Once upon a time, in a small village, there lived a Brahmin who had a pet mongoose. The Brahmin loved his pet dearly, and the mongoose, too, was devoted to its master. They lived together in a small house and shared a strong bond.
One day, the Brahmin had to go on a journey, leaving his house and his pet behind. Before leaving, he called the mongoose and said, "My faithful friend, I am going on a journey. While I am away, I entrust the safety of our house to you. Protect it from any harm that may befall it."
The mongoose nodded in understanding, giving its master a reassuring look. The Brahmin left, believing that his pet would fulfill its duty.
Days passed, and one morning, as the mongoose was guarding the house, it noticed a snake slithering towards the entrance. The mongoose, being naturally territorial and protective, assumed that the snake intended to harm its master's house. In a swift attack, the mongoose pounced on the snake and fought it fiercely.
Panchatantra Story : The Brahmin and the Mongoose
After a long and intense battle, the mongoose finally managed to kill the snake. Satisfied with its victory, it wagged its tail and proudly left the snake's lifeless body near the entrance, thinking that it had fulfilled its duty.
Meanwhile, a group of villagers passing by saw the dead snake and the mongoose with blood on its fur. Assuming the worst, they concluded that the mongoose had attacked and killed the Brahmin's baby. Filled with rage, they stormed into the house, ready to seek revenge.
As they entered, they discovered the lifeless body of the snake, lying near the entrance. Realizing their mistake, they felt remorse for their hasty judgment. However, it was too late. The mongoose, misunderstood and wrongly accused, had paid a heavy price for its loyalty.
The Brahmin returned home to find the village in mourning. He listened to the villagers' account of what had transpired and felt deep sorrow. He understood that it was a tragic misunderstanding and blamed himself for leaving his beloved pet alone.
Grief-stricken, the Brahmin cremated the mongoose with due respect, mourning the loss of his loyal companion. He realized that the mongoose had acted out of loyalty, protecting the house as he had requested.
The moral of this Panchatantra story is that hasty judgment can lead to tragic consequences. It reminds us of the importance of not jumping to conclusions without proper investigation or understanding. It teaches us to be cautious in making assumptions and to seek the truth before passing judgment, as it can lead to irreversible harm and regret.
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