Hindi Stories for kids: Guru Dakshina

Ekalavya was a little boy, born in a poor family, many many years ago. His people lived a little away from Hastinapura, the capital of the Kuru kings. They used to clean other people's dirt for a profession.

And for this reason they were shunned by society. Ekalavya and other kids of his group knew they too had to follow their parents' professions.

Their parents often told them, "You are not meant to go to school. What use is school for carrying garbage which is your only job?"

"Don't go near those people; they are high born, we are low born."

Ekalavya didn't understand.

"Why, but why?" he asked his mother. She replied "God set these limits." "God! Why would God want nice things for them and dirty things for us? Hasn't God made all of us?" Ekalavya asked.

She sighed, "Darling I don't know, but there are bounds we cannot cross, this is God's rule."

Ekalavya became quiet. From that day the only important thing for him was to understand the meaning of "limit".

You know, kids are sometimes cruel. One day Ekalavya and his friends trapped a little ant and were watching it try to escape. The ant tried and tried till it found a little opening at the edge of the trap and escaped.

Other children moved to trap it again but Ekalavya stopped them shouting, "The brave ant has broken the bounds. Limits are meant to be broken. I am free, free".

One day, Ekalavya saw beautiful chariots come into the forest near his village. He saw boys of his age get out of the chariot one by one. What lovely clothes they wore!

Last, an old man with snowy white hair and spotless white clothes came out looking stern and calm. The boys seemed a little scared of the old man but with one dusky handsome boy, the old man's behaviour was different, he smiled and patted this boy on the head. Ekalavya heard his father's voice, "Come away boy, there is work to do. Those are the Kuru princes, with their teacher Drona. The boy he just patted is his favourite, Arjuna. They have come to practice 'archery'. Don't go near them."

"Father, all I want is a pat from the grand old man." so saying, Eklavya ran towards the old man Drona.

By then the boys had started shooting with bows and arrows. What amazing things Arjuna did! He could shoot at a target with his eyes shut. He could shoot with his left hand as well as the right. And the teacher Drona? His arrows made fire, chased things in circles, brought rain and lightning. It was magical.

Arjuna's eyes never left his teacher. It was like he wanted to absorb every bit of Drona. And you could see that Drona too was very proud of Arjuna.

The practice ended. Ekalavya went up to Drona and with folded hands said, "Great sir, please teach me".”

"I don't teach the low-born," was the cold reply as Drona turned away.

"Master, your arrows don't seem to mind any limits, they bring rain and fire, they bring night and day. How then can you be bound by stupid thoughts of high and low birth?" With this Ekalavya walked away from the glaring Drona.

The next day, Ekalavya carved a statue of Drona on a tree trunk with a knife. He made himself a bow and arrows. Each day he would bow before the statue, practise shooting and imagine a pat on his back from Drona.

Some months passed. The grand princes and their master came to the forest again. As Arjuna reached to take aim of a particularly difficult target, an arrow reached Arjuna's target before he could even aim. Shocked the boys and their teacher looked around. They saw Ekalavya, who went up to touch Drona's feet.

"Who is your teacher?" Drona asked. Ekalavya quietly led him to the statue. Drona looked at it for some time and said, "If I am your Guru, give me my fee, my guru dakshina".

"Ask, sir", bowed Ekalavya. "I want your right thumb," replied the stone hearted Drona. Without the right thumb to support it, how can any archer ever hold a bow?As Arjuna and the other princes watched in shock, Ekalavya wordlessly cut off his right thumb and laid it at Drona's feet.

Many years passed. A great war was on in Kurukshetra between the Kauravas and the Pandavas, cousins who were related. Arjuna was on the side of the Pandavas. His teacher Drona, and many of his cousins, who had been Drona's students with him, were on the other side.

After the day's battle, a sad Drona was sitting in his camp. Suddenly, like a respectful prayer, arrows fell near his feet one after another. He looked up and who do you think he saw?

Why, Ekalavya ! The young Ekalavya said, "Master I have learned to shoot without my right thumb. I have learned to shoot with my left hand, and with my feet. I have taught others and raised an army. Today I'm known as a great archer." Guru Drona was speechless.

"Master, I set your greatness free from the limits of your own mind. I made it my teacher in the form of your statue.

Your great love for Arjuna crossed the bounds of fairness when you asked for my thumb. You thought that it would finish me as an archer. But great masters always end up teaching something. By asking for my thumb, you made me learn to shoot with both hands and feet. And for this lesson, I offer my services to you in this war."

