JAI SRI RAM

STORIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Compiled by
S.Geethapriya

Price – Rs. 22.00

Published by
Sri Aanjineyaa Pathippagam

1849, P.K.N ROAD, MUTHU CYCLE COMPLEX,

BYE PASS ROAD, SIVAKASI-626 189
CELL : 90034 - 58722
 CONTENTS CONTENTS

1. Friends 5 13. Making Haste Slowly 5

2. Family Misfortunes 8
5
3. The Short-sighted Brothers 1
14. The Dissatisfied Devotee 5
3
7
4. Force of Habit 1
15. Stomach Problems 6
9
0
5. The Fisherman Who Rose Too 2
16. Learning from the Enemy 6
High 2
4
6. Wish List 2
17. Butterfly Lovers 6
8
8
7. Double Trouble 3
18. The Root of the Matter 7
2
4
8. Little One Inch 3
19. Dreams 7
5
7
9. The Tiger's whisker 3
20. Not True 8
9
0
10. Why Crows are Black 4
21. Secret of Casket 8
3
4
11. Top Answers 4
22. Royal Servant 9
8
0
12. Disputed Waters 5
23. The Generous Student 9
3
5 6

1. Friends (Africa) to the mouse’s tail, and hopped away,

dragging the hapless mouse behind him.

A mouse and a frog were friends. Every

morning the frog would hop out of his pond
and go to visit his friend who lived in a hole in
the side of a tree. He would return home at
noon.
The mouse delighted in his friend’s company
unaware that the friend was slowly turning into
an enemy. The reason? The frog felt slighted
because though he visited the mouse
everyday, the mouse on his part, had never
made an attempt to visit him. The frog dived deep into the pond. The mouse
One day he felt he had been humiliated tried to free himself but couldn’t, and soon
enough. When it was time for him to take leave drowned. His bloated body floated to the top. A
of the mouse, he tied one end of a string hawk saw the mouse floating on the pond’s
around his own leg, tied the other end surface.
7 8
He swooped down, and grabbing the mouse in 2. Family Misfortunes
his talons, flew to the branch of a nearby tree.
(A tale from Bhutan)
The frog, of course, was hauled out of the
The Dough family was an unusual one. The
water too. He desperately tried to free himself,
head of the family, Dough, as his name
but couldn’t and the hawk soon put an end to
suggested, was a ball of dough. His wife was a
his struggles.
slab of butter. They had two children, Ant and
In Africa they have a saying: ‘Don’t dig too
Cotton.
deep a pit for your enemy, you may fall into it
yourself’.

One morning, Mother Butter asked her son, Ant

to go and get some resin from the mepche
tree, as resin made good fuel.
"Stay away from fresh resin," she cautioned.
"You could get stuck. Get a small dried piece."
9 10
"She thinks I'm still a baby," thought Ant as he advice and walk down the middle of the road, I
climbed jauntily up the tree. "She doesn't know could get crushed by the carts going by. I'm
how strong I've become." He saw a big blob of safer at the edge."He zoomed to the edge of
resin emerging from a crack and rushed the road, lost his balance and went rolling
forward to grab it. And of course he got stuck. down the side of the steep hill.

When he didn't return, Father Dough decided

When her husband did not return, Mrs. Dough
to go in search of him.
asked her daughter, Cotton, to go out and look
"Don't go too near the edge of the road," said
for him.
his wife.
"Take care not to walk in open spaces, my
"You could easily slip and roll down the
child," warned Mother Dough as Cotton got
side.""What does she know?" thought Dough
ready to leave. "You could get blown away by
as he rolled out of the house. "If I follow her
the wind."
Cotton thought her mother was being too
11 12
fussy and went dancing down the street. Then
disregarding her mother's advice she decided
to take a short cut across a meadow. She
didn't even get halfway.
A gust of wind picked her up and carried her
away into the mountains.
So ends the story of the Dough family which
perished because nobody wanted to be told
what to do.

Mother Butter waited for her family to return.

The day got hotter and hotter and Mother
Butter began to melt and became smaller and
smaller till finally there was nothing left of her
except a puddle of liquid.
13 14

