The Monkey and The Crocodile
Vishnu Sharma begins his fourth Tantra with the following stanza:
“He overcomes all problems
Who does not lose his cool
Even in the face of adversity
Like the monkey in the water.”
Who does not lose his cool
Even in the face of adversity
Like the monkey in the water.”
Once upon a time there lived a monkey on an apple tree by the side of the sea. . Once a crocodile swam ashore and the monkey threw apples at him and asked him to taste them. The crocodile started coming everyday to eat the fruits thrown by the monkey and soon they became good friends.
The crocodile used to take some fruits his wife too. His wife asked him as to where he got the nectar filled apples. The crocodile told her about his friend the monkey. The lady was greedy and pleaded with her husband that she would like to eat the monkey's heart, as a person who gave such tasty fruits must have a heart filled with nectar. The crocodile was angry and did not agree to deceive his friend. But she then insisted on not eating anything till he brought her his friend's heart. Out of desperation, the crocodile started making plans for killing his friend.
He came back to the monkey and invited him to his house for supper stating that his wife would be thrilled to have him home and also that she was very anxious to meet such a nice friend. Poor monkey believed the story and asked his friend as to how he could cross the sea to reach the house of the crocodile on the other side. The crocodile then offered to carry him on his back and the monkey agreed.
In the middle of the sea, the crocodile told the monkey that his wife wanted to eat his heart filled with nectar. The monkey immediately asked him to take him back to the tree as he had left his heart back at the tree. The foolish crocodile then swam back to the tree and the terrified monkey jumped up the tree never to return. The monkey at once leapt to the top of the tree and thought, “ We should not trust an untrustworthy person, even if we did, it should not be total. Such trust will destroy us completely. This is a rebirth for me.”The crocodile used to take some fruits his wife too. His wife asked him as to where he got the nectar filled apples. The crocodile told her about his friend the monkey. The lady was greedy and pleaded with her husband that she would like to eat the monkey's heart, as a person who gave such tasty fruits must have a heart filled with nectar. The crocodile was angry and did not agree to deceive his friend. But she then insisted on not eating anything till he brought her his friend's heart. Out of desperation, the crocodile started making plans for killing his friend.
He came back to the monkey and invited him to his house for supper stating that his wife would be thrilled to have him home and also that she was very anxious to meet such a nice friend. Poor monkey believed the story and asked his friend as to how he could cross the sea to reach the house of the crocodile on the other side. The crocodile then offered to carry him on his back and the monkey agreed.
The crocodile was in a hurry and asked the monkey, “ What is the delay? Get you heart. My wife will be very happy.”
The monkey angrily told him, “ You idiot, have you seen anyone with two hearts? You are ungrateful. Get out of my sight and never come this way again.
MORAL : He overcomes all problems who does not lose his cool, even in the face of adversity like the monkey in the water
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