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...

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. 

It was a dense forest. Many animals lived there happily together. A river flowed through that forest. All the animals depended on this river or water.   During one summer the forest faced a severe drought. The water level in the river reached its bottom. “ The river may dry up in a few days” the animals thought.  “What is to be done?”  Then an old tiger came out with an idea. “Let us pray to the god of rain and plead for rains.” He continued, “Everyday one animal should stand alone on the river bank and pray to the god.” All the other animals agreed and everyday one animal went to the river of a prayer. But the animal that went for a prayer never came back.  The animals again assembled to find out the reason. “Rains haven’t come. Moreover many animals    have disappeared. Let’s find out the cause. Those who are brave come with me” said a lion.   Then a rabbit came forward and said, “I’ll find ...

Once a brahmin named Mitra Sarma decided to offer a lamb as a sacrifice to the gods.  So he bought a big and healthy lamb and started for home carrying it on his shoulders.  Three crooks, who were hungry and cold, saw the brahmin carrying the lamb. They decided to fool him and take away the lamb. They wanted to cook and eat it.  The first crook stopped the brahmin on the way and said,  “don’t you know that it is a sin to touch a dog, especially for a brahmin like you? Why are you carrying that dog on your shoulders?  The brahim was angry.  He shouted, “Are you blind? Can’t you see that I am carrying a lamb?”  He moved on.  The second crook approached the brahim and said in a surprised voice, “O learned man! Why are you carrying a dead calf on your shoulders? You have to purify yourself if you touch a dead animal.”  The brahmin angrily told him, “Can’t you see that this is a lamb? I am going to offer it ...

Once upon a time there lived a poor man in a village.  His name was Swami. He lived by selling a variety of food items. There was a small forest between his village and the neighbouring one. Swami sold his items in that village as well. Swami ways travelled through the forest to sell his goods in that village. One day while Swami was walking through the forest, a lion suddenly came opposite. Swami shook with a fear. “Don’t be frightened. I won’t harm you” said the lion. On hearing this, Swami felt relieved. “Oh! My kind hearted lion! You have spared my life. What can I give you in return? Please have these food items” Swami pleased the lion. The lion tasted the food. “Oh! They’re tasty. If I get such everyday, I’ll even stop eating flesh” the lion praised Swami. Swami pleased. “Your majesty! If you really wish so, I’ll get them to you everyday” he said humbly to the lion. From that day Swami prepared a variety of food items and offered them to the lion ...

Once there lived a Badshah in Delhi. He thought of drawing some paintings. He started drawings figures. Despite several effort, he could not draw even one figure properly. He realized that drawing was not easy. So he sent a word for Nasiruggin. The Badshah said.: “Nasiruddin! I am trying to draw figures for a few weeks. Not even a single figure came out nicely. What about you? It seems you told me once that you would draw beautiful figures.” Nasiruddin said: “Yes! Your Highness.” The Badshah questioned: “Could you draw the figures in the presence of our courtiers and get their appreciation?” Nasiruddin replied: “If you insist me, I will do like that.” The Badshah firmly said: “Drawing a figure doesn’t mean drawing  four lines. Paintings must be natural. After four days, I will arrange a meeting. On that day, you should come and draw the figure in presence of all the courtiers. And also you should prove that your drawing is ...