Vishnu Sharma
|
India

The Brahmin, the Tiger and the Jackal

A Brahmin frees a trapped tiger who breaks its promise but outsmarts it with the help of a clever jackal.
Deception
Trust
Wisdom
Panchatantra Fables - The Brahmin, the Tiger and the Jackal
Audio available for B1 version

Once upon a time, in a small village, there lived a wise old Brahmin. One day, while walking through the jungle, he came across a tiger trapped in a cage. The tiger, upon seeing the Brahmin, called out to him, "Kind sir, could you please help me? I was tricked by a cruel hunter and trapped in this cage."

The Brahmin was kind-hearted, but also very wise. He knew that tigers were dangerous animals and asked, "Why should I help you? You might eat me once I set you free."

"No, no, I promise I won't," the tiger pleaded. "I am in deep distress, and you are my only hope. I assure you, I won't harm you."

Moved by the tiger's plea, the Brahmin decided to take a chance. He opened the cage and freed the tiger. As soon as the tiger was out, he stretched his body and said menacingly, "I am very hungry, and I think I will eat you."

The Brahmin was shocked, "But you promised you wouldn't harm me."

"Well, I have changed my mind," said the tiger.

Quickly thinking, the Brahmin said, "Shouldn't we ask the opinion of at least three beings before you decide to break your promise? If they all agree that it's fair for you to eat me, I won't resist."

The tiger agreed, and they began to seek out opinions. The first creature they came across was a big old tree. The Brahmin explained the situation and asked if it was fair for the tiger to eat him. The tree responded, "Humans always cut us down, so I think it's fair for the tiger to eat you."

Next, they came across a buffalo, and the Brahmin asked the same question. The buffalo replied, "Humans always make us do hard work and beat us, so yes, it's fair for the tiger to eat you."

Finally, they came across a clever jackal. The Brahmin explained the situation to the jackal, who pretended to be confused. "I'm sorry," the jackal said, "I can't understand the situation properly. Could you show me exactly what happened?"

The tiger agreed and went back into the cage to show the jackal how he had been trapped. As soon as the tiger was in, the jackal told the Brahmin to lock the cage, saving his life.

Grateful for the jackal's wisdom, the Brahmin went on his way, leaving the ungrateful tiger to its fate.

In a small town, there is an old man. He is wise. He is called a Brahmin. One day, he walks in the forest. He sees a tiger in a cage. The tiger sees the Brahmin and says, "Please help me! A man trapped me."

The Brahmin is kind but also smart. He knows tigers are not safe. He asks, "Why should I help you? You might eat me."

"I promise I will not eat you," the tiger says. "I need your help."

The Brahmin feels sorry for the tiger. He opens the cage. He lets the tiger out. But the tiger says, "I am hungry. I want to eat you."

The Brahmin is surprised. "But you promised not to eat me!"

The tiger says, "I changed my mind."

The Brahmin thinks fast. He says, "Let us ask three others. If they say yes, then you can eat me."

The tiger agrees. They go to ask others. First, they see a big old tree. The Brahmin asks, "Is it okay for the tiger to eat me?" The tree says, "Humans cut us down. It is okay for the tiger to eat you."

Next, they see a buffalo. The Brahmin asks the same question. The buffalo says, "Humans make us work hard. It is okay for the tiger to eat you."

Then, they see a clever jackal. The Brahmin tells the story. The jackal says, "I do not understand. Can you show me what happened?"

The tiger goes back into the cage. The jackal tells the Brahmin to lock the cage. The Brahmin locks the cage. He is safe.

The Brahmin thanks the jackal. He goes home.

Once upon a time, in a small village, there was a wise old man called a Brahmin. One day, he was walking through the jungle and found a tiger in a cage. The tiger saw the Brahmin and said, "Please help me! A hunter trapped me."

The Brahmin was kind but also smart. He knew tigers could be dangerous. He asked, "Why should I help you? You might eat me if I let you out."

"I promise I won't eat you," the tiger said. "I need your help."

The Brahmin felt sorry for the tiger and decided to help. He opened the cage and let the tiger out. But as soon as the tiger was free, he said, "I am very hungry, and I want to eat you."

The Brahmin was surprised. "But you promised not to eat me!"

The tiger said, "I changed my mind."

Thinking quickly, the Brahmin said, "Let's ask three others if it's fair for you to eat me. If they all say yes, then I will let you eat me."

The tiger agreed. They went to ask others. First, they met a big old tree. The Brahmin asked if it was fair for the tiger to eat him. The tree said, "Humans cut us down, so it is fair for the tiger to eat you."

Next, they met a buffalo. The Brahmin asked the same question. The buffalo said, "Humans make us work hard, so it is fair for the tiger to eat you."

Lastly, they met a clever jackal. The Brahmin told the story to the jackal. The jackal pretended to be confused. "I don't understand," said the jackal. "Can you show me what happened?"

The tiger agreed and went back into the cage. As soon as he was inside, the jackal told the Brahmin to lock the cage. The Brahmin did so, and he was safe.

Thankful for the jackal's cleverness, the Brahmin left the tiger and went home.

Once upon a time, in a village so tiny it didn't even have its own ice cream shop, lived Brahmin the Wise. Brahmin was the kind of guy who liked big books and could name every butterfly he saw.

One sunny day, while he was taking a nature walk in the jungle, he found a tiger stuck in a cage.

The tiger saw Brahmin and exclaimed, "Hey buddy, can you help a feline out? This cage isn't exactly comfy, you know."

Brahmin, scratching his chin, asked, "If I let you out, you won't eat me, right?"

The tiger put on his most innocent face. "Me? Eat you? Nah. I promise, cross my heart!"

Convinced, Brahmin unlocked the cage. The tiger stretched and then playfully said, "Actually, I've changed my mind. You look snack-tastic!"

