### The Musical Donkey - A Panchatantra Story for Kids

Once upon a time, in a small village, there lived a washerman who owned a donkey named Udhata. Udhata was an old, loyal donkey who had served his master for many years by carrying heavy loads of clothes to and from the river every day. The washerman, though not very wealthy, took good care of Udhata, ensuring he had enough to eat and a comfortable place to rest.

However, Udhata’s life was not easy. He would spend his entire day working tirelessly under the scorching sun, carrying heavy bundles of clothes. By nightfall, the washerman would let Udhata roam free in the fields to graze and relax after a long day’s labor. Though Udhata had plenty of food, he often grew tired of grazing in the same field every night. His heart longed for something more exciting, something different.

One night, as Udhata was wandering aimlessly through the fields, he met a cunning jackal named Kshudra. Unlike Udhata, who only ate vegetables and grass, Kshudra was a meat-eater and had a knack for getting into trouble. The jackal, sly and intelligent, had managed to survive by stealing food from nearby farms without getting caught. He had a sharp mind and was always planning his next meal.

Kshudra greeted Udhata warmly, saying, "Hello, my dear friend. You look bored. How about we team up and explore the nearby farms together? There’s so much more food there than in this dull field."

Udhata, who was tired of his monotonous routine, was immediately intrigued. He thought to himself, "What harm could it do? A little adventure might make my nights more exciting." So, he agreed to accompany the jackal on his nightly raids.

The two unlikely friends began visiting the nearby farms under the cover of darkness. While Udhata happily munched on fresh vegetables from the farms, Kshudra hunted the farmer’s poultry, catching chickens and ducks for his feast. They had a great time, and for many nights, they enjoyed this secret life without getting caught.

One night, as they were sneaking into a particularly lush farm, Udhata felt unusually happy and carefree. The moon was shining brightly in the sky, and a cool breeze was blowing. The donkey’s heart swelled with joy, and he suddenly felt the urge to express his happiness through song. He turned to Kshudra and said, "My friend, I feel so elated tonight. The moonlight, the breeze, and the wonderful feast have filled my heart with joy. I want to sing a song!"

Kshudra, alarmed, quickly warned Udhata, "No, no, Udhata! This is not the time to sing! We’re in the middle of a farm, stealing food. If you start braying, you’ll wake the farmers, and we’ll both get caught! Please, control your urge to sing."

But Udhata, being stubborn, didn’t listen. He felt that his beautiful voice was something the world should hear, especially on such a lovely night. "Oh, Kshudra, you don’t understand. My voice is melodious, and my singing will only add to the beauty of the night. I must sing!" he declared.

Realizing that Udhata was not going to listen, Kshudra panicked. "Fine, if you must sing, at least let me get to a safe distance first. I don’t want to be around when the farmers wake up!" With that, the clever jackal quickly slipped away, disappearing into the shadows, leaving Udhata alone in the farm.

Completely oblivious to the danger, Udhata closed his eyes and began to sing at the top of his voice. However, to anyone but Udhata, his "singing" was nothing more than loud, unpleasant braying. The sound echoed through the quiet night, waking up the nearby farmers. They immediately recognized the noise as a donkey’s bray and rushed out of their homes to see what was happening.

To their shock, they found Udhata standing in their farm, braying loudly while munching on their vegetables. Furious at the intrusion, the farmers grabbed sticks and rushed toward the donkey. Udhata, still lost in his "song," didn’t realize what was happening until it was too late. The farmers surrounded him and beat him mercilessly for ruining their crops.

After receiving a thorough beating, Udhata limped back to his master’s house, bruised and in pain. The next morning, Kshudra, who had been watching the whole scene from a distance, came to visit Udhata. The jackal shook his head and said, "My friend, I warned you. There’s a time and place for everything. Singing in the middle of a farm while stealing is not wise. If only you had listened to me, you wouldn’t have had to suffer."

Udhata, now regretful and humbled, realized the truth in Kshudra’s words. He learned that while joy and happiness are wonderful feelings, one must always consider the circumstances and act wisely.

**Moral of the story**: There is a right time and place for everything.