3. The Short-sighted Brothers “Let’s settle this once and for all. I’ve heard the
monastery is putting up a tablet inscribed with
(China)
a saying, above the main doorway, tonight.
Three elderly brothers, all very short-sighted,
Let’s go there tomorrow and test our vision.
lived in a large house on the outskirts of a city,
Whoever can read the inscription with the least
in China. One day the youngest brother
strain will get charge of our money. Agreed?”
suggested that he should take charge of the
finances. “Elder brother’s sight is so bad, he
cannot see how much money he’s receiving or
giving,” he said, “and people take advantage of
his disability.”
“As if you can see better,” sneered the second-
youngest brother. “If you’re saying our
finances should be handled by the one who has
the best sight, then it is I who should be given
charge. I can see better than either of you.” “I
have my doubts about that,” said the eldest
brother.
15 16
“Agreed,” said his brothers in unison. "It reads: Be Honest At All Times.”
“Good! Now go away and let me get a few “Is there any decoration around it?”
winks.” “The tablet has a flowery border.”
As soon as they had gone, the eldest brother The second brother went away very pleased
sneaked out of the house and went to the with himself. Hardly had he gone when the
monastery where he met a monk. third brother arrived there. He too enquired
“I’ve heard you’re putting up an inscription about the inscription and on being told what it
over the doorway,” he said. “Can you tell me was, asked if there was any other writing on
what the inscription reads?” it.”
“Certainly. It’s a quotation from Confucius. It “Only the donor’s name, Wang Lee, at the
reads: Be Honest At All Times." bottom,” said the monk.
The brother went away chuckling at his The next morning the three brothers made
cleverness. A little later the second brother their way to the monastery.
arrived there. “There’s the inscription,” said the oldest when
“Can you tell me what the inscription you are they drew near the entrance.
going to put up over the doorway reads?” he “I can clearly make out the writing. It reads:
said to the monk.“Everybody seems to want to Be Honest At All Times.”
know,” said the man.
17 18
“Your sight is better than I thought,” said the The monk they had talked to the previous
second brother. evening came out of the monastery just then.
“But definitely not better than mine. Can you “Oh, you’ve come to see the inscription,” he
see the decoration around the inscription?” said. “So sorry. We couldn’t put it up yesterday
“Decoration? What decoration?” evening. We are going to put it up today.”
“There’s a floral decoration all around the
tablet,” said the brother, triumphantly.
“Very good, very good,” applauded the
youngest brother. “But can either of you see
any other writing on the tablet besides the
inscription?”
“Other writing?” intoned the second brother,
his face falling. “What other writing is there?”
“The name of the donor, Wang Lee,” said the
youngest brother, pointing.
“Can’t you see it? It’s at that corner.”
19 20

4. Force of Habit (Europe)

One day a man found a book in his attic.

The book was so old that the papers were
yellow and some of the pages crumbled as he
turned them.
He discovered that it was a book on magic but
try as he might he could not understand any
portion of it except one paragraph. The
From morning to night he would pick up
paragraph stated that on the shores of the
pebbles and feel them. To ensure that he did
Black Sea there was a pebble that could turn
not pick up the same pebble twice he would
anything it was touched to into gold. This
fling every pebble he picked up, far out into
pebble, the ancient writer said, could be
the sea.
distinguished from the others only by touching
The days stretched into weeks and then into
it : unlike the other pebbles it was warm to the
months. A year passed. Then another. The
touch.The man went to the shores of the Black
man went on looking for the pebble.
Sea and began to search for the pebble.
21 22
But every pebble he picked up was as cold as 5. The Fisherman Who Rose
ice and he flung them away as fast as he
Too High (Europe)
picked them.
Now he had become so expert at it that he
could pick up a pebble and fling it into the sea A fisherman, enfeebled with age, could no
with one smooth action. longer go out to sea so he began fishing in the
One evening as he was wearily leaving the river. Every morning he would go down to the
beach after another day’s search he saw a river and sit there fishing the whole day long.
pebble in front of him. In the evening he would sell whatever he had
He picked it up. It was warm. But out of force caught, buy food for himself and go home. It
of habit he flung it far out into the sea! was a hard life for an old man. One hot
afternoon while he was trying to keep awake
and bemoaning his fate, a large bird with
silvery feathers alighted on a rock near him.It
was Kaha, the heavenly bird.
"Have you no one to care for you, grandpa?"
asked the bird.
23 24
"Not a soul." "Our king has news of a great bird called
"You should not be doing such work at your Kaha," said the crier. "Whoever can give
age," said the bird. "From now on I'll bring you information about this bird and help catch it,
a big fish every evening. Sell it and live in will be rewarded with half the gold in the royal
comfort." treasury and half the kingdom!"
True to her word, the bird began to drop a The fisherman was sorely tempted by the
large fish at his doorstep every evening. All reward. Half the kingdom would make him a
that the fisherman had to do was take it to the prince!"Why does the king want the bird?" he
market and sell it. As big fish were in great asked.
demand, he was soon rolling in money. "He has lost his sight," explained the crier. "A
He bought a cottage near the sea, with a wise man has advised him to bathe his eyes in
garden around it and engaged a servant to the blood of a Kaha bird. Do you know where it
cook for him. His wife had died some years can be found?"
earlier. Now he decided to marry again and "No...I mean...no, no...."
began to look for a suitable woman. One day Torn between greed and his sense of gratitude
he heard the royal crier make an to the bird, the fisherman could not give a
announcement. coherent reply. The crier, sensing that he knew
something about the bird,
25 26
informed the king. The king had him brought to The Kaha was reluctant to accept the invitation
the palace. but the fisherman pleaded so earnestly that
"If you have information about the bird, tell she finally gave in, and alighted.
me," urged the king. "I will reward you
handsomely and if you help catch it, I will
personally crown you king of half my domain."
"I will get the bird for you," cried the
fisherman, suddenly making up his mind. "But
Kaha is strong. I'll need help."
The king sent a dozen men with him.
That evening when the bird came with the fish,
the fisherman called out to her to wait.
"You drop the fish and go and I never get a
The moment she was on the ground, the
chance to thank you for all that you've done for
fisherman grabbed one of her legs and shouted
me," he said. "Today I've laid out a feast for
to the soldiers hiding in his house to come out.
you inside. Please alight and come in."
27 28
They rushed to his aid but their combined 6. Wish List (France)
effort could not keep the Kaha down. She rose
into the air with the fisherman still clinging
His troops, led by four of his finest
onto her leg.
commanders won a great battle for him, and
By the time he realized he was being carried
Napoleon Bonaparte was in a generous
away, the fisherman was too high in the air to
mood.“Ask for anything and I’ll give it to you,”
let go. He hung on grimly, and neither he nor
he said to the four officers who had
the Kaha were ever seen again.
distinguished themselves.
“I’ve always wanted a house in Paris,” said one
of the men, a German.
“Done!” said Napoleon. “You’ll get a mansion in
the city.”
“I’ve always desired to own a hotel,” said the
second officer, a Frenchman.
“Done!” said the emperor. “I’ll order a hotel to
be given to you.”
“I’ve always wanted a brewery,” said the
29 30
third man, a Pole. Now the fourth man happened to be a Jew, and
“Done!” said the emperor. “I will give you a in those days at least, Jews were supposed to
brewery!” be shrewd and possess great business acumen.
“And you, sir?” he said, turning to the fourth So his colleagues were surprised that he had
man. “What will you have?” asked for so little. They felt he had missed a
“Grant me a fortnight’s leave,” said the man. rare opportunity to become rich, and were
elated that they themselves had kept their wits
about them and asked for worthwhile things.
They asked him about it when they ran into
him later that day.
“Why did you ask for so little?” they taunted
him.
“Did courage fail you?”
“You asked for a lot,” replied the Jew. “But you
must remember that the emperor is a busy

