The Foolish Tortoise

There are two interesting morals to be learnt from this simple Panchatantra story. First, we must heed the advice of good friends in a time of calamity. Second, we must learn to be silent when required! Sometimes our silence is more valuable than speech.

Once upon a time, there was a tortoise called Kambugriva. He was a bit foolish and very talkative too! He was good friends with the swans Sankat and Vikat, who were intelligent and truthful. The tortoise and the swans spent many happy evenings together, talking about good things like the puranas, penance, etc. 

Alas, one year, there was no rain and the pond that our friends lived in started to dry up. It became marshy and uninhabitable. The tortoise became very sad. It told the swans, “Oh friends, you are birds, you can fly away and find a new pond to live in. I, on the other hand, will have to perish once this pond dries up.”

Sankat and Vikat were aggrieved by their friend’s remarks and said, “Oh Kambugriva, do not speak like that. We are prepared to help you. Let us find a way by which we can take you along with us.”

Indeed, the wise rishis have said that one should find ways to save their friends and relatives in times of calamity.

The swans wondered how to save the tortoise. Image Courtesy: IFAW

After much thought, Kambugriva said, “I have an idea. I will hold on to a stick or thick rope with my mouth. You hold on to both ends of the stick with your beaks and fly. So, you will be able to carry me along as you fly.”

The swans agreed to the idea, but they warned the tortoise repeatedly, “Kambugriva, we are ready to help you, but you must be very careful. You are of a very talkative nature. For the duration of the flight, you must ensure that you do not utter even a single word because if you open your mouth, you will fall down and die!” Kambugriva agreed, and they started the flight as planned, with the tortoise holding on to a stick.

For some time, the journey was uneventful. As they started crossing the villages, the children started to laugh and comment about the strange sight. “Look, look,” said the children, “the swans are carrying something round and funny!” The tortoise got a little irritated to be called a funny object and opened his mouth to chide the children. Alas, he fell down and died even before he could finish the sentence!

If only the tortoise had heeded his friends’ advice and remained silent, he could have made it safely to a brimming pond and a fresh new life!

सुहृदां हितकामानाम् न करोतीह यो वचः।

स कूर्म इव दुर्बुध्दिः काष्टाद् भ्रष्टो विनश्यति।।

suhṛdāṁ hitakāmānām na karotīha yo vacaḥ|

sa kūrma iva durbudhdiḥ kāṣṭād bhraṣṭo vinaśyati||

"The person who does not heed his well-wishers and friends, owing to his foolishness, meets the same destruction as the stupid tortoise who fell from the stick and died."

Retelling of a Panchatantra tale by Janani G. Vikram, first published in Tattvaloka