Kenning Stories

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...