“Done!” said the emperor. “Your leave begins man.

from tomorrow!”
31 32
He will order his secretary to fulfill his 7. Double Trouble (Indonesia)
promises. His secretary too is a busy man. He
will pass on the order to his assistant who too
Jamal was a lazy, good-for-nothing fellow. He
is a busy man. So the emperor’s order will go
lounged about the house all day, much to his
down from subordinate to subordinate and
wife Fatima’s annoyance. One day, Fatima told
finally in the course of a few months…it’ll get
her husband to dig the patch of land outside
lost!”
their hut.“I’ll borrow a spade from our
“We’ll appeal to the emperor!” shouted the
neighbor,” she said. “Then we can plant some
Frenchman.
vegetables.”
“The emperor will not know what you’re talking
Jamal agreed reluctantly. The soil was hard
about,” said the Jew. “By then our great
and he was soon tired. He leaned against the
victory will have become a dim memory. You
spade for a moment, then, hearing Fatima’s
should have asked for something that the
voice, he quickly resumed digging.
emperor could give immediately – like I did.
Thunk! His spade struck metal. Jamal excitedly
Now, if you’ll excuse me gentlemen, I have
scraped away the mud. It was a big cooking
work to do.”
pot. As Jamal leaned over to see if there was
And leaving the three officers gaping, the Jew
anything in it, his pouch of tobacco and some
went off to arrange for his holiday.
coins fell into the pot.
33 34
Jamal bent to retrieve them, then jumped back They immediately set to squabbling over
in surprise. There were now two pouches and Jamal. Jamal stood irresolute for a moment,
double the number of coins! “Come quickly!” then jumped into the pot. The new Jamal
he called to Fatima. “Look what I’ve found!” refused to leave with his wife till they were
When Fatima came over, she was so excited given an identical set of possessions —right
that she put the coins in four or five times. down to a blanket with two holes. But how did
Soon there was a tidy pile of money. She he recognize his wife?
stooped to collect the coins and lost her
balance. Into the pot she fell and out came two She was a mirror image so her nose ring was
Fatimas, one a mirror image of the other. on the left nostril, while the real Fatima had
always worn hers on the right!
35 36

8. Little One Inch (Japan) the girl to the temple.

On the way, two giants leaped out in front of
them from behind some bushes.Issun Boshi
Once long ago in Japan there lived a couple
deliberately drew their attention to him so that
who had no children. They prayed to the gods
the girl could escape. But then the giants were
for a child, even one as small as a finger, and
furious with him and one of them picked him
finally their prayers were answered. The child
up and swallowed him.
born to them was so small that they named
Issun Boshi had a needle his mother had given
him Issun Boshi, 'Little One Inch'.
him. He used to wear it around his waist like a
When Issun Boshi reached the age of 15, he
sword. When he found himself in the giant's
said goodbye to his parents and set out for
stomach he took out the needle from its
Kyoto, the capital city, to seek his fortune.
scabbard and began to stab the giant's
In Kyoto he found employment in a wealthy
stomach with it. Then climbing out through the
household. He could not do much work
gullet he stormed into the giant's mouth where
because of his size, but his diligence and
he wreaked havoc with his needle. The giant
sincerity pleased his master and his mistress.
was frightened and spat him out.
And their daughter found him delightful. One
When the other giant bent down to look at
day Issun Boshi accompanied
37 38
him, Issun Boshi stabbed him in the eye. The "You have to hit it on the ground and make a
giants had had enough. They ran away, one wish," said the girl.
holding a hand to his mouth and the other to So they hit the mallet on the ground and made
his eye. a wish. The next moment, Issun Boshi had
In their haste they left behind a mallet which grown to normal size and stood clad in the
Issun Boshi and the girl — she had come back armor of a samurai!
to help him — recognized as a magical object. The girl's father had no hesitation in giving his
daughter in marriage to Issun Boshi, and the
young samurai proved to be a devoted
husband. Oh, yes, he brought his parents too
to live with him and them, though happy to see
their dear son grown so big, continued to call
him Issun Boshi!
39 40

