The Monkey and the Crocodile
A monkey lived in a jamun tree by the river and befriended a crocodile. Every day the monkey shared sweet fruits, and the crocodile carried some home to his wife. But the wife grew jealous and demanded the monkey's heart, claiming it must be sweet from all that fruit. The crocodile sadly invited the monkey for dinner across the river. Midstream, the crocodile confessed the plan. The clever monkey thought fast and said, "Oh! I left my heart hanging in the tree. Let us go back for it." The crocodile swam back. The moment they reached the tree, the monkey leapt to safety and declared, "A friend who betrays trust is no friend at all." The crocodile lost both the heart and the friendship forever.
Sanskrit Shloka
विवेकख्यातिरविप्लवा हानोपायः। — योगसूत्र २.२६
The Moral
True friends never betray each other. Use viveka (discernment) to recognize danger, even from those close to you.
Try This!
Draw the monkey's jamun tree and the river. Write one quality you look for in a true friend on each fruit.