The value of true friendship
The value of true friendship
Here's a beautiful Panchatantra story that highlights the value
of true friendship and how it can thrive through trust, cooperation, and standing by
each other in difficult times:
The Tortoise and His Wise Friends
Once upon a time...
In a serene forest with a peaceful lake, there lived a tortoise named Kambugriva. He had two dear friends—a swan named Sankat and a crane named Vikat. Every evening, the three would sit by the lake and share stories, laughter, and wisdom.
One year, the forest faced a severe drought. The lake started drying up. The birds could fly to other places in search of water, but poor Kambugriva could not.
Seeing his helplessness, Sankat and Vikat came up with a clever idea.
They
brought a strong stick and told the tortoise:
“We’ll hold the ends of this stick in our beaks. You hold the center of the stick tightly with your mouth. We’ll fly you to a beautiful lake far away.”
Kambugriva agreed, but the birds warned him:
“No matter what
happens, don’t open your mouth, or you’ll fall.”
As they soared through the sky, people below were astonished to see such a
sight.
They shouted:
“Look! Look at that! How funny! A tortoise flying in the sky!”
Hearing them mock, Kambugriva got angry and opened his mouth to reply—
...and instantly fell to the ground and died.
The birds were heartbroken but remembered their friend as one who trusted them, even if he made a mistake.
Moral of the Story:
- True friendship is built on trust and loyalty.
- Friends help you when you’re in need—but you must also listen and respect their guidance.
- Control your ego—pride can ruin even the best support systems.
