Children’s Stories that Educate and Entertain

The Trees Smiled Again

LONG time ago there was a kingdom-Navalgarh-under the reign of King Veersen. King Veersen was very fond of hunting. He had a horse—Badal—which was very dear to him. Often he would go to forests riding his horse and hunt wild game.

Once riding the same horse he went to a forest to hunt wild game. There was a sudden change in the weather while the king was passing through the middle of the forest. He saw black clouds hanging all around in the sky and soon there was fierce wind blowing, and rain began pouring in. The king took shelter under a big tree to save himself from the rain. While the king was waiting for the wind and rain to stop under a tree, a thick branch of the same tree broke and fell on the king and the horse. Both were almost crushed under it.

The king somehow managed to come out from under the branch. He was slightly injured, but without caring for his injuries he began pulling his horse from under the thick and heavy branch.

It was with great efforts that the king succeeded in pulling out the horse; but was stunned to see its face. The horse had succumbed to its deep injuries. The king was shocked to see his horse dead and became very angry with the tree. In order to avenge the death of his horse he vowed to have all the trees of the forest cut down.

The tree was frightened to hear the vow taken by the king. It appeared to the king in human form and said with folded hands, King! The death of your dear horse has greatly aggrieved me, but I am not to be blamed for this.

Then who is to be blamed? asked the king angrily. The tree said again, King! My branch could not bear the force of the fierce wind and broke. And so, it’s rather the fault of the wind. But blaming the wind is also not genuine; because storms and rains are caused due to change in weather. It is almost impossible to check them. But the king remained unmoved. He said, My loving horse has died because of your branch, and so you are to be blamed not the wind.

All right, king I am ready to take any punishment, if I am at fault, you may have me out from the root; but please don't have all the trees cut. I am ready to take the brunt of your wrath in order to save the other trees of the forest, said the tree to the king.

Undeterred the king said, No! I cannot withdraw now. I shall avenge the death of my horse by having all the trees of the forest cut from their roots. This will be a lesson for all of you, so that recurrence of this kind doesn’t take place.

No, king! I beseech you not to do this. This would be very unjust on your part. You may have to repent one day. Trees and creatures are very closely related. I once again request you to be kind to us. This will be in your favour and in favour of all the animals and birds in this forest. Just think, what great injustice you are going to do in order to avenge the death of your dear horse, said the tree to the king.

But the king was determined to exact revenge on the trees. He was boiling with anger. Nothing that the tree said was acceptable to him. He ignored the sermons of the tree and went away from there.

Reaching the palace the king ordered his minister to have all the trees of the forest cut from their roots. And thus all the trees were sacrificed on the altar of the anger of King Veersen.

Time kept rolling on. Meanwhile, King Bhanusingh, the neighbouring king, attacked the kingdom of King Veersen with his huge army. King Veersen fought bravely but King Bhanusingh proved to be a bit too powerful for him. King Veersen tried to escape from his palace to save his life, but the soldiers of King Bhanusingh saw him, and began chasing him. King Veersen kept running and looking for a safe place to hide, so that he could save his life. But he was not able get one such place. At last he reached the same forest, the trees of which he had had cut from their roots. Far from trees, he could not even find a bush behind which he could hide himself.

He was extremely tired? He was so exhausted that he could not run any more. And on the other side, the soldiers of King Bhanusingh were advancing in search of him continuously.

Suddenly he saw a few shoots popping out from the root of felled tree. The shoots had taken form of a small tree and the branches of which was hanging around it seemed the tree was inviting him to take refuge behind it. Seeing the tree, the king went running and tottering to the tree and hid himself among its branches. The leaves of the tree covered King Veersen from all around the soldiers of King Bhanusingh reached the forest in search of him. But they could only see felled trees throughout the forest and could find no trace of King Veersen. They returned disappointed.

King Veersen came out in the open after the soldiers left. He took a sigh of relief at d thanked the small tree for having saved his life Just as the king was about to move after extending his thanks to the tree, the small tree said, King! Perhaps you didn’t recognize me. I am the same tree, the branch of which had fallen on you and your horse due to sharp gusts of wind and caused death to your horse.

The king remembered the incident and was filled with embarrassment. The small tree said again, King! I remember having tried every possible way to deter you from your decision, but you were so angry and adamant that you refused to listen to me. Just imagine, if you had not had all the trees cut down. It would not have been so difficult for you to find a safe place to hide yourself to save your life.

Hearing the small tree the king realized his folly. He began repenting. He immediately promised the small tree that he would not feel at ease until he had made the forest green once again. From that very day the king began planting young trees in the forest with his own hands. Gradually the king developed a great attachment to the trees. The trees had become another form of God to him. He used to take care of them and worship them. And a day came when the same forest was full of green trees.

Time changed and gradually King Veersen managed to collect his soldiers again. and one day he attacked the kingdom of King Bhanusingh. Having regained his kingdom he ordered his ministers and courtiers to have all the nearby areas planted with young trees. Now trees were just as clear to him as his horse, Badai, was dear to him

Right Perception

It was a very long time back when there lived a farmer named Hariharan in a village in Vindya Pradesh. He had three sons- Harimohan, Harisharan and Hariprakash. Hariharan was very wise and prudent. Every year he saved certain amount from his earnings from farming for a rainy day. And thus he had saved a lot.

