begged him to come into the den to see him. "So I would," said the Fox, "but I notice that all the footprints point into the den, and none point out."

Once a Herdsman was tending his cattle when he missed a young Bull, one of the finest of the herd. He went at once to look for hi, but, meeting with no success in his search, he made a vow that, if he should discover the thief, he would sacrifice a calf to Jupiter. Continuing his search, he entered a thicket, where he presently espied a lion devouring the lost Bull. Terrified with fear, he raised his hands to heave and cried, "Great Jupiter, I vowed I would sacrifice a calf to thee if I should discover the thief; but now a full-grown Bull I promise thee if only I find myself escape unhurt from his clutches."

A FIR tree said boastingly to the Bramble, "You are useful for nothing at all; while I am everywhere used for roofs and houses." The Bramble, made answer: " You, poor creature, if you would only call to mind the axes and saws which are about to hew you down, you would have reason to wich that you had grown up a Bramble, not a FIR Tree."

The Lion, The Ass, and The Fox made a contract to hunt together. When they had caught a good supply of game, they came to eat it, and the Lion order the Ass to divide the spoils. So the Ass divided it into three equal parts, and called on each to choose his portion. At that the Lion fell into a rage, and made his supper off the Ass. Then the Lion told the Fox to divide it, and he put almost all the game into one great heap for the Lion, and saved only a small pit for himself. Then the Lion said: "My good fellow, who taught you to divide so well?"  And the Fox said: "That dead Ass there."

A Monkey once danced in the assembly of the Beasts and impressed them by his outstanding performance. Based on his performance Beasts decided to elect him as a King. A Fox was not happy with the decision as she was envious with the Monkey. She discovered a piece of meat lying in a trap and leading the Monkey to the place where it was said: "here is a store of treasure, but had not used it, but kept it for him as a treasure trove of his kingdom who will find it" Due to carless attitude of the Monkey, he decided to achieve the treasure therefore he was caught in the trap. He accused the Fox who purposely leading him into the snare and she replied: "O Monkey, and are you, with such a mind as yours, going to be King over the Beasts?"

Once in the meandering embrace of river, two pots journeyed down stream- one fashioned from humble earthenware, the other gleaming in brass. Their destiny was same. The Earthen Pot, its fragile form echoing vulnerability, addressed the Brass Pot with caution: " Keep at a distance, my friend,  and do not come near me; for if you touch me ever so slightly, I shall be broken into pieces; and besides, I by no means wish to come near you."  Thus, the river carried them onward, each pot clinging to its essence-the delicate and the unyielding-bound by the currents of fate. In their separation, they found purpose:one to cradle, the other to endure, both essential in their fragility and strength.

Once an old woman found an empty jar which had lately been full of prime old wine, and which still retained the fragment smell of its former contents. She greedily placed it several time to her nose, and drawing it backwards and forwards said, "O most delicious! How nice must the wine itself have been, when it leaves behind in the very vessel which contained it so sweet a perfume!"

Once a man had travelled in foreign lands, boasted very much about his heroic things after returning to his own country. He said that when he was at Rhodes he had leaped to such a distance that no man of his day could leap anywhere near him-and as to that, there were in Rhodes many persons who saw him do it, and whom he could call as witnesses. One of the bystanders interrupting him, said: "Now, my good man, we accept that this be all true there is no need of any witnesses. Suppose this is Rhodes; try to make your leap as you have done in Rhodes."

In the heart of the forest, Jupiter, the king of gods, made an announcement to all the creatures. He declared a grand reward for the one who could present the most attractive offspring. Among the many who responded was a monkey, cradling her baby with the utmost affection. Her child, a young monkey, was bald, flat-nosed, and not conventionally attractive. As she introduced her son to the crowd, a wave of laughter echoed through the gathering. Unfazed by the reaction, the monkey mother confidently stated, “I am uncertain if Jupiter will award my son the prize, but one thing I am sure of is that in my eyes, his mother’s, he is the most precious, handsome, and beautiful of all.

  A Crow having stolen a bit of flesh, perched in a tree, and held it in her beak. A Fox seeing her, longed to possess himself of the flesh: and by a wily stratagem succeeded.  "How handsome is the Crow," he exclaimed, "in the beauty of her shape and in the fairness of her complexion! Oh, if her voice were only equal to her beauty, she would be considered Queen of Birds!" This he said deceitfully; but the Crow, anxious to refute the reflection cast upon her voice, set up a loud caw, and dropped the Crow:  "My good Crow, your voice is right enough, but your wit is wanting."