Kenning Stories

One day, carpenter Ramu was sawing a long log into two. A monkey was watching his work from a tree nearby. Ramu sawed the log halfway through.  Then he said to himself, "I have to stop now as I am hungry. I 'll go home for lunch." He stopped sawing and hammered a wedge into the middle of the log to keep the two halves apart. As soon as Ramu left, the monkey got down from the tree and surveyed the work done by Ramu. He went around the log observing everything. Then he climbed up and sat on the log, with his legs on either side. He slowly tried to pull out the wedge. In the beginning the wedge did not move. As the monkey kept on trying, the wedge began to move.  After sometime it suddenly came out. While the monkey was trying to pull out the wedge, its tail lay hanging between the two halves of the log. When the wedge came out, the two halves of the log came together. The monkey's tail got caught in the slit. He cried out in pain, ...

Once upon a time, there lived a lion in a forest. As he had not eaten for a few days, the lion was very hungry. The lion searched everywhere for food but he could not find anything to eat. When his tired legs could not carry him any further, he decided to rest a while. A little later, when he looked up, he saw that he was at the mouth of a cave. Very carefully, the lion peeped in. The cave was empty. "Aha" he thought, "this cave must be the home of some animal. It is such a good shelter  against the dangers of the night! If I hide here, I can eat whatever creatures come here tonight!" The lion was very pleased with his plan. He hid in the cave and waited. The cave happened to be the home of a clever Jackal. The Jackal spent his days wandering about the forest in search of food. When the Jackal got home that evening, something told him that all was not right. It was far too silent and calm. Where were the birds and insect tonight? They were usually so noi...

Once a poor Brahmin lived in a village. He went from house to house and begged for alms.  He led a simple life and did not have fine clothes or jewels.   One day a rich man gave him two calves. The Brahmin was very happy. Every day he fed them grass. Soon the calves grew big and fat. A thief saw the calves and decided to steal them. So one night, he set up with  rope.  But on the way, he met  strange fellow who had sharp teeth and blood-red eyes. His body was yellow and he had a big beard. The thief was frightened and asked, "Who are you, sir?" The fellow replied, "I am a ghost named Truthful. Now tell me about yourself." The thief explained that he was on his way to steal the calves from the Brahmin's house. Hearing this, the ghost said, "I take one meal every three days." So I shall eat this Brahmin today. Let's go together. They reached the Brahmin's house and hid themselves. When the Brahmin went to sleep, the ghost...

Long ago on the banks of the Ganga there was a hermitage. Several holy men lived there. These men led simple lives. They ate only fruits and roots. They spent their time singing holy songs, praying, fasting and studying holy texts. The head of the hermitage was a sage called Yajna-Valkya. One day, the sage was bathing in the holy river. A small mouse fell from the beak of  a hawk into the hands of the sage. The sage placed the little mouse on a banyan leaf. Using hid power of magic, he changed the mouse into a little girl. He took her home and said to his wife, "We do not have children. Let us bring up this girl as our daughter." They looked after the girl well. Years passed. The girl grew into a beautiful young woman. One day the sage wife said, "It is time to get our daughter married." The sage agreed. "I will find the best husband for her," he said. The sage thought for a while and called the sun. He said to sun, "Please mar...

Once a female fox lived in a forest. She knew many animals and spent a lot of time with them. The fox was happy that she had so many friends. She felt proud that she was popular and liked by so many different animals. One day the fox went out of her home to meet a friend. Suddenly she heard the sound of hounds baying at a distance. She was frightened. She knew that the hounds would chase her and kill her if she did not escape at once. But she couldn't run faster than the hounds. The hounds were already quite close. The fox quickly thought of a plan. She ran to the house of horse close by and said to him, "O horse, please save me. You are a god friend of mine. Some hounds are chasing me. Take me on your back and gallop as fast as you can." To her great surprise the horse replied,"I am sorry, but I can n't  help . I have to do some important work for my  master." He will be vary angry if I am late." Saying so, the horse trotted away. ...

