Vishnu Sharma
|
India

The Bird and the Monkeys

A bird's advice to monkeys is met with hostility, leading to the destruction of its nest and suffering in the rain.
Ignorance
Pride
Wisdom
Panchatantra Fables - The Bird and the Monkeys
Audio available for B1 version

Once upon a time, in a dense forest, there lived a clever bird who had built a cozy nest on the highest branch of a tree. The tree was also home to a troop of monkeys who were constantly making a ruckus, annoying the bird.

One day, the sky turned dark and heavy rain began to pour. The bird, safe and dry in its nest, looked down at the drenched monkeys who were shivering from the cold. Feeling pity for them, the bird decided to offer some advice.

The bird called out to the monkeys, "Dear friends, why don't you build a shelter before the rainy season starts? That way, you won't have to suffer in the cold and rain."

The monkeys, who were not used to being advised, became angry and offended. They yelled back at the bird, "Who do you think you are, telling us what to do? We know how to take care of ourselves!"

The bird tried to explain that it meant no harm, but the monkeys refused to listen. Their pride was hurt, and they decided to teach the bird a lesson. They climbed up the tree and destroyed the bird's nest, scattering its twigs and leaves all over the ground.

As the rain continued to fall, the bird found itself exposed and shivering just like the monkeys. Despite the bird's good intentions, its advice was met with hostility and it ended up suffering as a result.

Once upon a time, in the middle of "I-really-hope-there's-WiFi-here" forest, a clever bird set up shop on the penthouse level of a tall tree. It was the ultimate treetop mansion, complete with a slide and a swing. Below this snazzy spot, a group of monkeys had non-stop dance parties, dropping banana peels and creating general monkey mayhem.

One day, the sky started crying buckets. The bird, nestled in with a warm blanket and a mug of worm cocoa, peeked down at the monkeys, who looked like they’d taken a surprise dive into a pool.

“Hey mates!” the bird sang out, “Ever thought of building a rooftop? Might save you from these unexpected splash parties!”

One monkey, waterlogged and grumpy, shouted back, “Who made you the boss of treehouse designs? We were living the tree life before it became a trend!”

The bird fluttered, “Just a friendly tip! A little prep goes a long way!”

But the monkeys weren’t having any of it. Their pride pricked, they decided it was payback time. Using their best monkey teamwork, they went on a mission to "redecorate" the bird's plush nest. In a whirlwind of mischief, they sent twigs, feathers, and even the bird’s cozy blanket plummeting down.

Now, the bird found itself out in the cold, drenched just like the monkeys. And the forest learned a lesson: Good intentions are golden, but sometimes, they can come back to splash you.

Amidst the woods, so big and deep,
Where secrets and funny shadows sleep,
There sat a bird, so smart and neat,
On the tallest tree, its own sweet seat.

The tree’s big branches, stretched out wide,
Held monkeys too, laughing side by side.
They'd chatter and shout, all day and night,
Making the bird jump with slight fright.

One day the sky, turned cloudy and gray,
And rain came down, in a splashy way.
Rain poured hard, so wet and cold,
Yet the bird was dry, brave and bold.

Below it saw, from its high tree perch,
Monkeys all wet, in their rain-soaked search.
“Dear friends,” it chirped, “before the rain's start,
Why not build shelters, and act really smart?”

The monkeys frowned, their pride did flare,
“Who are you to give advice, up there in the air?
We know our tree, we know our play!”
They huffed in pride, dismissing the say.

The bird just wanted to help and guide,
But the monkeys' pride was too big to hide.
They climbed the tree, with a vengeful quest,
To tear and scatter the bird’s own nest.

Twigs went flying, the nest did fall,
The bird was shocked, by the monkeys' gall.
The moral here, clear and smart:
"Good advice, when not sought, can break a heart."

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Understanding Questions

Reflection Questions

  1. Why did the bird decide to offer advice to the monkeys?
  2. How did the monkeys react to the bird's advice, and why do you think they reacted that way?
  3. Can you think of a time when you tried to help someone, but they didn't appreciate it?
  4. What does this story teach us about giving advice, and the importance of how we react to advice given to us?
  5. How can we apply the lesson from this story in our own lives when we give or receive advice?

Fable Quotes

Ignored advice can be the storm that destroys our nest of comfort.
Pride deafens the ears to the sound of advice and widens the path to destruction.
Avoid imparting wisdom to those who refuse to learn.
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