When he realized that his sons had grown up he called them and said, Look, my sons! All of you are grown up now. I wish you go to town and either search for some jobs for yourselves or get into some trade. If you stick around your village you will remain a farmer only. The total savings that I have made is of ten thousand gold coins only. Out of this I shall give you three thousand each and save one thousand for myself. I advise you to multiply the amount, work hard and become independent; because the joy of independence is incomparable, saying this Hariharan gave three thousand gold coins to each of his sons and sent them to town.

The three sons of Hariharan returned to their village after a year. Hariharan called them near him and asked Harimohan, his eldest son, Yes, my son, Harimohan! I would like to know from you first. What did you earn during this period of one year in the town?

Harimohan took out a mirror from his bag and put it before his father. He said, Father! It’s with great difficulty that I have been able to get this mirror. Please don’t take it to be an ordinary one; it’s a mirror with magical powers.

May I know what magical powers it possesses, asked Hariharan eagerly.

Father! You can see anything in the world in this mirror sitting at home. It works on my command. For others it will remain an ordinary mirror. It won’t take the commands of others, said Harimohan enthusiastically.

Now Hariharan turned towards his second son, Harisharan, and asked, Now you tell me my son! What have you earned from the town? On this Harisharan signaled to a horse fastened to a peg and said, Please don’t take this Panchkalyani horse (a horse of red colour whose head and all the four feet are white) to be an ordinary one. This horse has miraculous powers.

Is that so? What miracles can it perform, asked Hariharan.

Harisharan said, Not only that this horse can run on land, it can also run on water and fly in the sky with the same speed. It’s speed is such that in the twinkling of an eye it would have gone miles away. But it takes commands only from me. If someone else tries to ride on its back, it will not allow; and if someone somehow manages to do so, it won’t budge an inch, no matter how severely it is whipped.

And in the same manner, when asked the third son showed his ring that he was wearing on his finger and said, Father! Look at this ring. It shines like a star in the night.

But there are other gems as well which shine in the night, said the father impatiently, first you tell me if this ring has any special quality.

Father! The special quality of this ring is that one can become invisible by wearing it on his finger. It you are wearing this ring, you may go into a crowd of millions of people and you will not be seen; whereas you will be able to see everyone around.

This means this is a miraculous ring, said the father, all right! Now you please tell me if anyone wearing it could become invisible or it takes commands from you only?

No father! One has to mutter certain code words after wearing it and it works And the code words are known to me only Knowing the code from me anyone can use it, said the third son.

Having heard about the things brought by his three sons, Hariharan said, My dear sons! Of course, you have brought things possessing magical powers, but how are these things going to fulfill your basic requirements? How will the mirror, horse and ring help you earn money for yourselves? I personally feel that these things will prove useless for you. It would have been better if you had done some business in the town and returned with a lot of money.

While Hariharan was discussing thus with his sons, he heard sounds of drumbeat and someone announcing in the village. All the four came out of the house to know why the announcement was being made. Soon they saw a town crier. The town crier began announcing loudly, Listen! Listen! Listen, everybody attentively! Malvika, the only daughter of our king, Basantsen, has been abducted by a wicked sorcerer. Princess Malvika is the sole heiress to this kingdom. The king has ordered that anyone who succeeds in getting his most beautiful daughter, Malvika, freed from the clutches of that wicked sorcerer, will be married to the princess. And apart from this he will also be appointed to some honourable post in the kingdom.

Hearing the announcement, Hariharan said to his sons, Sons! This is the right time when you should put to test the miraculous things that you have brought. There will be no dearth of money in your life if you could get the princess freed from the clutches of the wicked sorcerer with the help of these miraculous things. Go and try to meet the requirement of the king. Then the three brothers, as ordered by their father, prepared themselves to get the princess freed.

First of all, the eldest son, Harimohan, found out with the help of his magical mirror where the sorcerer had hidden the princess. He looked into the mirror and told his two younger brothers that at a very long distance there was an island in the sea. The sorcerer had a very big palace in that island. And there were many fierce demons guarding the palace. It was impossible for anyone to enter the palace without killing the demons.

Hearing this the second brother said, it‘s not difficult to reach that island, but fighting with the demons and freeing the princess is beyond my capability. Riding my miraculous horse, can reach there within no time.

All right! You do only this much, said his brother, and you may leave the rest to me, I shall wear my ring and become invisible, and without being seen by anyone I shall take the princess on my shoulders and bring her to the roof. And then you can take me and the princess on the back of your horse and bring us back.

The plan was finalised. Harisharan took his younger brother, Hariprakask, on the back of his horse and rode to the Island of the sorcerer.

Reaching the Sorcerer's palace in the island, they dismounted from the horse. Harisharan hid himself behind the thick bushes with his horse in order to save himself from being seen by any demon, and the youngest brother, Hariprakash, became invisible with the help of his magical ring and entered the palace. Neither was he seen by anyone nor was he stopped.

