The Wise Turtle

Once there ruled a prosperous King. The King had two sons who were very dear to him. The king took care of all their needs and wants.

One day, one of the prince expressed his desired to swim in a lake. So the king asked his men to construct a lake in the courtyard of royal garden.

Soon the lake was constructed. It had very clear water and the princes enjoyed bathing in it everyday. They enjoyed splashing, swimming in it. On windy days, they sailed their boats and rafts on it.

One day a noble sage visited the king. The sage prophesied that fish keeping and feeding would enhance the fortunes and well being of the royal family.

After the sage left, the king asked his men to get some fresh water fishes from the forest pond and put them in the royal lake.

The king called his sons and told them about the new lake dwellers. The princes were thrilled to know about the fishes. They ran to see the lake with fishes.

When the boys peeped in the pond, they saw several beautiful fishes. They gleamed in the sunlight. When they watched the fishes, suddenly a turtle came paddling. The turtle waggled and came near the surface mud.

The boys cried in anguish seeing the turtle and ran away. They had never seen a turtle and were afraid of it. They went to their dear father and said, "Father, there is a demon looming in the lake".

The king was surprised. His love for his sons gave way to fear and he immediately called his men and ordered them, "My sons saw a demon near the lake. Probably, they escaped its wrath. Go and get that demon now!"

The men asked the princes about the demon and got a clue about it. So they returned with the turtle who was the demon according to the innocent princes.

The royal servants asked, "Majesty, should we kill this demon?"

There was a chaos among the men gathered in the court. Some said put it in coal fire, other said grind it off and so on.
One of the old courtiers who had been listening all this while, now interrupted and said, "Let this demon into the lake. The lake is set to overflow as there will heavy rains soon! Let it get drifted in the massive currents, wind in the lofty gusts and hit the rocks. It shall not survive then".

The turtle who had been listening his fate all this while, suddenly popped up his neck and said, "Friend, I have not harmed anyone here. You want to kill me because you think I am a demon. All of you have given such dreadful plans to kill me. I beg you to throw me into the lake. Do not punish me for no reason. I plead!"

Saying this the helpless turtle cried.

The king immediately ordered his men to takeaway the turtle and throw it in the lake.

The turtle hurriedly took a deep dive and paddled away to his home in the bottom of the nearby river. He was happy to be at home safely and thereafter lived happily.