Drona's eyes filled with tears. He answered, "Yes, it is true, bounds and limits are in the mind. Real courage is fighting against wrong limits and respecting the correct ones. Ekalavya, you have taught me this."

English Stories for kids: Never Give Up Hope

There was a poor farmer in a village. He owned an old mule that used to carry grains and other farming related stuff for the farmer. During one of those days, the mule fell into a well. The well ran deep and despite trying hard many a times, mule couldn’t get himself out the well. He started to lose hope. His consistent shrieks drew attention of the farmer who came rushing to the well.

Farmer looked around and tried to come up with a rescue plan but eventually, he also lost the hope. He decided that the old mule was not worth the trouble of saving. So, he called his neighbours and asked for their help in hauling dirt to bury the old mule.

The mule got hysterical. Soon enough, the farmer and the neighbours started to shovel and fill well with the dirt. When the first bout of dirt hit mule’s back, suddenly his fast losing spirit came up with an idea. He thought every time a shovel load of dirt will land on his back, he will just shake it off and step up a bit higher. The idea filled him with a new lease of life and hope.

Old mule kept doing the same blow after blow. He would just shake the dirt off and step up a notch higher. He kept reminding himself of possibility of a brand new life. He controlled his nerves and kept stepping up. After some time, the exhausted mule managed to step over the wall of that well. He was completely tired and fatigued yet his spirit triumphed. The dirt that was meant to bury him actually helped him in remaining alive.

Moral : The story is a clear example of how our attitude towards seemingly impossible adversities determines the final outcome. If we respond positively to the stream of problems faced by us and refuse to surrender, we are likely to emerge victorious.

Hindi Stories for kids: Sher Aur Chuha

Ek baar ek Sher apni gufa mein so raha tha. Tabhi ek chuha kahin se aakar uske uppar koodne laga. Jisse uski neend toot gayi. Sher ko chuhe par itni jor se gussa aaya ki usne chuhe ko apne panjay mein jakad liya aur usko marne ka sochne laga. Chuha bahaut dar gaya. Usne kanpte huye sher se bola, " hey Sher raja ! agar aap mujhe jane  denge to aap ka bahaut upkaar hoga aur aapke is upkaar ko mein waqt aane par jaroor chuka doonga." Yeh sunkar sher ko chuhe par daya aa gayi aur ussne usse jane diya. Par wah mann he mann hansa ki bhala yeh chotta sa chuha mera upkaar kya chukayega.

Samay bitatta gaya aur ek din hamesha ki tarah sher shikar ki talash mein jungle mein ghoom raha tha ki ek shikari ne usse chalaki se apne jaal mein pakad liya. Sher apni sahyata ke liye jor-jor se dahaad marne laga. Sher ki awaz sunkar chuha wahan aaya. Sher ko jaal mein phansa dekhkar ussne turant apne nukele danto se jaal kaat diya aur sher ko azad kar diya. Sher ne chuhe ka bahaut dhanyawad kiya. uss din sher ko samajh aaya ki kissi bhi prani ki kabliyaat usske bahari roop se nahi karni chaiye aur kabhi chotte- bade ka bhaidbhav nahi karna chaiye.

Moral : Hamesha sabki madad karni chaiye kyunki jo doosaron ki madad karta hai, usski bhi sab madad karte hain.

English Story for kids: Count Of All The Crows in The Kingdom

By nature, Emperor Akbar was a kind-hearted man. But there were certain blemishes in him that were wholly human, and they would rather enhance his personality than diminish his stature. One such was his whimsicality. Birbal was always there by his side to set the wrong in him right.

On one evening, when Akbar and Birbal were on their daily walks in the palace gardens, they noticed the lurching of a host of crows on the garden trees. Suddenly Akbar got a thought and asked Birbal,

"How many crows are there in my kingdom?"

This thought burrowed into his mind so deeply that he needed an answer from Birbal. As we all know, administrators evince greater interest in the compilation of data for their future plans and execution.

Birbal had wit enough to realize what to do in such an emergency.

He readily answered:

"There are ninety five thousand four hundred and sixty-three crows in the kingdom".

Amazed at his quick response, Akbar tried his best to outwit him.

"What if there be more crows than you answered?"

Without hesitation, Birbal replied, “Then some crows must have visited from neighbouring kingdoms"

"And what if there be less crows?" asked Akbar.

And then came Birbal's instant answer as usual.

