Panchatantra:
Foolish Talkative Turtle
There lived a turtle named Kambugriva in a pond. He had a close friendship with swans named Sankat and Vikat, who lived on the banks of the pond. Every day the three of them used to talk a lot on the banks of the pond and would go to their respective homes in the evening. There was no rain in that region for a year. Slowly that pond also started drying up.
Now the swans started worrying about the turtle. When he told his concern to the turtle, the turtle asked him not to worry. He told the swans a trick. He told them to first find a pond full of water and then hang it from a piece of wood and take it to that pond.
Hearing him, the swans said that he was fine, but he would have to keep his mouth shut during the flight. The turtle assured him that he would not open his mouth under any circumstances. The turtle grabbed the piece of wood with its teeth, then both the swans took it away and flew away. On the way, when the people of the city saw that a turtle was flying in the sky, they started shouting in amazement.
Seeing the people screaming at his side, the turtle could not stop. He forgot his promise. As soon as he opened his mouth to say something, he fell from the sky. Due to his height, he could not bear the injury and died.
Now the swans started worrying about the turtle. When he told his concern to the turtle, the turtle asked him not to worry. He told the swans a trick. He told them to first find a pond full of water and then hang it from a piece of wood and take it to that pond.
Hearing him, the swans said that he was fine, but he would have to keep his mouth shut during the flight. The turtle assured him that he would not open his mouth under any circumstances. The turtle grabbed the piece of wood with its teeth, then both the swans took it away and flew away. On the way, when the people of the city saw that a turtle was flying in the sky, they started shouting in amazement.
Seeing the people screaming at his side, the turtle could not stop. He forgot his promise. As soon as he opened his mouth to say something, he fell from the sky. Due to his height, he could not bear the injury and died.
“Lesson: If even the wise are unable to control their fickleness, the result is bad.”
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