The Tale of Two Fishes and a Frog

Once upon a time, in a beautiful lake nestled amidst lush green meadows, lived a wide variety of creatures. The lake was home to an abundant population of fishes and frogs, who swam and hopped about joyfully in the crystal-clear waters. Among the inhabitants of this lake, there were two fishes named Sahasrabuddhi and Satabuddhi. Sahasrabuddhi, as his name suggested, was known to possess the intelligence of a thousand beings, while Satabuddhi was said to have the wisdom of a hundred. Both of them were proud of their cleverness and agility in the water.

Living in the same lake was a humble frog named Ekabuddhi. Unlike his fish friends, Ekabuddhi did not pride himself on being too smart or clever. He was content with his simple life, hopping from one lily pad to another and occasionally joining Sahasrabuddhi and Satabuddhi for friendly conversations by the lakeside. Despite their differences, the three creatures had become the best of friends, spending their days chatting and enjoying the serenity of the lake.

One fine morning, while the sun was casting golden rays over the shimmering lake, the three friends were lazily basking near the shore. As they relaxed, they overheard two fishermen who had stopped nearby to chat. The fishermen had been coming to the lake for days to observe the activity of the fishes. As they spoke, one fisherman said to the other, “This lake is teeming with fish! Tomorrow, we should return with our nets and catch as many as we can. It will be a bountiful day for us.”

Hearing these words, Ekabuddhi's heart sank. He immediately sensed the impending danger. "Did you hear that?" the frog said anxiously, turning to his friends. "The fishermen are planning to come here tomorrow and catch all the fish! We must leave this lake at once to save ourselves."

Sahasrabuddhi, with a smirk on his face, flicked his tail dismissively. "Ekabuddhi, you worry too much. We are swift and intelligent. No fisherman can outwit us. Let them come. We’ll easily dodge their nets. We don’t need to run away like cowards."

Satabuddhi, agreeing with his companion, added, "Yes, Ekabuddhi. You may not understand, but we fishes are clever. We’ve lived here all our lives, and no one knows this lake better than we do. Escaping a few fishermen will be no problem for us. Go if you want, but we are staying."

Despite their confidence, Ekabuddhi felt uneasy. "Being clever is one thing," the frog said thoughtfully, "but sometimes, safety should come first. Why take unnecessary risks? It is better to be safe than sorry. I will leave with my family, and I urge you both to reconsider."

But the two fishes were resolute in their decision, convinced that their intelligence and speed would save them from any harm. Ekabuddhi, realizing that he couldn’t change their minds, sadly bid his friends farewell. He quickly gathered his family, and together, they hopped away from the lake in search of safer waters.

The following day, just as the fishermen had planned, they returned to the lake at dawn. Armed with large nets, they cast them into the water, slowly dragging them through the lake’s depths. Sahasrabuddhi and Satabuddhi, upon seeing the nets, swiftly darted to the left and right, using all their tricks and skills to evade capture. But no matter how fast they swam or how clever their maneuvers were, the nets grew tighter and tighter. Eventually, both Sahasrabuddhi and Satabuddhi were trapped in the fishermen’s nets, unable to escape.

With no way out, the once-proud fishes struggled in vain. As they were hauled out of the water, their minds filled with regret. They had underestimated the danger and overestimated their own abilities. Their arrogance had led them to ignore the wise advice of their friend, Ekabuddhi, and now they were paying the ultimate price.

The fishermen, delighted with their catch, left the lake with their nets full, while Sahasrabuddhi and Satabuddhi’s lives came to a tragic end.

Meanwhile, Ekabuddhi and his family, safe in their new home far from the lake, lived on peacefully. Although he missed his friends dearly, Ekabuddhi was grateful that he had made the decision to prioritize safety over pride.

Moral: Don’t be overconfident in the face of danger, think of safety first.