The Brahmin and the Mongoose

Dadi: "Guddu beta, today I'm going to tell you one of the oldest and most important stories from the Panchatantra. It's about a mongoose, a baby, and a terrible mistake."

Guddu: "A mongoose? Like the ones that fight snakes?"

Dadi: "Exactly. This story is so important that it's found in every version of the Panchatantra, and it traveled all around the world - even to Wales in Europe, where they tell a similar story about a dog named Gelert."

Guddu: "Wow! It must be really special. Tell me!"

Dadi: "A Brahmin named Dev Sharma lived with his wife in a small town. One happy day, his wife gave birth to a baby boy. But on that very same day, a mother mongoose near their house also gave birth to a baby mongoose."

Guddu: "Two babies born on the same day!"

Dadi: "Yes, but sadly, the mother mongoose died soon after. When the Brahmin's wife saw the tiny orphaned mongoose, her heart melted. "Poor little thing," she said. "I'll raise it as my own child.""

Guddu: "That was so kind of her!"

Dadi: "It was. She fed both babies - her son and the little mongoose - with her own milk. She bathed them together, put oil on them together, and raised them like twin brothers. The baby boy and the mongoose became the best of friends, always playing together."

Guddu: "That's so sweet, Dadi!"

Dadi: "But the mother was also wise, beta. She knew that deep down, the mongoose was still a wild animal with animal instincts. So she always kept a careful eye on them."

Guddu: "She didn't fully trust the mongoose?"

Dadi: "Not completely. One day, she needed to fetch water from the well. She put her baby to sleep in his cradle and told her husband, "Please watch our son carefully. Don't let the mongoose hurt him by mistake.""

Guddu: "Good thinking!"

Dadi: "But the husband was careless. Without even telling his wife, he left the house to go begging for alms. The sleeping baby and the mongoose were left all alone."

Guddu: "Uh oh..."

Dadi: "And at that very moment, a poisonous snake slithered into the house through a hole in the wall. It was heading straight for the baby's cradle!"

Guddu: "*gasps* The baby!"

Dadi: "The little mongoose saw the snake approaching his beloved brother. Without a second thought, he attacked! Even though he was small and the snake was strong, the mongoose fought with all his might. He bit and tore at the snake until he killed it, protecting the baby who slept peacefully through it all."

Guddu: "The mongoose saved the baby! He was a hero!"

Dadi: "He was! The little mongoose was so proud of himself. His mouth and paws were covered in the snake's blood, but he didn't care. He ran outside to wait for his mother - he couldn't wait to show her how brave he had been!"

Guddu: "I can imagine him wagging his tail excitedly!"

Dadi: "*voice becoming sad* But beta, here's where the tragedy happens. The mother was hurrying home, worried because she knew her husband was careless. When she saw the mongoose running toward her, she noticed only one thing - he was covered in blood."

Guddu: "Oh no... she thought..."

Dadi: "Without thinking, without looking, without asking a single question, she assumed the worst. "The mongoose killed my baby!" In her rage and fear, she threw the heavy water pitcher she was carrying right at the little mongoose."

Guddu: "*horrified* No!"

Dadi: "The little mongoose - who had just saved her baby's life - was killed instantly by the very mother who had raised him."

Guddu: "*almost in tears* But he was a HERO!"

Dadi: "The mother ran inside, terrified of what she would find... and saw her baby sleeping peacefully in his cradle. Then she saw the snake - torn to pieces - lying nearby. She understood immediately what had happened."

Guddu: "She killed the wrong one..."

Dadi: "She collapsed in grief. When her husband returned, she turned on him with bitter tears. "Greedy! Greedy man! Because you didn't listen to me, I have killed my own child - the mongoose who saved our son!""

Guddu: "That's the saddest story ever, Dadi."

Dadi: "*nods* It is heartbreaking. And that's exactly why it's been told for thousands of years, in many countries. Because the lesson is so important."

Guddu: "What's the lesson?"

Dadi: ""Think before you act." The mother didn't pause for even one second. She didn't look inside the house first. She didn't check if her baby was crying. She saw blood and immediately assumed the worst. Her hasty action killed someone who loved her family."

Guddu: "If she had just waited and looked..."

Dadi: "The mongoose would have lived to receive praise and love instead of death. This is called "acting in haste" - doing something quickly without thinking about consequences."

Guddu: "Dadi, I've done that sometimes. Like when I got angry at my friend and said mean things before understanding what happened."

Dadi: "And did you regret it later?"

Guddu: "Yes. He wasn't even doing what I thought he was doing."

Dadi: "Exactly. The Panchatantra teaches us: "Never act on assumptions without investigating the truth." Especially when our actions could hurt someone, we MUST stop, breathe, and think first."

Guddu: "The mongoose was innocent all along."

Dadi: "And he died still loving his family, still proud of being brave, not understanding why his mother hurt him. That's the true tragedy."

Guddu: "I promise, Dadi. I'll always try to stop and think before I act. Especially if I'm angry or scared."

Dadi: "*hugs Guddu* That's a very wise promise, mere bacche. Anger and fear make us do things we regret forever. A moment of patience can save us from a lifetime of sorrow."

Guddu: "Like the mother... she'll be sad forever."

Dadi: "Yes. But her story has taught millions of people over thousands of years. Maybe her mistake helps others avoid making the same one."

Guddu: "That's something, at least."

Dadi: "It is. Now come, let me make you some warm milk. And remember - even sad stories have value when they make us wiser."