Vishnu Sharma
|
India

The Three Promises

Aditya rescues a tiger, snake, and man from a well, earning promises that later save him from trouble and prove his innocence.
Kindness
Trust
Greed
The Three Promises
Audio available for B1 version

Once upon a time, a young man named Aditya was walking through a forest. He was very thirsty and hoped to find some water. After a while, he came to a dry well. But when he looked inside, he was surprised! Inside the well, there was a tiger, a snake, and another man, all trapped.

All three of them asked Aditya for help. But Aditya was afraid. "What if the tiger hurts me? What if the snake bites me?" he thought. The tiger quickly said, "Don’t worry. I promise I won’t hurt you if you help me." The snake nodded and agreed.

Aditya decided to be brave. He threw a long rope into the well. First, the tiger climbed out. “Thank you, friend! If you ever come back to this forest, visit me. I will help you,” said the tiger.

Next, the snake slithered out. “You’re very kind,” said the snake. “If you ever need me, just call my name, and I will come.”

Finally, Aditya helped the man out of the well. “Thank you so much!” said the man. “I’m a goldsmith. I live in the city. Come visit me anytime, and I’ll help you.”

Aditya was happy to have new friends and continued his journey.

A few years later, Aditya was in the same forest again and remembered the tiger’s promise. He decided to visit the tiger’s cave. When he arrived, the tiger greeted him warmly. The tiger gave Aditya fresh fruit and water. Before Aditya left, the tiger gave him a special gift – beautiful gold jewelry. “This is for you, my friend!” said the tiger.

Aditya was very thankful but didn’t know what to do with the jewelry. Then he remembered his friend, the goldsmith. Maybe he could help.

Aditya went to the goldsmith’s house and showed him the gift from the tiger. The goldsmith’s eyes widened when he saw the jewelry. He knew this jewelry belonged to the king’s brother, who had gone missing in the forest. The king had promised a big reward to anyone with news about his missing brother.

But the goldsmith was greedy. He didn’t tell Aditya the truth. Instead, he thought, “If I tell the king that Aditya hurt the prince, I’ll get the reward.”

The goldsmith went to the palace and told the king that Aditya had killed his brother. The king sent soldiers to arrest Aditya and put him in jail.

Sitting in the dark jail cell, Aditya remembered the snake’s promise. He called out the snake’s name. Soon, the snake slithered into the cell. “What happened, my friend?” asked the snake.

Aditya told him everything. “Don’t worry,” said the snake. “I have a plan.”

The next day, news spread that the queen had been bitten by a snake and was very sick. No doctors could help her. The king promised a reward to anyone who could save her.

Aditya told the guard that he could cure the queen. The king quickly brought him to the palace.

Aditya said, “I must be alone with the queen. No one else should be in the room.”

The king agreed, and Aditya was left alone with the queen. He quietly called the snake, and the snake came, taking the poison out of the queen’s body.

Soon, the queen woke up, and the king was very happy. “You saved the queen! Ask for anything you want, and I will give it to you,” said the king.

Aditya replied, “I only ask that you listen to my story.”

Aditya explained everything that had happened, including the promises from the tiger, the snake, and the goldsmith.

The king understood and freed Aditya. He then punished the goldsmith for his lies and gave Aditya a bag of gold for his honesty.

Once upon a time, Aditya, a young man with a serious case of the thirsties, was wandering through a forest. "I’d trade all my socks for a sip of water right now," he muttered. He searched high and low until—finally!—he spotted an old, dry well. "Well, well, well… a well!" he chuckled. But when he peered in, he almost fell over in shock.

Inside the well, not one, not two, but three unlikely buddies were trapped—a tiger, a snake, and another man.

“Hey, buddy! Care to lend a paw—I mean, a hand?” called the tiger. “I’m having a bit of a day here.”

Aditya hesitated. “Um… you’re a tiger. Tigers eat people, don’t they? And snakes, well… they bite people.”

The tiger rolled his eyes, “Look, I promise. No munching, no crunching. I just want out of this well.”

The snake nodded, slithering in agreement. “Yes, yes, no bites, no stings. I’d give you a hug if I had arms.”

Feeling brave, Aditya tossed down a long rope. First, the tiger climbed out, shaking himself off and giving Aditya a big grin. “Thanks, pal! Anytime you’re in the forest, come find me. We’ll hang out. I’ll repay you.”

Next up was the snake, who slithered out with a little wiggle. “You’re very kind, human,” he said, hissing with pride. “If you ever need me, just call my name, and I’ll be there, like a superhero. Except, you know, without the cape.”

Finally, Aditya pulled out the other man, who was a goldsmith. “Thanks a lot!” he said. “I owe you one. I live in the city, so come visit me anytime, and I’ll help you with anything gold-related—jewelry, goblets, you name it!”

Aditya smiled at his new friends, feeling good as he continued his journey.

