The Monkey and the Crocodile
"The Monkey and the Crocodile" comes from India's ancient "Panchatantra," a fable over two thousand years old. The crocodile invites the monkey to dinner — planning to eat his heart — but the clever monkey claims he left his heart back in the tree, tricking his way to safety. The "Panchatantra" is one of the world's oldest fable collections, written to teach kings statecraft, and its animal tales spread across the globe.
A clever little monkey lived in a big jamun tree by a wide river. He loved the sweet purple fruit more than anything else.
One hot day a kind crocodile came to rest in the cool shade under the tree. The monkey dropped some sweet fruit down to him, and they became good friends.
Every day the crocodile carried a gift of sweet fruit home to his wife. She loved the purple fruit very much.
The wife grew greedy. She whispered, If this fruit is so sweet, the monkey's heart must be even sweeter, so bring it to me!
The sad crocodile swam back to the tree with tears in his eyes. He invited the monkey for a ride across the river to meet his wife.
Halfway across the river, the crocodile began to cry. He confessed that his wife wanted the monkey's heart.
The quick-thinking monkey grinned. Oh no, I left my heart hanging on my tree, he cried, so take me back and I will fetch it for you!
Back at the tree the monkey leaped up to safety. A true friend never plays tricks, he said, and the crocodile was very sorry.