Princess Malvika was sitting dejected in a room of the palace. Just a while ago, the sorcerer had returned after requesting her and finally threatening her to marry him if she wanted to save her father’s kingdom from burning into ashes with his magical powers. And that was the reason why the princess was extremely worried.

Suddenly Hariprakash startled her by appearing before her. The princess was about to shriek out of fear when Hariprakash signaled to her to keep quiet. He whispered to the princess, Princess Malvika! Please don't worry! I am your well-wisher. I have come here to free you from the clutches of the wicked sorcerer.

First the princess was not convinced, but when Hariprakash explained to her his plans to rescue her, she became ready to go with him. Hariprakash told her to go to the roof and then becoming invisible again, he returned to his brother. Then riding the horse both the brothers reached the roof of the palace. They made the princess also mount the horse and ordered the horse to return. And all this remained unnoticed by the sorcerer and the demons. They returned safely and escorted Princess Malvika to the palace of the king.

Now the king was nonplussed. He was not able to decide as to which of the two brothers should be given his daughter’s hand in marriage. He bade farewell to both the brothers and began discussing the matter with his ministers. But even a great deal of discussion could not help solve the problem.

Both the brothers returned home and made their father aware or the situation. Hearing everything Hariharan became very happy. He made his all the three sons sit by his side and asked them, Sons! All three of you have equal participation in accomplishing this job. Now it is for you three to sit together and decide as to which one of you deserves most to marry the princess and become the king of this, kingdom.

All the three brothers looked at each other, but none had a reply, Hariharan was quick to understand that selfishness and greed had taken the better of them and that’s why they were not able to reach an amicable solution to the problem. Then he said to his sons, Sons! of course, all three of you have been instrumental in getting the princess freed from the clutches of the wicked sorcerer, but it is also natural not to be hit by the greed of marrying the princess and becoming the king of this kingdom. And perhaps you will start quarrelling among yourselves when the king asks you as to which one of the three of your should be given the hand of the princess in marriage, and this will bring an end to your accomplishments which you have earned with great difficulty.

What Hariharan said sounded genuine to his three sons. They asked him, Father! Then you yourself tell us which one of us deserves the princess most.

Hariharan laughed and said, It’s not my responsibility to take a dicision. For any marriage it is necessary for the bride and the bridegroom to agree with each other. So, go all three of you to the king. It is the princess who will decide whom to marry.

All the three brothers went to the king and narrated the whole story to him. This made the king more worried. Earlier there were two claimants of the princess, and now there was a third one. The king pondered upon the issue for quite some time, and ultimately he left it to the princess to decide about it. He said to the princess, My dear daughter! Now it is for you to choose your bridegroom from among the three of them.

The princess thought for some time and then said, Father! The eldest of the three is Harimohan. So, it is he who has a right to get married first. And apart from all this, we must not forget that it was because of his magical mirror that it could be found out where I was held captive. Had I not been located by the magical mirror, the horse and the ring would have been of no use. I also want that his father, Hariharan, be appointed as the Chief Minister of the kingdom. His sons, Harisharan and Hariprakash, will assist him in his work. Doing so will automatically solve many of the problems of the kingdom and render due justice to all the three brothers.

The three brothers, Harimohan, Harisharan and Hariprakash, were fully satisfied to hear the decision of the princess. The marriage of Harimohan and Malvika was solemnized with great pomp and gaiety. The entire responsibility of the kingdom came on the shoulders of Harimohan.

Thus, the right perception of the princess brought an amicable solution to a complicated problem. Having been appointed as the Chief Minister made Hariharan also very happy. His teachings to his sons had proved to be beneficial to them. 

Seeds of Good Deeds

THERE lived a Lalaji (Vaishya-the third Hindu caste, a trader) in some town. He was very old. He had a quern installed in a corner of his house for grinding pulses. Early in the morning he would go to his shop and start working. Whole day he would be grinding pulses and muttering-Oh God! What kind of life is this? It is better to die than to lead such a worthless life.

Once a saint happened to pass by his shop and heard him cursing himself. He thought to himself- This person seems to be quite in distress. He must be helped. The saint went to Lalaji and said, Lala! You seem to be sunk into melancholy. I have accomplished a science with the help of which I can take you to heaven. Now tell me! Are you prepared to go heaven? You will get rid of all your problems there.

Lalaji looked at the saint and said, Maharaj! It’s so very kind of you; but how can I go to heaven so soon? l have become so old and still I am without an issue. Once I get an issue, I would happily go to heaven with you.

All right! said the saint and went away from there. After a few years Lalaji was blessed with two sons. He began taking care of his sons with great affection.

The saint, one day, came and met Lalaji again. He said, Lala! Let us go. Now your wish has also been fulfilled. You have been blessed with two sons.

Lalaji said, Maharaj! What you say is correct; but they have not even reached the age of understanding. Please come after they are a little grown up. And then i shall definitely go with you.

The sons of Lalaji grew up. The saint came to his shop again, but Lalaji was not to be seen anywhere. He enquired about Lalaji from others and he was informed that Lalaji was no more. He was told that Lalaji