Brahmin gasped, "But you pinky-promised!"

The tiger smirked, "I'm a cat. I have paws, not pinkies!"

Brahmin quickly thought, "Okay, okay. Let's ask three of our jungle buddies if it's fair for you to eat me. If they say yes, I'll be your lunch."

First, they met an old tree. "Tree, do you think the tiger should eat me?"

The tree, swaying in the wind, replied, "Humans use us for firewood, so yeah, why not?"

Next was a grumpy buffalo. The buffalo mumbled, "You guys use me for rides, so sure, let the tiger have his snack."

Just when Brahmin was losing hope, they met a Jackal, who always had a trick up his sleeve. After hearing the story, the Jackal said, "Hmm, can you show me how this all started?"

The tiger, eager to show off, jumped back into the cage. The moment he did, the Jackal shouted, "Now, lock it!"

As the cage door clicked, the Jackal laughed, "Looks like the tiger got outsmarted!"

With a chuckle and a sigh of relief, Brahmin thanked the Jackal, and they left, leaving the tiger dreaming of snacks he couldn't have.

Wise Brahmin walked one sunny day,
A caged tiger crossed his way.
"Kind sir, oh please, let me go free,
A hunter tricked and captured me!"

"Help you? Hmm," said Brahmin wise,
"You might just make me your meal's prize."
"Don't worry, sir, I promise true,
Let me out, I won't hurt you."

So Brahmin, kind and full of grace,
Opened the lock and freed the chase.
Once out, the tiger growled, "You see,
I'm hungry, so you'll dine with me."

"You promised!" Brahmin said in shock.
"Changed my mind," the tiger mock.
"Before you eat, let's ask around,
Three friends should make the judgment sound."

A towering tree they did then meet,
"Is it fair?" Brahmin asked, so sweet.
"Men use my wood, so don't you see?
You're fair game, as fair as can be."

Next, they asked a buffalo,
"Is it fair?" Brahmin wanted to know.
"Men make me work, it's only fair,
If you become that tiger's fare."

Last was a jackal, crafty and neat,
Who made them both take a backseat.
"Show me again, how all this went,"
So back into the cage, the tiger was sent.

Quick as a flash, the jackal said,
"Lock it up, or soon you'll be dead!"
Tiger growled, stuck inside his den,
Locked in the cage once again.

Brahmin thanked the jackal wise,
Walking on beneath the skies.
Leaving the tiger to his fate,
Brahmin walked, his wisdom great.

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Word Finder

  1. Wise

    Knowing a lot; very smart.

  2. Trapped

    Caught; can't get out.

  3. Promise

    Say you will do something.

  4. Surprised

    Feeling something unexpected.

  5. Mind

    Your thoughts and ideas.

  6. Agree

    Say yes to the same thing.

  7. Clever

    Smart and quick-thinking.

  8. Humans

    People.

  9. Jackal

    Wild dog in the forest.

  10. Locked

    Closed with a key or something similar.

  1. Brahmin

    A wise man in Indian culture.

  2. Hunter

    Person who catches or kills animals for food.

  3. Dangerous

    Likely to cause harm or injury.

  4. Promise

    Say you will do something for sure.

  5. Surprised

    Feeling shocked because something unexpected happened.

  6. Mind

    Brain, where you think and make decisions.

  7. Fair

    Treating people equally and justly.

  8. Clever

    Smart and able to solve problems quickly.

  9. Pretended

    Acted like something is true, but it's not.

  10. Lock

    Close something securely so it cannot open.

Understanding Questions

  1. Who is the old man in the story?

    1. A hunter
    2. A Brahmin
    3. A tiger
    4. A jackal
  2. Where does the Brahmin find the tiger?

    1. In his home
    2. In a forest
    3. In a town
    4. In a river
  3. What does the tiger promise the Brahmin?

    1. To find food
    2. To help him
    3. Not to eat him
    4. To take him home
  4. Who helps the Brahmin at the end of the story?

    1. The tree
    2. The buffalo
    3. The jackal
    4. The man
  5. How does the Brahmin stay safe from the tiger?

    1. He runs away.
    2. He fights the tiger.
    3. He locks the tiger in the cage.
    4. He hides in the forest.
  1. Why did the Brahmin initially hesitate to help the tiger out of the cage?
  2. What did the tiger promise the Brahmin before he was let out of the cage?
  3. Who were the first two beings the Brahmin and the tiger asked for advice?
  4. How did the jackal manage to save the Brahmin from the tiger?
  5. What did the Brahmin do after the jackal helped him?
  1. Why did the Brahmin initially hesitate to help the tiger in the cage?
  2. What condition did the Brahmin set before he agreed to free the tiger?
  3. How did the tiger react after being freed, and what was the Brahmin's response?
  4. What were the opinions of the tree and the buffalo regarding the tiger's decision to eat the Brahmin?
  5. How did the jackal's clever plan lead to the tiger being trapped again in the cage?

Reflection Questions

  1. Why do you think the Brahmin decided to free the tiger, even though he knew tigers could be dangerous?
  2. How do you think the Brahmin felt when the tiger said he wanted to eat him after being freed?
  3. The tree and the buffalo both agreed it was fair for the tiger to eat the Brahmin. Why do you think they said this?
  4. The jackal managed to save the Brahmin's life by using his wit. Can you think of a situation where you or someone else had to be clever to solve a problem?
  5. What does this story teach us about trust, gratitude, and cleverness?

Fable Quotes

Deception unveils the true nature of trust, for promises whispered can fade like smoke in the wind.
Trust not in words alone, but in actions, for even promises can be shattered in an instant.
Wisdom is knowing when to trust, when to question, and when to seek the counsel of others.
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