9. The Tiger's whisker (Korea) "I could make such a potion, it is true, but I
lack one of the ingredients that go into its
making."
An old hermit lived in the Lun Mountains of
"What is this ingredient?" asked the woman.
Korea. Many people sought his advice for he
"It is a tiger’s whisker."
was a font of wisdom and was knowledgeable
The woman left promising to get what he
in the magical arts. One day, a woman came
wanted. The very next day she went in search
and pleaded with him to help her regain her
of a tiger and finally saw one on the banks of a
husband’s affection.
river. The tiger snarled when he saw her and
"He was so loving and caring before he left for
she retreated.
the wars," she explained. "He has returned
She returned to the spot the next day. Again
after three years but now he is cold and aloof."
the tiger snarled and again she retreated. But
"War does these things to men," said the
she kept going to the place and gradually the
hermit. "They say you can make a potion that
animal got used to her presence and stopped
can kindle love in the person who consumes
snarling.
it," said the woman.
She began to bring him food. In course of time
the tiger became so friendly that he would
come right up to her to take the food.
41 42
One day she timidly reached out and patted his He took the whisker to the fireplace and
head. A few days later she ran her hand down dropped it into the fire. "W-what have you
the side of his face. done!" said the woman, aghast. "You promised
And then one day she deftly pulled out one of to make me a magic potion!"
his whiskers. "You don’t need one," said the hermit, softly.
"Tell me, how did you win the tiger’s affection?
Through gentleness and a great deal of
patience. Would a man be less responsive than
a savage and blood thirsty beast? Go and win
over your husband as you did the tiger."
The woman turned over what the hermit had
said, in her mind as she slowly made her way
home. When she saw her husband her first
instinct was to turn away, then remembering
She rushed to the hermit’s house with the the tiger and the hermit’s words, she checked
whisker. herself and moved forward, a smile on her
"I’ve got it!" she said, triumphantly. face.
"Good," said the hermit.
43 44

10. Why Crows are Black that he had found a crow to deliver the gem.
As the crow sped through the sky with the
(Myanmar)
silken bag, the aroma of food reached its
nostrils. Looking down it saw that a wedding
The Sun while going on his daily rounds saw a
feast was in progress, and immediately it was
princess and fell in love with her. Whenever he
distracted from its mission. Food was one thing
could slip away from the heavens he would
it could never resist!
take human form and go down to the princess
Alighting on a tree nearby, it hung the bag on
to spend some time with her. The princess too
a twig and went off to find some food.
became quite fond of him and would wait for
While the crow was feasting, a merchant
him to come.
passing by saw the bag on the tree, and
One day the Sun decided to send her a blood-
knocked it down with a pole.
red ruby as a token of his love for her. He put
When he opened the bag and saw its contents
the gem in a silken bag, and calling a crow that
he almost swooned in joy. Quickly pocketing
was flying past, asked the bird to deliver the
the ruby, he filled the bag with dry cow dung
gem to his beloved. Crows had milky white
that was lying there, and then deftly returned
feathers in those days and it was considered
the bag to the branch.
auspicious if a crow came anywhere near you.
So the Sun was pleased
45 46
The princess was in the garden. When the crow
gave her the bag, she took it eagerly, knowing
that it was from the Sun. But when she saw its
contents she reeled back in shock and anger.
47 48
Believing that it was the Sun’s way of telling
It fell out of his pocket and rolled into a deep 11.heTop Answers (Nepal)
her that did not care for her, she flung the
pit.
bag away, rushed to her palace, and never
Men have been trying to dig it out ever since.
came out again.
Bhupendra Prasad had spent a huge sum on
Many precious stones have been found in the
When the Sun learnt of what had happened he
his only son’s wedding which had been
process, making Burma (now Myanmar) one of
was furious. So great was his anger that when
celebrated with pomp and splendor.
the richest sources of rubies and sapphires, but
he turned his scorching gaze on the crow, its
A few weeks after the wedding, Bhupendra,
the ruby that the Sun sent to the princess has
feathers were burned black.
wanting to test his daughter-in-law’s
yet to be found.
Its feathers have been black ever since.
intelligence asked her: “Can you guess how
It was all done so quickly that the crow missed The story goes on to tell us that the ruby did
much I spent on your wedding?”
all the action. After having its fill, it flew up to not stay with the man who stole it.
“About the cost of a sack of rice,” said the
the tree, and picking up the bag took it to the woman.
person it was intended for. Her father-in-law’s mouth dropped open in
astonishment.
“The cost of a sack of rice!” he spluttered. “You
foolish girl, I spent a fortune on your wedding!”
The woman said nothing.
“She’s a nitwit,” thought Bhupendra.
49 50
“A nitwit! My poor son!” Bhupendra, greatly embarrassed by his
A few weeks later, while they were all going to daughter-in-law’s question, walked away
a relative’s wedding they met up with a funeral without waiting for the mourner’s answer.
procession. Presently they came upon labourers working in
“Who has died?” asked Bhupendra, stopping a a field.
mourner. “Looks like you had a good harvest!” shouted
“Is it just one corpse or a hundred?” asked his Bhupendra.
daughter-in-law. “But are you reaping this year’s harvest or last
year’s?” asked his daughter-in-law.
“Your wife is mad!” said Bhupendra to his son.
“Mad! She talks nonsense!”
“Does she?”
“Don’t pretend you don’t know!” roared his
father. “Didn’t you hear the silly questions she
asked?”
“Her questions may not be as silly as they
seem,” said his son.
51 52
“Why not ask her to explain?” explained the daughter-in-law. “I was
Bhupendra did not say anything. But later enquiring whether they were working to pay off
when he found himself alone with his last year’s debt or had paid it all and were
daughter-in-law he decided to act on his son’s beginning anew.”
advice. Bhupendra now realized that his daughter-in-
“Tell me,” he said, “what did you mean when law, far from being a nitwit, was probably
you asked the mourner whether they were cleverer than he was.
carrying one corpse or a hundred?” “One last question,” he said. “Why did you say
“Some men have scores of dependents,” I spent only the equivalent of the price of a
explained the young woman. “When such a sack of rice for your wedding when you know
man dies many lives are shattered. His full well I spent a fortune?”
dependents die with him, in a way. That is why “What you spent on the essentials of the
I asked the mourner whether they were marriage amounted to only a few hundred
carrying one corpse or a hundred.” rupees,” smiled the young woman. “The rest
“What did you mean when you asked those you spent to uphold and enhance your
laborers whether they were harvesting this prestige. In other words, not on the marriage
year’s crop or last year’s?” but on yourself.”
“These laborers are perennially in debt,”
53 54

