The Hunter's Fast

One day, a hunter named Suswara went hunting to the forest. At http://www.kidsgen.com/fables_and_fa...ges/hunter.jpgnightfall it became very dark so he could not return home. He had to spend the night in the forest. He climbed a bael tree for safety.

That night happened to be Shivaratri. Due to hunger and thirst, he could not sleep all night. He wept thinking about his wife and children. He spent the entire night plucking leaves from the bael tree and throwing them on the ground. When it was morning he returned home.

Many years passed. At the time of the death, two messengers of Shiva came to take him to heaven. This was because that night of Shivaratri that he had spent in the forest, he had unknowingly worshipped Shiva. There was a Shivalinga under the bael tree that he had climbed up. His tears had washed the Shivalinga and the bael leaves that he had thrown from the tree had fallen on it. He had even fasted all day and all night.

The Imperial Yajna

Once Narada visited Yudhisthira and said, "Your father, Pandu, who is in heaven, wants you to perform the imperial yajna after which you will become samrata (emperor)." Yudhisthira asked Sage http://www.kidsgen.com/fables_and_fa...rial_yajna.jpgVyasa to guide him. Vyasa sent the rest of the Pandavas in different direction to conquer the kingdoms that were ruled by the Pandavas' enemies. They came back after bravely defeating their enemies and brought a lot of wealth that could be used for the yajna. Yudhisthira invited many guests including sages and kings. Krishna also graced the occasion with his presence. Sage Dhaumya was made the royal priest for the Yajna. Yudhisthira performed all the rituals. Offerings were made to the gods. Brahmins were given gifts and the yajna was completed successfully. All the elders blessed Yudhisthira and he became the samrata.

The Intelligent Beggar

Two sages lived in an ashram. One day, after their prayers, when they were about to eat their food, a beggar came to them. He begged for food but the sages refused saying they had no food for him.

The beggar asked, "O respected saints , may I ask you , whom do you worship?" They replied, "We worship pawan, the wind god, who is also prana (the breath of life)." He then asked, "Whom did you offer this food to before eating it yourself ?" They said "We offered it to pawan or prana."

At this, the beggar said, "I hope you know that prana is present in all living creatures."

The sages replied , "Yes, we know that." The beggar then said, "By denying food to prana who is present in me and for whom you have prepared it, you are also denying your offerings to Him" The sages listened carefully to what the beggar was saying.

The sages were very ashamed at their ignorance and offered to share their food with the beggar.

The Journey to Heaven

After ruling over Hastinapur for many years, Yudhisthira wanted to leave the kingdom. Parikshit, Abhimanyu's son, was crowned the new king and the Pandavas and Draupadi set out for the http://www.kidsgen.com/fables_and_fa..._to_heaven.jpgHimalayas. They dressed like hermits and set out to visit many holy places across the country. Finally, they reached the foothills of the Himalayas and started climbing the mountains. Somewhere along the way, a dog started following them.

The Pandavas crossed many mountains and reached Himadri, the highest range of the mountains. The mountains were very steep and were covered with snow. The Pandavas started the difficult climb. Since it was difficult to walk on snow. Draupadi and all the Pandavas, except Yudhisthira, found it very difficult to continue on the journey. Draupadi was the first to fall to the ground and die on the way. She was followed by Sahadeva, Nakula, Arjuna, and finally Bhima. Only Yudhisthira and the dog adamantly continued marching ahead.

The Just King

Vikram pulled Betal down from the tamarind tree and started walking. Betal began a story. Once there was a prince who had http://www.kidsgen.com/fables_and_fa..._just_king.jpgtwo friends, Bansi and Gopi. Bansi was a soldier so he was appointed as the prince's guard. The three once happened to pass a forest. Suddenly a tiger attacked the prince, and Bansi saved his life. After some time, a leopard attacked the prince. This time, Gopi saved him because Bansi was walking ahead. When they returned, the prince told his father what happened. The king rewarded Gopi but not Bansi. Betal asked Vikram "Did the king act justly?" Vikram replied , "The king was just in his actions. He did not reward Bansi because saving the prince was his duty. In fact, he neglected his duty the second time. But Gopi deserve the reward for he did something that was not his duty to perform." Betal said, "You are right . But you spoke, so here I go."

The Kauravas

The Kauravas were princes of Hastinapur and the sons of Gandhari and Dhritarashtra. Dhritarashtra and Pandu were brothers. Pandu, even though he was younger, was made king http://www.kidsgen.com/fables_and_fa...e_kauravas.jpgbecause Dhritarashtra was blind. But after his death, Dhritarashtra become the king of Hastinapur.

