Vishnu Sharma
|
India

The Bug and the Poor Flea

A wise king unknowingly sheltered a blood-feeding flea until an impulsive bug arrived and bit the king, causing a tragic outcome.
Regret
Consequences
Greed
Panchatantra Fables - The Bug and the Poor Flea
Audio available for B1 version

Long time ago, there was a wise and brave king who lived in a grand palace. His bed was made of a special type of wood and had soft silk sheets. Little did the king know, a small white flea lived in his bed, feeding on his blood without bothering him. It enjoyed its secret meals and the comfortable surroundings.

One sunny afternoon, a bug arrived, attracted by the king's blood. It wanted to join in the feast. The flea felt uneasy about this because the bug had a sharp sting that could alert the king to their presence.

Despite the flea's hesitation, the bug insisted and convinced the flea to let it bite the king. So, the flea set a condition: the bug could only bite the king when he was asleep to avoid getting caught. The bug eagerly agreed.

That evening, the king went to bed, unaware of the agreement. As soon as he settled down, the bug couldn't contain its excitement and bit him. The king yelled in surprise and pain, calling his guards. Angry about the unexpected sting, he ordered them to search the bed for bugs.

In the chaos, the bug managed to escape and hide, while the innocent flea was discovered by the guards. Unable to get away, the flea met a sad end, while the bug watched from its hiding place, regretting its impulsive actions. The bug's impatience not only cost it the chance to feast but also caused the flea to lose its life and home.

Once upon a time, in a huge castle that made even the fanciest houses look like cardboard boxes, lived a king. This king was super smart and super brave. Oh, and he had the most amazing bed ever! Imagine a bed so comfy that it felt like sleeping on a cloud. The sheets? Softer than a kitten's fur!

Guess what? This bed was also home to a tiny white flea. Yep, this little guy was living the good life, sipping on some royal "juice" and never getting caught.

Then one sunny day, a buzzing bug flew in, all jazzed up and ready to party. "Hey, I heard there's a feast happening here, and I'm joining!"

The flea was like, "Whoa, slow down! You have a sting that could wake up the whole castle!"

But the bug just begged and begged. "Pretty please? I promise to be super quiet!"

So, the flea agreed, but laid down the law. "Okay, listen up. You only get a bite when the king is asleep. We don't want him jumping around like he's on a trampoline!"

The bug was buzzing in circles, it was so excited. "You got it, deal!"

That night, the king got into bed, totally clueless about the tiny party planning session. But the bug couldn't wait and—ZAP!

"OUCH!" The king screamed so loud that guards came running like their pants were on fire. "Something bit me! Find it!"

The guards went nuts, flipping over pillows and even shaking the sheets. The bug used its turbo speed to zip away and hide. But our flea friend wasn't so lucky.

As the guards nabbed the flea, it looked at the bug hiding in the corner and thought, "Well, looks like someone couldn't stick to the plan."

The bug felt super bad, knowing its quick bite messed up everything. The feast was over for both of them, and the flea, well, the flea lost everything because the bug couldn't wait.

Once a king so wise and fair,
Had a palace beyond compare.
Soft silk sheets and wooden bed,
Where at night he laid his head.

Now listen close, and you shall see,
Who else lived there—a tiny flea!
Nibbling quiet, not a peep,
While the king was fast asleep.

Sunshine brought a bug one day,
"Let me feast," it begged to say.
Flea was worried, "You might sting,
And wake up our good, wise king."

The bug said, "Oh, I promise true,
I'll wait till night, just like you do."
Flea agreed, but with a plea,
"Only bite when he's asleep."

Nighttime came, the king in bed,
Dreaming dreams inside his head.
Bug grew eager, couldn't wait,
Bit the king—oh, what a fate!

King woke up and yelled, "Who's there?
Guards, come quick! Search everywhere!"
They found the flea, but bug had flown,
Leaving flea to face alone.

Flea was caught and met his end,
Bug felt sorry for his friend.
Lost the feast and lost a mate,
All because he couldn't wait.

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Reflection Questions

  1. Why do you think the flea allowed the bug to join it, even though it was worried about the bug's sharp sting?
  2. How do you think the bug felt when it saw the flea being discovered and couldn't do anything to help?
  3. Can you remember a time when you were too excited or impatient and it led to a problem?
  4. What does this story teach us about patience and considering the consequences of our actions before we act?
  5. How can we apply the lesson from this story in our daily life to ensure we don't rush into things without thinking them through?

Fable Quotes

Regret is a bitter fruit grown from the seeds of haste.
Consequences are the echoes of our actions, returning with greater force.
A feast too eagerly taken may cost more than it's worth.
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