12. Disputed Waters (Persia) The farmer of course refused and the case was
taken to a Kazi (judge).
After hearing both sides the Kazi said to the
A man sold a well to a farmer, but when the
man who had sold the well:
farmer went to draw water from it, stopped
"Since you sold only the well, you have no
him and said:
right to keep your water in it. Pay a rent to this
"I sold you the well but not the water. You will
farmer for using his well or take your water out
have to pay separately for the water."
at once!"
The man realized that he had been outwitted,
and bowing to the Kazi quietly left the court.
55 56

13. Making Haste Slowly

(Philippines)

A trader bought a large number of coconuts at

a village, and loading them on to his horse cart
set off for home. Encountering a boy, a little
later, he asked him how long it would take to
reach the main road.
“ Go slowly, and you’ll reach it in ten minutes,”
replied the lad, “but if you go fast it’ll take you It took the man a long time to gather all the
half an hour or more.” coconuts and put them back in the cart.
“ Fool!” shouted the trader, and drove away at Afterwards, he climbed back wearily into the
breakneck speed. Fifty meters down the road, driver’s seat, and with the boy’s words ringing
one of the wheels struck a stone. The jolt sent in his ears, drove slowly and cautiously the rest
the coconuts flying in all directions. of the way.
57 58

14. The Dissatisfied Devotee stopped for breath there would be another cow
on the beach. The beach was small and so as
(Rome)
the number of cows started growing it