"Then some crows from our kingdom must have gone on vacation to other parts"

Emperor Akbar, thereby, realized that Birbal's wit was a hard nut to crack. Nevertheless, he realized his administrative folly on statistical data.



English Story for kids: Thirsty Crow

A thirsty crow once found a pitcher with a little water in it. But when he tired to drink the water, he could not. The pitcher was tall and his beak didn't reach the water.
The cleaver crow thought and hit upon a plan. He went on dropping pebbles into the pitcher. The water rose up to its neck and he quenched his thirst.

Moral : Where there is will, there is a way !

English Story for kids: The BlackSmith

There was a Blacksmith once who complained: "I am not well, and my work is too warm. I want to be a stone on the mountain. There it must be cool, for the wind blows and the trees give a shade." A Famous Saint who had power over all things replied: "Go you, be a stone." And with in a second, he was a stone, high up on the mountain-side. It happened that a stone-cutter came that way for a stone, and when he saw the one that had been the blacksmith, he knew that it was what he sought, and he began to cut it. The stone cried out: "This hurts! I no longer want to be a stone. A stone-cutter I want to be. That would be pleasant." The Saint, humoring him, said, "Be a  Stone cutter." Thus he became a stone-cutter, and as he went seeking suitable stone, he grew tired, and his feet were sore. He whimpered again, " I no longer want to cut stone. I would be the sun; that would be pleasant." The Saint commanded, " Be the sun." And he was the sun. But the sun was warmer than the blacksmith, than a stone, than a stone-cutter, and he complained again, "I do not like this. I would be the moon. It looks cool." The Saint spake yet again, "Be the moon." And he was the moon. "This is warmer than being the sun," murmured he, "for the light from the sun shines on me ever. I do not want to be the moon. I would be a smith again. That, verily, is the best life." But the Saint replied, " I am weary of your changing. You wanted to be the moon; the moon you are, and it you will remain forever."

Moral : A bird in hand is worth two in a bush. So It's better to keep what you have than to risk losing it by searching for something better.

English Story for kids: Birbal ki khichadi

On a cold winter evening, Emperor Akbar and Birbal were taking a walk along the royal pond. It was very cold winter evening. Almost all the lake and pond were frozen.  Akbar put his hand in the lake, and immediately, withdrew it, because the water was biting cold.

Empeor Akbar asked Birbal, "Tell me Birbal! Will a man do anything for money?" Birbal replied, 'Yes'.

Then the Emperor ordered him to prove it. The next day Birbal came to the court along with a poor Brahmin who merely had a penny left with him. His family was starving.

Birbal told the king that the Brahmin was ready to do anything for the sake of money.

The king ordered the Brahmin to be inside the frozen pond all through the night without any attire if he needed money. The poor Brahmin had no choice.  The man entered the royal pond. Akbar had his guards posted there to make sure that the Brahmin really did as promised.

The whole night he was inside the pond, shivering. He returned to the court the next day to receive his reward.

The king asked "Tell me, Oh poor Brahmin! How could you withstand the extreme temperature all through the night?"

The innocent Brahmin replied "I could see a faintly glowing light a kilometer away and I withstood with that ray of light."

Akbar refused to pay the Brahmin his reward saying that he had got warmth from the light and withstood the cold and that was cheating.

The poor Brahmin could not argue with him and so returned disappointed and bare-handed.

Birbal tried to explain to the king but the king was in no mood to listen to him. Hearing this, Birbal wanted to do some thing to set right the wrong done to the poor Brahmin. That evening Birbal invited Akbar for a tasty Khichadi in his humble abode. Akbar, though an emperor, kind and secular as he was, accepted Birbal's invitation thereby. Akbar and a few of him trusted courtiers arrived at Birbal's house.

After a long bout of Chess, the emperor's party was ready for dinner. Now and then, Birbal went in to check if the Khichadi was ready in the Kitchen. But the Khichadi was not getting cooked at all.

Akbar and the crew, waiting for dinner, were infuriated. All went to see what was happening in the kitchen. There they saw some burning twigs on the floor, and a bowl filled with Khichadi hanging five feet above the fire. Then the emperor Akbar could not help but laugh. Akbar questioned him "How will the khichdi get cooked with the fire one meter away? What is wrong with you Birbal?"

Birbal, cooking the khichdi, replied "Oh my great King of Hindustan! When it was possible for a person to receive warmth from a light that was a kilometer away, then it is quite possible for this khichdi, which is just a meter away from the source of heat, to get cooked."
Akbar understood his mistake. He called the poor Brahmin and rewarded him 2000 gold coins.

