‘Tales of Bidpai’, an Arabic version of the Panchatantra.

Cycle of Evil

There was once a king who was so cruel and unjust that his subjects yearned for his death or dethronement. However, one day he surprised them all by announcing that he had decided to turn over a new leaf. “No more cruelty, no more injustice,” he promised, and he was as good as his word. He became known as the ‘Gentle Monarch’. Months after his transformation one of his ministers plucked up enough courage to ask him what had brought about his change of heart, and the king answered: “As I was galloping through my forests I caught sight of a fox being chased by a hound. The fox escaped into his hole but not before the hound had bitten into its leg and lamed it for life. Later I rode into a village and saw the same hound there. It was barking at a man. Even as I watched, the man picked up a huge stone and flung it at the dog, breaking its leg. The man had not gone far when he was kicked by a horse. His knee was shattered and he fell to the ground, disabled for life. The horse began to run but it fell into a hole and broke its leg. Reflecting on all that had happened, I thought: ‘Evil begets evil. If I continue in my evil ways, I will surely be overtaken by evil’. So I decided to change”. The minister went away convinced that the time was ripe to overthrow the king and seize the throne. Immersed in thought, he did not see the steps in front of him and fell, breaking his neck. — Based on a story in the ‘Tales of Bidpai’, an Arabic version of the Panchatantra.

deside your own

One daya man was going tomarketwith his son and his ass. they met a couple on the way.

"Why walk when you have an ass to ride?" called out thehusband, "seatthe boyon the ass."

"I would like that," saidthe boy, "help me up father."

And the father did that willingly.

Soon they met another couple. "How shameful of you!" criedthe woman, "let your father ride, won't he be tired?"

So,the boygot down and the father rode the ass. Again they marched on.

"poor boy", said the next person they met, "why should the lazy father ride while his son is walking?"

So,the boygot onto the ass too. As they went on, they met some travellers.

"How cruel of them!" They are up to kill the poor ass." cried one of the travellers.

Hearing this, the father and the son got down. Now they decided to carry the ass on their shoulders. As they did so, the travellers broke into laughter.

The laughter frightened the ass. It broke free and galloped away.

MORAL: You can not please everyone

Read more athttp://www.kidsgen.com/moral_stories/you_cannot_please_everyone.htm#5WOJGe5bIXydb7Zp.99

Idleness is a curse.

 

lazygrasshopperlaughed at a little ant as she was always busy gathering food.

"why are youworkingso hard?" he asked, "come into the sunshine and listen to my merry notes."

"Butthe antwent on her work. She said" I am lying in a store forthe winter. Sunny days won't last for ever."

"Winter is so far away yet, "laughed thegrasshopperback.

And whenthe wintercame,the antsettled down in her snug house. She had plenty of food to last the whole winter. Thegrasshopperhad nothing to eat so, he went tothe antand begged her for a little corn.

"No", repliedthe ant, "you laughed at me when Iworked. You yourself sang through the summer. So you had better dancethe winteraway."

MORAL : Idleness is a curse.