OBEYING THE RULES On the front gate of a temple, there was a sign which read, Remove your footwear before entering the temple. A guard had also been appointed there. One day, the guard saw a man entering the temple and asked him, Where are your shoes? The man replied, I don't wear shoes. Then you can't go inside, said the guard. Why? asked the man Didn't you read the sign? It says that you can't enter the temple without removing your shoes or slippers.

AN UNFAIR WORLD One day, a man while walking towards his office saw a beggar coming to him. The beggar was in a very bad condition. He was barefoot and his clothes were torn. When the beggar asked for money, the man said, Why don't you work? Don't you feel ashamed asking people for money? At this the beggar replied, I do feel ashamed asking for money. But once when I took money without asking, the police took me to jail. The man had no answer to this. He went on his way to the office.

Once upon a time, there was a sage called Deva Sharma who lived in a temple in the outskirts of a town. The Foolish Sage - Panchatantra Story PictureHe was widely known and respected. People would visit him, and offer him with gifts, food, money and garments to seek his blessings. The gifts that he did not need for himself, he would sell off, and got rich on the proceeds. And by nature, he trusted nobody. He never trusted anybody. So, he kept all his money in a bag which he carried under his arm all the time. He would not part with the bag for a single moment. One day, a sw ... read more

FEAR OF GOD Once there were two brothers who were very naughty. Always they were up to some mischief. One day, their mother asked a priest to talk to her sons and put the fear of god in them so that they would mend their ways. The priest asked her to send her sons to him one by one. Firstly, the younger brother went to the priest and sat by his side. The priest asked him in a commanding voice, Where is God? The boy didn't react. When the priest asked again, the boy ran to his elder brother and said, Do you know God is missing and everybody thinks that we are responsible for this.

Emperor Akbar was in the habit of putting riddles and puzzles to his courtiers. He often asked questions which were strange and witty. It took much wisdom to answer these questions. Once he asked a very strange question. The courtiers were dumb folded by his question. Akbar glanced at his courtiers. As he looked, one by one the heads began to hang low in search of an answer. It was at this moment that Birbal entered the courtyard. Birbal who knew the nature of the emperor quickly grasped the situation and asked, "May I know the question so that I can try for an answer". Akbar said, ... read more