Shabdh

Ek gareeb lakadahaara tha jo har din jangal mein lakadee kaatane jaata tha. Ek din, galatee se usakee kulhaadee nadee mein gir gaee. Vah apana nukasaan dekhakar dukhee ho gaya, tabhee nadee kee devee prakat huee aur use ek sunaharee kulhaadee dene kee peshakash kee, lekin lakadahaare ne eemaanadaaree se mana kar diya aur kaha ki yah usakee nahin hai. Phir devee ne use ek chaandee kee kulhaadee dee, lekin usane phir se inkaar kar diya. Ant mein, devee ne usakee aslee lohe kee kulhaadee dee, jise usane krtagyata ke saath sveekaar kiya. Usakee eemaanadaaree se prabhaavit hokar, devee ne use teenon kulhaadiyaan inaam mein de deen. Yah kahaanee sikhaatee hai ki eemaanadaaree ka sada sammaan hota hai aur achchhe karmon ka phal avashya milata hai.

A Honest Woodcutter

There once lived a poor woodcutter. He used to go to the forest everyday to cut wood. One day he accidentally drops his axe into a river. As he laments his loss, a river goddess appears and offers him a golden axe, but the woodcutter honestly refuses, saying it’s not his. The god then offers a silver axe, but again, the woodcutter declines. Finally, the god presents his actual iron axe, and the woodcutter gratefully accepts it. Impressed by his honesty, the god rewards him with all three axes. The story teaches the value of honesty and integrity, showing that good deeds are often rewarded.