A few years later, Aditya was back in the forest. He remembered the tiger’s promise, so he thought, “Hey, let’s go see what my big stripy friend is up to!”

He found the tiger lounging by his cave. “Ah, Aditya! My hero!” the tiger roared, pulling him into a big, slightly uncomfortable hug. The tiger gave him fresh fruits and water and even sent him off with a dazzling gift: a shiny piece of gold jewelry.

Aditya scratched his head. “I love it, but… what am I supposed to do with gold jewelry?” Then he remembered the goldsmith. “Perfect! He’ll know what to do!”

When Aditya showed the goldsmith the jewelry, the man’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. He knew it belonged to the king’s brother, who’d gone missing in the forest. But the goldsmith was a sneaky sort. He thought, “If I tell the king that Aditya did something bad to the prince, I’ll get a huge reward!”

So off he went to the palace, telling the king, “Your Majesty, I know what happened to your brother! It was… Aditya!”

The king was furious. Soldiers arrested Aditya and threw him in jail. As he sat in his dark, damp cell, Aditya sighed, “Well, this is not ideal.” Then he remembered the snake’s promise. “Time for Plan Slither!”

He called the snake’s name, and before long, his scaly friend slid right into the cell. “What’s up, Aditya? Why so glum?”

Aditya explained everything, and the snake gave a sly little hiss. “Oh, I’ve got this. Leave it to me.”

The next day, word spread that the queen had been bitten by a snake and was very ill. The king promised a reward to anyone who could help.

Aditya told the guard, “Tell the king I can cure the queen.” In a flash, he was brought to the palace.

Once alone with the queen, Aditya quietly called the snake. The snake quickly drew out the poison, and the queen woke up feeling better than ever.

The king was thrilled. “You saved the queen! Name your reward!”

“All I ask,” said Aditya, “is that you hear my story.”

So Aditya told the king everything, from the tiger’s friendship to the goldsmith’s trickery.

The king believed Aditya and released him from jail, giving the goldsmith a stern look. “You, my sneaky little goldsmith, shall be punished for your lies.” He then handed Aditya a bag of gold. “For your kindness and honesty, young man.”

Aditya beamed and thanked the king, feeling lucky to have made some rather unusual friends in the forest.

Aditya wandered through the trees so tall,
Thirsty, he hoped for water to befall.
But what he found was quite the great surprise,
A well so dry with cries that pierced the skies.

Within the pit, a tiger, snake, and man,
All trapped, they pleaded for a helping hand.
“Fear not of bites or claws, we mean no harm,”
Their promises came with a soothing balm.

With courage stirred, Aditya dropped a rope,
First tiger, then the snake slid up with hope.
“Thank you, dear friend,” each one gratefully said,
“Remember us,” as away they sped.

The man climbed last, his thanks rang true and clear,
“Visit my shop, I’ll greet you with good cheer!”
New friendships formed, Aditya journeyed on,
His heart was light, the fear he felt was gone.

Years passed until the forest called again,
To tiger’s cave went he, recalling then
The fruits and jewels the big cat did present,
“With thanks,” he roared, “For your earlier ascent!”

But with the gold, the troubles soon began,
The goldsmith’s greed, a dark and cunning plan.
To the king he lied, “Aditya’s deeds are dire!”
Soon in a cell, our man faced the king’s ire.

In darkness deep, Aditya called the snake,
“Help me, my friend, for old alliance’ sake!”
The snake then hatched a plan quite smart and bold,
To save the queen and clear the tales untold.

Alone with her, he summoned his snake friend,
Who drew the poison out, to heal and mend.
The queen awoke, the king’s joy knew no bounds,
Aditya’s name was cleared, his honor sounds.

Aditya’s story touched the king’s wise heart,
He knew the goldsmith played a wicked part.
With justice swift, the king decreed his fate—
The goldsmith's lies would carry heavy weight.

“For greed and lies, you’ll face the price today,”
The king declared, as guards took him away.
For Aditya, a golden bag was brought,
To honor truth and kindness he’d first taught.

Thus ends the tale of risks and friendships true,
Of how what’s right, in time, clears skies to blue.
For promises kept and hearts that stay kind,
Bring light to all, and peace to every mind.

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Understanding Questions

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Reflection Questions

  1. Why did Aditya decide to help the tiger, snake, and man, even though he was scared?
  2. How did each animal keep their promise to Aditya, and what does that tell us about loyalty and gratitude?
  3. What did the goldsmith do wrong, and why do you think he betrayed Aditya?
  4. How did Aditya’s kindness and bravery eventually help him in the end?
  5. What lesson can we learn about trusting others and keeping our promises from this story?

Fable Quotes

"Kindness costs nothing, but it means everything."
"Trust is the foundation of all relationships."
"A greedy heart never sees the value of true friendship."
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