Gandhari wanted a hundred sons, and pleased with her Sage Vyasa granted her a boon that her wish would be fulfilled. But she gave birth to a lump of flesh. Sage vyasa cut this lump into a hundred and one pieces, and they developed into a hundred boys and one girl. They were called the Kauravas. The eldest was Duryodhana and the second brother was Dusshasan. The kauravas were jealous of the Pandavas, the sons of Pandu, and were always fighting with them .

The King's Guilt

Vikram placed Betal on his shoulder and started waking. And Betal began a story.

Once, a learned man, Shridutt, visited King Chadersen's court. The king was impressed by Shridutt's wisdom and intelligence. When http://www.kidsgen.com/fables_and_fa...%27s_guilt.jpgShridutt took his leave, the pleased king gave him a precious necklace. On his way home, a robber killed Shridutt and took the necklace. On his way home, a robber killed Shridutt and took the necklace away from him. The king's soldiers came to know about this and arrested the robber. The robber was hanged on the king's orders. But the king was very unhappy and blamed himself for shridutt's death, had he not given Shridutt the necklace, he wouldn't have been killed. The king felt guilty and cursed himself all day. He could not eat or sleep properly and became ill. All the royal doctors failed to cure him .

One day, the queen called for a doctor who was also a scholar. The doctor said that he had the power to bring Shridutt back to life. The king was happy to hear that but asked the doctor if he could bring the robber also back to life. The doctor said that through his powers he could bring only one person to life.

At this, the king said, "If you can't bring the robber to life then don't bring Shridutt to life either." Betal asked Vikram , "Why did the king say that?" Vikram replied , "the king thought that if shridutt can be alive, why should the robber he punished for his murder." Betal said, "You are right , but you broke your silence , so here I go." saying so, Betal flew away.

The King's Judgement

Once again, Vikram got Betal down from the tree. As he was carrying him, Betal narrated another story. King Chandradeva was a just king. One day, a neighbouring king threatened to attack http://www.kidsgen.com/fables_and_fa..._judgement.jpghim. Chandradeva did not want a war because it would lead to the death of many of his soldiers. Chandradeva asked the neighbouring king to fight with him. Whoever won, could take over the other's kingdom. The neighbouring king agreed. Chandradeva won but he did not take over the neighbouring kingdom and spared the king's life .

After a few days. Chandradeva went to a forest, where a lion attacked him. A thief who was hiding in the forest saved his life. The thief hoped that Chandradeva would reward him. Instead Chandradeva had him hanged.

Betal asked Vikram , "Chandradeva spared the neighbouring king who was his enemy and hanged the thief who saved his life. Was the king's judgement right?"

Vikram replied , "Chandradeva was right in judgement. A king's first duty is to think about the welfare of his kingdom. By forgiving the neighbouring king, he made sure that there would be no thefts in his kingdom."

Betal said , "You are right." But you broke your silence and here I go." Betal flew back back to his tree.

The Lac Palace

Yudhisthira, the eldest Pandava, was made the yuvaraja (crown prince) of Hastinapur as he was the eldest prince. This made Duryodhana jealous. With the help of his uncle, Shakuni, he made a http://www.kidsgen.com/fables_and_fa...lac_palace.jpgplan to kill the Pandavas. They persuaded the Pandavas to attened a grand fair in the town of Varnavat. Duryodhana had a lac palace built for them. Lac burns very easily. He had planned that when the Pandavas were sleeping in the palace, one of his men would set it on fire and they would be burnt to death. Vidura, the prime minister, came to know of this plot and warned the Pandavas to escape. The Pandavas and their mother Kunti, stayed in the palace on fire. The Pandavas safely escaped through the tunnel and Duryodhana thought that they had died in the fire

The Legend of Brahma's Four Heads

Brahma, the creator of the universe, is depicted as having four heads, though originally he had five.

While creating the universe Brahma made a beautiful woman andhttp://www.kidsgen.com/fables_and_fa..._four_head.jpg named her Satarupa. But Brahma was changed by his own creation. He had never before seen such a fine beauty. To enable himself to see her from all angles he gave himself a second, third, and fourth head. Wherever Satarupa went she found Brahma's eyes staring at her. Disgusted, she rose skywards and in order to see her, Brahma created a fifth head for himself.

Lord Shiva, the destroyer, was watching all this and Brahma's actions greatly angered him. He felt that as Brahma had created Satarupa, she was like his daughter and it was his duty to protect her.

He felt that it was wrong on Brahma's part to be in love with her and to teach him a lesson Shiva struck off Brahma's fifth head.