Balivardha, an old and wise monkey, lived on a tree near a river bank. One day, a crocodile named Krakacha came out of the river to rest under the shade of this tree. "Hello, sir," said the hospitable monkey. "Try these delicious fruits. They'll quench your thrist." The crocodile ate the fruit with great relish. "Thank you," he said, "but I must tell you I'm quite surprised. Why did you offer them to me?" Balivardha said, "You rested under my home and that makes you my guest. Guests must always be treated well." Balivardha and Krakacha became good friends. Every day, the crocodile would visit the monkey, and they would eat the fruit together. One day, Krakacha took some of the fruit home to his wife. His wife was delighted. "Where did you get such tasty fruit?', she asked. "I have a monkey friend who gives them to me every day," Krakacha replied. They grow on the tree on which he lives."...

There lived a squirrel in a forest. It climbed the banyan tree which had aerial roots. It had its own cradle and started swinging. It had a nap. It dreamt.  There was a rain of fire. The forest started burning.  All the animals began suffering. Suddenly the squirrel woke up. It rubbed its eyes and observed the vicinity carefully. It saw the fire flies.  It thought they were the particles of fire. It trembled and jumped down. It started running thanking the heavens. The squirrel faced a snail. The snail questioned: “What happened to you? Where are you running? Why are you worrying?” The squirrel answered: “First you run with me. Flames are coming this way. Or else you will be burnt.” Meanwhile a monitor lizard came there. It asked them: “What happened? Why are you running worriedly.” The snail replied: “Join with us at once. Or else you will die.” Later a chameleon met them. It questioned: “My dear monitor lizard! What happ...

There lived in a city a brahmin known for his miserliness. Everybody he went out begging for alms. At the end of the day, he saved some of the corn flour he got as alms, in an earthen pot.  When it was full, he hung it on a peg above his bed so that he could keep an eye on it. One day, coming home very tired, he went straight to bed and fell sleep.  Then he started dreaming.  When his pot was full with corn flour, there was a famine in the country.  Taking advantage of the situation, he sold the corn flour at a high price. He bought two she-goats with the money so earned.  In course of time, when the she-goats multiplied into a large herd, he sold them profitably and bought cows and buffaloes with that amount.  Some time later, he sold the cows and buffaloes at a huge profit and bought horses. Again, as the horses increased in number, he sold them and earned a huge sum. Soon he bought lots of gold and built a grand house with four...

Once a Badsha ruled a country. He had a black cat. Whenever he found time, he played with that cat. The cat never came out of the palace.  One day, the Badsha thought that he should show the city to the cat. So he called Naseeruddin and entrusted this job to him.  Naseeruddin took the cat in his arms and roamed in the city. Naseeruddin was walking near a well in the city. The cat suddenly jumped from his arms and fell into the well.  Naseeruddin was shocked at this accident.  The Badsha waited for Naseeruddin and his cat. It was the feeding time for the King’s cat.  He sent a soldier to get Naseeruddin.  Meanwhile someone told him about the accident. He became furious. “Hang that fellow, Naseeruddin” the king shouted in anger.  Then Naseeruddin appeared with a white cat in his arms. By that time everyone in the palace knew about the accident. They were curious. They thought the king would certainly punish...

Once a jackal felt very hungry. So he wandered about in search of food.  He happened to go to an abandoned battle-field.  The place was completely empty. As he began to explore the battle-field.  He was startled by some strange sounds.  Although he was frightened, he wanted to find out where those sounds came from. So, suppressing his fears, he moved slowly and warily in the direction of the sounds.  He came to a place where he saw a huge battle-drum under a tree. Some branches of the tree were hanging low over it. Whenever the wind blew, these branches brushed against the drum causing the strange, loud sounds.  When the jackal observed this, he sighed with relief.  Suddenly, it struck him that there might be food inside the drum. So, piercing its side, he went in. He was disappointed to find it empty. The jackal consoled himself thinking that he could at least get rid of his fears. Then he continued on his prowl.