Many tales are told about Neptune the Roman

god of the sea. Neptune was said to be one of
the most generous of the gods.
One day a woman who lived close to the sea
went down to the beach and began singing
songs in his praise. Finally the god came to the
surface and asked her what she wanted.
“I want a cow,” said the woman.
The next moment there was a cow standing
beside her. The woman was thrilled. She began
singing another song. At the end of it there
was another cow beside her. The woman went
on singing and every time she
59 60
started getting crowded. Finally there was just 15. Stomach Problems
enough room for her to stand.
(Myanmar)
Yet the woman was not satisfied. There was a
large rock at her feet. She felt that if she
removed the rock there would be place for one In Burma, in days gone by, a wealthy landlord
more cow there. So she picked it up and decided to build a rest house for wandering
summoning all her strength heaved it into the monks. He invited, or rather, commanded the
sea. Unfortunately for her, Neptune himself men of the village over which he held sway, to
was coming to the surface at that moment to work on the project.
bestow his blessings on his devotee. The rock “You will earn merit by this work,” he
hit him on the head. The god was so angry he announced, “so I will not pay you.”
dived back into the waters taking with him all Nobody wanted to displease him so all the
the cows he had given the woman. able-bodied men of the village came to help.
All except the village simpleton. He sat on a log
and watched the others work, marveling at
their industry.
The landlord’s blood boiled when he spotted
the idler.
61 62
“I would have liked to work on this noble
undertaking,” said the simpleton, rising to his
feet, “but my stomach is empty. Who can work
on an empty stomach?”
Seeing that the man was of robust build and
capable of contributing massively to the task
on hand, the landlord ordered his servants to
feed him.
This took a long time as the man kept on
asking for second and third helpings of the
food that was being served to him. But finally
he pushed his plate aside, belched loudly and
went to wash.
Then he returned to the site.
The landlord’s blood boiled when he spotted
Some time later the landlord went to inspect
the idler.
the work and was furious when he saw the
“Why aren’t you working!” he hollered.
simpleton again sitting idly on the log.
63 64
“Why aren’t you working!” he roared. 16. Learning from the Enemy
“I would have liked to work,” said the
(Japan)
simpleton, rising to his feet.
“Indeed I want to work on this noble
A samurai warrior slew his master in a fit of
undertaking. But my stomach is full. Who can
rage. He repented immediately but the deed
work on a full stomach?”
was done and he knew that if he was caught
he would be put to death. He fled.
His wanderings took him to a remote village
that was separated from the rest of the world
by a mountain. The path across the mountain
was narrow and treacherous and many
villagers had lost their lives while traversing it.
The murderer decided to atone for his sin by
single-handedly cutting a road through the
mountain to end the isolation of the village.
He worked from dawn to dusk and in four
65 66
years had penetrated halfway into the helping the man—digging side by side with him
mountain. One morning when he was hard at and carrying out the rubble.
work in the tunnel, a young man called out to Years passed and then one day the two men
him to come out. He was the son of the man broke through to the other side. The mountain
who had been murdered. He wanted revenge. had been conquered at last and the centuries-
“I deserve to die,” said the former samurai. old isolation of the village had been ended.
“Slay me by all means but wait until I’ve
completed this tunnel.”
The young man agreed to wait. He watched
fascinated as day after day the samurai
labored at a seemingly impossible task. The
rocks he was digging through were so massive
that at the end of a day’s work they seemed
not to have been touched at all. The young
man began to develop a grudging respect for
his enemy’s tenacity and determination.
Eventually he found himself
67 68
“Now I am ready to die,” said the samurai, 17. Butterfly Lovers (China)
kneeling before the young man. “Cleave my
head in two.”
Long ago in China, at a time when girls were
The youth raised his sword with a cry, the
expected to stay at home and learn household
blood rushing to his head. At last his father’s
work while the boys went to school, a girl
death would be avenged. But he found he
named Zhu conceived a desire to study.
could not bring himself to do it. Slowly he
Her family was wealthy and Zhu was pampered
lowered his sword.
but her father did not want to go against
“You’re a murderer,” he said. “But I’ve learnt
tradition. When she pestered him he told her if
much from you in these last few years. How
she got admission into a school he would not
can I harm my teacher?”
stop her from studying. He was confident that
And he sheathed his sword and walked away.
no school would admit a girl.
But Zhu was resourceful. She disguised herself
as a boy and managed to get admission into a
school in the city of Hangzhou, where her aunt
lived.
69 70
Every morning she would put on her disguise enough to get married he hastened to Zhu’s
and go to school. house.
There was a boy named Liang in her class. The Zhu saw him coming, and was overjoyed. It
two were drawn to each other, and in course of was a year since they had parted and she had
time became good friends. As the months and missed him terribly. Unable to restrain herself
the years passed they became inseparable she rushed out shouting, “ I’m your friend, as
companions, and Zhu realized that she was in you can see I’m a girl, I cannot live without
love. you!”
She wanted to stay with Liang the rest of her Liang was dazed by the revelation, but soon
life. She thought of a plan. She told Liang that recovered and caught Zhu in a warm embrace.
when they finished school, and he had got a Suddenly everything had fallen into place. Now
job he should come to her house and ask her he knew why he had felt such a strong love for
father for her sister’s hand. Zhu.
Liang readily agreed. He too did not want to Zhu took him to her father who listened
lose Zhu. If he married her sister they could attentively to what Liang had to say, but when
continue to meet. the young man asked for Zhu’s hand, he shook
After finishing school, Liang lost no time in his head.
taking up a job, and when he had saved He told Liang that Zhu had already been
71 72
promised to another man, a wealthy merchant. When Zhu learnt of Liang’s death she lost all
Nothing that Liang said could make Zhu’s desire to continue living. She pretended to
father change his mind. agree to the marriage arranged for her on
Liang left, shattered. He felt frighteningly condition that the wedding procession passed
alone. The thought that he would never see by Liang’s grave.
Zhu again filled him with pain. On the way, he As the wedding procession neared the
collapsed and died. cemetery the wind began to howl and the sky
grew dark. Zhu jumped down from her
palanquin and rushing to Liang’s grave threw
herself on it, sobbing uncontrollably.
A peal of thunder suddenly rent the air. The
next moment, a bolt of lightning hit the grave,
breaking it open. Zhu leapt into it.
The storm subsided as quickly as it had
started. When Zhu’s relatives reached the
grave and peered into it, all they saw at first
was an empty coffin.
73 74
Then out flew two butterflies, dancing as if 18. The Root of the Matter
they could not believe they were together.
(Africa)
And as the people standing around the grave
watched in fascination and bewilderment the
two lovely butterflies flew out of sight. A porcupine came and asked a dog for food.
The dog said he had no food but showed him a
field of sugarcane belonging to a judge.
"Eat as much as you want," said the dog, "but
leave the roots intact so that the plants will
grow again."
The porcupine found the sugarcane sweet and
juicy. He began to visit the field every day. In
the beginning he ate only the stems, as
directed by the dog, but after a few days he
began to eat the roots too.
One day the judge saw the destruction in his
field and was very angry. He called the dog
and accused him of destroying his crop. The
75 76
dog said it was the porcupine who was to "See how he trembles, Your Honor," said the
blame. The porcupine said he was innocent and porcupine. "Isn't that a sure sign of guilt?"
suggested that the matter be settled in court. "What do you have to say for yourself?" asked
The judge agreed. the judge, looking sternly at the dog.
The porcupine waited till winter set in. Then But the dog's teeth were chattering with the
one chilly morning he went to the dog's house cold and he could not speak. Thinking that his
and told him the judge had summoned them. silence was an admission of guilt, the judge
When they entered the judge's chamber the pronounced him guilty and kicked him out of
dog began to shiver with the cold. the house.
Whenever a dog barks incessantly, Africans say
he is warning the judge that the porcupine has
got into his field.
77 78

