The Four Friends
Four friends live in a village which has been struck by famine. Three of them are extremely clever and learned and consider their friend Shivanand a lazy but practical fool.
The four decide to go a place called Manasa, which is considered an asylum for scholars. On their way they have to pass through a forest. There they come across bones of a lion. Satyanand decides to show his knowledge by recreating the lion’s skeleton. The other friend reconstructs the lion’s muscles and structure. Vidyanand then wants to show his superior powers by breathing life into the lion.
Shivanand tries to stop them and warns them of the consequences of their plans. But they do not stop. Shivanand climbs a tree before Vidyanand foolishly proceeds with his plans. The lion comes to life and devours the three learned fools.
Shivanand’s practical nature saves him.
Moral: It is better to be practical than learned.
Note: Meaning of famine: A severe shortage of food (as through crop failure) resulting in violent hunger and starvation and death
EXERCISE: The Four Friends
Four friends live ____ a village which has been struck by famine. Three of them are extremely clever _____ learned _____ consider their friend Shivanand a lazy but practical fool.
The four decide ______ go a place called Manasa, which is considered an asylum for scholars. On their way they ________ to pass _____ a forest. There they ____ across bones of a lion. Satyanand decides to show ____ knowledge by recreating the lion’s skeleton. The other friend reconstructs the lion’s muscles ______ structure. Vidyanand then wants to show his superior powers _______ breathing life into the lion.
Shivanand tries to stop them ____ warns them of the consequences of their plans. But they ______not stop. Shivanand climbs a tree before Vidyanand foolishly proceeds with his plans. The lion comes to life and devours the three learned fools.
Shivanand’s practical nature saves him.
Moral: It is better to be practical than learned.
Note: Meaning of famine: A severe shortage of food (as through crop failure) resulting in violent hunger and starvation and death