The Winning of Friends
Adapted from The Panchatantra, Book 2, translated by Arthur W. Ryder
Introduction
In a certain forest region, there was a lake called Lotus Lake. It was adorned with beautiful lotus flowers and inhabited by many water birds. The lake was secluded, far from any human settlement, which made it a peaceful sanctuary for its residents.
Living near this lake were two geese named Gold and Silver, and a turtle named Shell-Neck. The three had developed a deep friendship over many years, enjoying each other’s company at the lake’s edge. They would spend their days sharing stories, discussing philosophy, and helping one another.
One year, a terrible drought struck the region. Day after day passed without rain, and gradually the water in Lotus Lake began to diminish. The lake that had once been full of clear, cool water was shrinking visibly each day.
The two geese grew increasingly concerned as they observed the water level dropping. One evening, as the three friends gathered at their usual spot, Gold spoke up: “My friend Silver, and you, dear Shell-Neck, this drought shows no sign of ending. The lake continues to dry up, and soon there may not be enough water to sustain us. We should consider moving to another lake that still has plenty of water.”
Silver nodded in agreement. “You’re right, Gold. I’ve heard of a large lake beyond the mountains that still has abundant water. We geese can fly there easily enough.”
Shell-Neck looked distressed. “That’s well and good for you two, but what about me? I cannot fly, and my slow pace on land would make such a journey impossible. Besides, a turtle cannot survive long away from water. What shall I do if the lake dries up completely?”
The geese fell silent, troubled by their friend’s predicament. They couldn’t bear the thought of leaving Shell-Neck behind to face a slow death as the lake vanished. After some reflection, Gold spoke up with an idea.
“I think there might be a way to take Shell-Neck with us,” Gold said. “If we find a strong stick, Shell-Neck could grip it in the middle with his mouth, and Silver and I could each hold one end in our beaks. Then we could fly with Shell-Neck suspended between us.”
Silver brightened at this suggestion. “That’s a brilliant idea! We could carry Shell-Neck through the air to the new lake.”
Shell-Neck was delighted by this creative solution. “That would be wonderful! I’m not too heavy, and I have a strong jaw. I could certainly hold onto a stick during the flight.”
“There is one important condition,” Gold cautioned. “During the entire journey, you must maintain complete silence, Shell-Neck. If you open your mouth to speak while in the air, you will lose your grip on the stick and fall to your death. Do you understand?”
“I understand perfectly,” Shell-Neck replied solemnly. “I promise to keep my mouth firmly shut during the entire journey, no matter what I see or hear.”
The next morning, the geese found a strong stick that was neither too heavy nor too light. Shell-Neck clamped his mouth firmly around the middle of the stick, while Gold took one end in his beak and Silver the other. With powerful flaps of their wings, the geese rose into the air with their friend suspended between them.
The sensation of flying was entirely new to Shell-Neck. As they soared above the treetops, he was amazed by the breathtaking view of forests, hills, and villages spread out below. He had never imagined the world could look so vast and beautiful from above. Though he was bursting with excitement and wanted to exclaim at the wondrous sights, he remembered his promise and kept his mouth firmly shut.
Their journey progressed smoothly as they flew over villages and towns. In one village, some children playing in the street spotted the unusual sight of two geese carrying a turtle through the air. They began pointing and shouting excitedly.
“Look up there!” cried one child. “Two geese are carrying a turtle on a stick!”
“What a strange sight!” said another. “I’ve never seen anything like it before.”
“How clever those birds must be!” remarked a third.
Shell-Neck felt proud hearing these compliments about his friends’ ingenuity. The children’s admiration continued as more villagers gathered to watch the spectacle.
However, as they flew over another village, the reaction was quite different. Some mischievous boys began to mock the unusual sight.
“Look at that foolish turtle!” one boy shouted. “Too lazy to travel on his own, making those poor geese carry him!”
“What a ridiculous way to travel!” laughed another. “That must be the stupidest turtle in the world!”
These taunts stung Shell-Neck’s pride. As the mockery continued, he grew increasingly indignant. How dare these ignorant humans insult him and misunderstand the situation! They knew nothing of the drought, the drying lake, or the loyal friendship that had prompted this solution.
Finally, Shell-Neck could contain himself no longer. Forgetting the vital warning, he opened his mouth to retort: “You foolish humans! This was not my—”
But the instant his mouth opened, he lost his grip on the stick. Shell-Neck plummeted through the air, his legs and head withdrawn into his shell in terror. The geese cried out in dismay but could do nothing as they watched their friend fall.
Shell-Neck crashed to the ground in the village square. Fortunately for him, his hard shell protected him from being killed by the impact, though he was badly shaken. Before he could recover his senses, the village boys had surrounded him, poking at his shell with sticks.
“Let’s take him home for our dinner!” one suggested eagerly.
The geese circled overhead, watching in distress as the boys picked up their friend and carried him away. They followed at a distance, hoping for a chance to help Shell-Neck escape.
That evening, as the boys’ family prepared to cook the turtle, an elderly wise man of the village intervened. He recognized that this was no ordinary turtle, given the unusual circumstances of its arrival.
“This turtle fell from the sky while being carried by geese,” the old man said. “Such a creature must be special. It would be wrong to kill him. You should release him in the village pond instead.”
Respecting the elder’s wisdom, the family agreed. They carried Shell-Neck to the village pond and set him free in the water. As soon as darkness fell, the geese, who had been watching from nearby trees, flew down to the pond’s edge.
“Shell-Neck! Are you there?” Gold called softly.
To their great relief, their friend surfaced near the shore. “Gold! Silver! I’m here, and I’m unharmed,” Shell-Neck replied, his voice filled with shame and gratitude.
“We’re so thankful you survived,” Silver said. “But do you see now why we warned you to keep silent?”
“I’ve learned my lesson,” Shell-Neck admitted. “My pride and anger made me forget your warning. I nearly lost my life because I couldn’t control my tongue.”
Gold nodded. “The wise say that speech may bring both good and ill. Timely silence brings good fortune, while untimely speech brings disaster.”
“Fortunately,” Silver added, “this pond seems clean and spacious. Perhaps you can make your home here, at least until the drought ends.”
Shell-Neck agreed. “This pond is indeed suitable, and the lesson I’ve learned is invaluable. In the future, I will think carefully before speaking and remember that sometimes silence is the wisest response.”
The three friends decided that Shell-Neck would remain in the village pond, while the geese would visit regularly. They renewed their friendship with a deeper understanding of the virtues of self-control and the consequences of hasty speech.
This tale teaches that there is a time to speak and a time to remain silent. Even when provoked, one must consider the consequences before responding. Pride and anger can lead us to forget important warnings, sometimes with disastrous results. True friendship, however, endures even when mistakes are made.