19. Dreams (Nepal)

An owl had its home in a tree under which an
elephant used to come to spend the night. In
course of time the two became good friends.
One evening, the elephant while looking for
food, blundered into a gathering of demons.
On seeing the elephant, the demon-king began
to shout: "It's him, it's him!"
"Who is he, O king?" asked his attendants. His knees began to buckle as the king,
"Last night, I dreamt I ate an elephant," said accompanied by his queen, began to advance
the demon. "It looked remarkably like this one on him, teeth bared.
here. Suddenly his friend, the owl, came swooping
Catch him and let me eat him so that my down, shrieking: "It's her! It's her!" and settled
dream may come true." on the elephant's head.
The demons caught the elephant who was so The king stopped dead in his tracks.
terrified that he put up no resistance
whatsoever.
79 80
"Who are you referring to, bird?" he growled. 20. Not True (Japan)
"The queen," said the owl. "Last night I dreamt
I married her. Please marry us so that my
Mr. Kitchom loved to listen to stories, but at
dream may come true."
the end of the tale he would invariably exclaim,
"I will never marry an owl!" declared the
"That can't be true!"
demoness.
One day he was standing at the gate of his
"And nobody is asking you to, my dear," said
house when he saw the village schoolmaster
the king who was mightily afraid of her.
going by. He called out to him and begged him
"Dreams are not to be taken seriously. See,
to tell him a story.
here is the elephant I ate in my dream but I'm
"On one condition," said the teacher.
letting him go."
"When I finish, you should not say 'That can't
The elephant lumbered away, muttering thanks
be true.' If you say that, I'll be entitled to a
to his friend.
sack of grain from your house."
"Agreed," said Mr. Kitchom.
"I'll tell you the story of a great lord who lived
in China a long time ago," said the teacher.
81 82
“One day this aristocrat got into his palanquin bird dropped its load directly on his head.”
to go to the governor's palace. On the way he
heard a bird crying 'preeep.... preeeeep.' When
he peered out the bird soiled his robe with its
droppings.”
"The lord sent his servant back for a new robe
and when he had brought it he took off the
soiled robe, threw it away and put on the new
one. Then they resumed the journey. A little
later the bird called out again and when the
lord peered out it soiled his sword with its
droppings. The nobleman sent his servant back
for a new sword and when he had brought it,
gave the soiled one to the servant and kept the
new one.”
"The lord made up his mind not to look out if
"The lord sent his servant to bring him a new
the bird cried out again, but when it did he
head and when he had brought it, cut
could not resist looking out and this time the
83 84
off his own with his sword......" 21. Secret of Casket (China)
"Oh, but that can't be true!" blurted Mr.
Kitchom.
On her 75th birthday, Ah-ling distributed her
"No, it can't," agreed the teacher,
wealth among her four sons and announced
triumphantly, "but you've uttered the
that she would spend three months of the year
prohibited phrase and you agreed to forfeit a
with each son, in turn.
sack of rice as penalty!"
The arrangement worked well for a while and
"Did I?" said Mr. Kitchom, slyly.
then the old woman found that the welcome
"That can't be true."
she received at each son's house was
becoming less and less cordial. Finally she
began to feel positively unwanted. Now she
saw her sons in their true colors. Money meant
everything to them; people came second.
One day, Ah-ling's friend, Jing-mei, came to
see her. Jing-mei was distressed to find her
85 86
friend in such an unhappy state and advised The young man lost no time in informing his
her on what she should do. Afterwards, Jing- brothers about the casket.
mei tearfully embraced her friend, and left. "It is obvious she has not given us all her
A few days later, towards sundown, Ah-ling wealth," said the eldest. "She must have kept
went out without telling anyone where she was back some of her more valuable gems. God
going and returned an hour later, her clothes alone knows how many caskets the wily
covered in mud. woman has buried."
"Where did you go?" asked her son, and then They questioned their mother but she refused
seeing that she was holding a small to tell what the casket contained, or even if
ornamental chest, hurried to her, his gaze there were more caskets hidden elsewhere.
riveted on the casket. Many a time, the brothers tried to open the
"What is that?" casket in her absence but it was securely
"Something that could change all our lives for locked and they could never find the key.
the better, in different ways," said his mother. But now Ah-ling no longer felt unwanted. Her
"What does it contain?" sons and daughters-in-law fussed over her and
"You'll find out when I'm dead and gone." went out of their way to make her feel
welcome. In fact, now each son tried to
87 88
persuade her to stay longer than the three hands, the oldest brother fitted the key into
months, but she never extended her stay, not the lock and turned it.
wishing to show a preference for any son.
She passed away in her sleep, a few days
before her 84th birthday.
Her friend, Jing-mei came for the funeral rites
and before departing handed over a key to the
dead woman's eldest son in the presence of his
brothers.
"This is the key to the casket," she said and
left.
The sons and their wives hurried to the old It opened with a click. The man flicked open