Hindi Story for kids: The Greedy Dog

Ek baar ek kutte ko bahaut jor se bhook lagi thi. Tabhi usse ek roti mili. Wo uss roti ka poora anand lena chahta tha. Isliye wo usse shanti mein baithkar khane ki ichchha se roti ko apne muh mein daal kar nadi ki taraf chal diya. Nadi par ek chhotta sa pool tha. Jab kutta nadi paar kar raha tha, tabhi usse pani mein apni parchhayi dikhayi di. Ussne apni parchhayi ko doosara kutta samjha aur usski roti chheenna chaha.
Roti chheenne ke liye ussne bhonkte hue nadi mein chhalang laga di. Muh kholte hi usske muh ki roti nadi ke jal mein gir kar bah gayi aur lalchi kutta bhooka rah gaya.
Moral : Lalach buri bala hai !

English Story for kids: The Smart Rabbit

One day Rabbit was taking a walk through the jungle and ran into Elephant, who was making a fine meal of the treetops. "Hello, brother," said Rabbit. "Fine day, isn't it?" Elephant paused to look down at the tiny little creature at his feet and snorted. "Leave me. I don't have time to waste on someone so very small."

Rabbit was shocked to be talked to in such a manner. He wasn't sure what to do? So he left quietly to go and think about what had happened. As he walked along, he saw mighty Whale far out to sea and decided to ask her what she thought about Elephant's rudeness. He cupped his tiny paws and yelled as loud as he could, "Whaaaaale!! Whaaalllllle please Come heeeeeeeeere!!"

Whale swam over to see who was calling her. After a few minutes she saw tiny little Rabbit jumping up and down on a cliff. "Rabbit," Whale said impatiently, "Did you just call me over here?" "Of course," said Rabbit.

"Just who do you think you are? You are far too small and weak to have anything to say to me." Whale said and turned, flipped her huge tail, and set off back into the deep ocean. But just then Rabbit had an idea.

He called out to her one more time, "Whale! You think that I am weak, but in fact, I am stronger than you! You wouldn't be so quick to ignore me if I beat you at Tug-of-War." Whale looked at him for a moment before falling into a fit of laughter. "Very well little one," said Whale. "Go get a rope and we will see who is stronger."

Rabbit ran off to gather up the strongest and thickest vine he could. When he found it, he went to Elephant and said to the giant animal, "Elephant, you had no cause to treat me with such discourtesy this afternoon. I shall have to prove to you that we are equals. Elephant looked down between chews and chuckled. "And how will you do that, small one?" Rabbit stood up as high as he could, looked Elephant right in the eye and said, "By beating you at a game of Tug-of-War." Elephant laughed so hard he nearly choked on his leaves, but agreed to humor the tiny animal. He tied the vine around his huge, hefty waist, snickering the whole time.

Rabbit took the other end and started off into the jungle. He called back to Elephant, "Wait until I say 'pull' and then pull with all of your might." Rabbit took the other end of the rope to Whale and said, "Tie this to your tail and when I say `pull' you swim with all of your might." Whale tied the vine to her tail, all the while smirking at Rabbit's foolishness.

"I will now go and tie the other end to my own waist," said Rabbit, and hopped off into the jungle. Rabbit hid himself in the bushes and then called out, at the top of his lungs, "PULL!!" Elephant started to walk away with a smile on his face, but the smile soon turned to a look of surprise when the vine stopped following him. "My goodness," he said to himself, "Rabbit is much stronger than I expected!" The look of surprise soon became a frown as Elephant pulled harder and harder, unable to make the tough vine budge any further.

Meanwhile, Whale began to swim away from the shore, but almost lost her breath when the vine pulled tight and refused to come with her. She pulled harder and harder, but she could not pull it any further. "That little Rabbit could not possibly be stronger than me," she said in outrage. Soon the vine could take no more strain and, with an ear-splitting sound, snapped into two pieces.

When this happened, poor Elephant went sailing through the jungle and tumbled head over heels down a steep valley. The end that was tied to Whale caught up to her suddenly and she went sailing through the ocean and smashed into a very scratchy and very uncomfortable coral reef.

Rabbit left without a word and never mentioned the matter again. Elephant and Whale were completely confused and never did figure out how such a tiny creature as Rabbit could have beaten the largest of the animals. And to this day, they are very careful to greet little Rabbit with great respect whenever they meet.

Moral : Wisdom can never be defeated.