Vishnu Sharma
|
India

Fighting Goats and the Jackal

A clever jackal in search of an easy meal watches two fighting goats, but his greed leads to a painful lesson.
Greed
Patience
Consequences
Panchatantra Fables - Fighting Goats and the Jackal
Audio available for B1 version

Once upon a time, in a lush green meadow, there lived a clever jackal. He was always looking for an easy meal and would often trick other animals to get food. One hot and sunny day, the jackal saw two strong goats standing on top of a hill. They were staring at each other and seemed ready to fight.

Feeling very hungry, the jackal sat back in the shadows to watch, hoping to get something to eat after the fight. Suddenly, the goats charged at each other, their horns crashing together with a loud sound. They were so focused on their fight that they didn't see the sneaky jackal watching from far away.

As the goats continued to fight, small drops of blood fell on the ground. The smell of fresh blood floated to where the jackal was hiding. His eyes sparkled with excitement, and his mouth watered at the sight. Unable to resist the temptation, he started licking the drops of blood, unaware of the danger he was putting himself in.

While he was busy enjoying his meal, the goats, still fighting, unknowingly came closer to him. In the heat of their battle, they accidentally bumped into the jackal, knocking him off his feet. The jackal cried out in pain as he felt the sharp pain from the goats' horns. He tried to run away, but his body hurt from the strong impact.

Despite the pain, he managed to scramble away, disappearing into the forest. In the end, his greed had led him to a painful lesson. Hurt and scared, the jackal barely escaped with his life, realizing the consequences of his actions.

Once upon a super fun time in a meadow so green it could be a big green crayon, there lived a really smart jackal. This jackal was so clever, he could probably talk a bird into giving him its last worm. "Hmm, what's for lunch today?" he wondered, looking around for some easy eats.

Well, guess what? He spots two big, strong goats on a hill, giving each other the stink eye like they're about to have a big race or something. "Oh, this is gonna be good!" the jackal thought. He found a shadowy spot that's perfect for watching. If he had popcorn, this would be the time to eat it!

BANG! The goats bumped their horns together super hard, like they were playing a game of bumper cars. They're so into it, they don't even see Mr. Sneaky Jackal watching them from his hideout.

Now here's where it gets interesting. While they're fighting, a couple of drops of blood land on the ground. The jackal smells it, and his eyes light up like twinkly stars. "Yay, snack time!" he thought, licking up the drops like they're little treats.

But, hold on! The goats are still fighting and—oops!—they're getting closer and closer to where the jackal's having his snack party. Oh no!

BOOM! The goats bump into the jackal while he's still snacking, and whoa, he goes flying like a soccer ball that's been kicked super hard. "Ouchie! That hurt!" he yelped, feeling like he'd just stepped on a toy block.

So, with his tail tucked, the jackal zips away into the forest as fast as he can, making sure he's not about to become goat lunch.

As the jackal zoomed through the forest, his paws barely touching the ground, he couldn't help but think that his sneaky plans had backfired in a really big "Oopsie!" way. Still, he vanished into the woods, nursing his bruised ego along with his sore spots.

Jackal sly, with twinkling eye,
Saw two goats, up the hill so high.
Nose to nose, they stood so grand,
Ready to battle, on hilltop land.

Jackal thought, "Ah, what a treat!
After their clash, I’ll have some meat."
He hid away, just out of sight,
While goats clashed horns in daylight bright.

Boom and crash, their horns did meet,
Small drops of blood fell at their feet.
The scent wafted to where Jackal lay,
His mouth watered; he couldn’t stay away.

He licked up blood, yum-yum so fine,
Unaware of the danger sign.
Goats in battle, closer drew,
And knocked Jackal, out of the blue!

“Ouch!” he yelped, feeling the prong,
His plan for an easy meal went wrong.
Off he dashed, his body sore,
Into the woods, to scheme no more.

Jackal learned, in forest glen,
Greed’s not good, it hurts you then.
Narrow escape, lesson learned,
Be careful where your nose is turned!

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Understanding Questions

Reflection Questions

  1. Why do you think the jackal decided to watch the goats fight from afar?
  2. Can you explain how the jackal's greed led to his painful lesson?
  3. Can you recall a time when you wanted something so much that you didn't consider the potential consequences?
  4. How could the jackal have acted differently in this story? What might have been a better choice for him?
  5. What does this story teach us about the importance of being aware of our surroundings and understanding the possible risks of our actions?

Fable Quotes

In the blindness of greed, even a clear opportunity can lead to a painful end.
With patience as our guide, we learn to wait for the right moment, not just any moment.
The echo of our actions returns to us, sometimes with a sting.
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