woman's chamber in great excitement. This the lid and then they all stared with disbelief at

was the day they had been waiting for, for the contents: ordinary pebbles.

weeks and months and years. "The gems might be below," said the oldest

They bolted the door from the inside and brother and frantically overturned the

huddled around the casket. With trembling contents. All they found was a note from their
mother. It read:
89 90
"Great disappointment awaits all those whose 22. Royal Servant (Africa)
lives centre around money. It is a sad thing
when an old woman has to resort to trickery to
The King of Kamera in Africa was a proud and
get her sons to look after her. It shows lack of
stern man, feared by all his subjects.
character not only in her sons but in the
One day while sitting in his mud palace,
mother too. You at least have time to change
surrounded by fawning courtiers and watched
yourselves and my last message to you is: try
by a multitude of people who had come to see
to do so".
him, he was suddenly overcome by a sense of
grandeur and loudly declared that he was
master of the world and that all men were his
servants.
“You are mistaken,” said a frail voice. “All men
are servants of one another.”
A deathly silence followed the remark. The
blood froze in the veins of the people
assembled there. Then the king exploded in
anger.
91 92
“Who said that!” he demanded, rising from the not one but three wells dug in your village. But
royal stool. if you fail, you’ll lose your head!”
“Who dares suggest that I am a servant?” “In our village,” said the old man, “when we
“I do,” said a voice in the crowd, and the accept a challenge, we touch the person’s feet.
93 94
people parted to reveal a white-haired old Let me touch your feet. Hold my stick.”
The king took the stick and the old man bent 23. The Generous Student
man, leaning heavily on a stout stick.
down and touched the monarch’s feet.
“Who are you?” asked the king. (China)
“Now you may give it back to me,” he said,
“I am Boubakar,” said the man. “We have no
straightening up. The king gave him back his
water in our village. I have come to ask for a
Lin Piao used to absent himself from classes
stick.
well to be dug there.”
very often and one day the principal of the
“Do you want any more proof?” asked
“So you are a beggar!” roared the king,
college made up his mind to expel him. So he
Boubakar.
striding down to where the man stood. “Yet
sent for the young man.
“Proof?” asked the king, bewildered.
you have the temerity to call me a servant!”
Lin arrived just as the principal was about to
“You held my stick when I asked you to and
“We all serve one another,” said Boubakar,
go for lunch. "Is this the time to come!" said
gave it back to me when I asked you for it,”
showing no fear, “and I will prove it to you
the principal, sternly.
said the old man. “As I said, all good men are
before nightfall.”
"Forgive me, Sir," said Lin, "but I got to college
servants of one another.”
“Do that,” said the monarch. “Force me to wait
very late today. You see, I found a lump of
The king was so pleased with Boubakar’s wit
on you. If you can do that I will have
gold in our field." "A lump of gold!" said the
and daring that he not only had wells dug in
principal, his eyes popping out. "Oh, my, what
his village but also retained him as an adviser.
are you going to do with it?"
"I decided to build a palatial house, buy several
acres of land and several head of cattle," said
the student.
95 96
"I also decided to give you a small sum for the
trouble you have taken in educating me."
The principal was pleased and invited Lin to eat
with him. The young man ate ravenously but
the principal hardly touched his food. He was
wondering how much Lin would give him and if
it would be enough to buy that small paddy
field he had always wanted.
"I hope you've kept the gold in a safe place,"
he said, suddenly coming out of his reverie.
"I never got a chance to do that," said Lin. "It "I'm happy you remembered me in your
disappeared the moment my mother shook me dream," he said, finally. "I hope you remember
awake." me when you really get some gold. Now please
"What!" screamed the principal. "You mean it leave."
was all a dream?!" The young man nodded. It was only when the young man had left that
The principal controlled himself with a great the principal remembered why he had sent for
effort of will. him.