The Tortoise and the Geese

In a large, crystal-clear pond surrounded by lush vegetation lived an old tortoise named Kambugriva. For many years, he had enjoyed the peaceful waters, feasting on tender water plants and basking in the warm sunshine on the banks.

One particularly hot summer, the pond began to dry up. Day by day, the water level dropped lower, and the once-abundant plants withered under the scorching sun. Kambugriva grew increasingly worried as he watched his home slowly disappearing.

“If this drought continues,” he thought to himself, “this pond will completely dry up, and I will surely perish.”

As Kambugriva contemplated his fate, two geese who regularly visited the pond landed nearby. They were brothers named Sankata and Vikata, and over the years, they had become good friends with the tortoise.

“Why do you look so troubled, friend Kambugriva?” asked Sankata, noticing the tortoise’s dejected expression.

“My dear friends,” replied Kambugriva, “this terrible drought is destroying my home. The pond is drying up, and I cannot travel far on land to find a new water source. I fear I am doomed to die here.”

The geese looked at each other thoughtfully. After a moment, Vikata spoke up. “Perhaps we can help you, old friend. We know of a magnificent lake far from here that never dries up, even in the worst droughts. It’s surrounded by abundant food and sheltered from predators.”

Kambugriva’s eyes brightened with hope. “That sounds wonderful! But how could I possibly get there? It must be very far away if you had to fly to reach it.”

“We have a plan,” said Sankata. “We can carry you there through the air.”

The tortoise was astonished. “Through the air? But how? I cannot fly!”

“Listen carefully,” explained Vikata. “We will find a strong stick. You must grip the middle of it firmly with your mouth, and then we will each hold one end in our beaks. As we fly, we can carry you between us.”

Kambugriva was delighted with this clever solution. “What a brilliant plan! Let’s do it immediately!”

“There is one very important condition,” warned Sankata seriously. “Once we are in the air, you must not open your mouth to speak, no matter what happens or what you see below. If you open your mouth, you will lose your grip on the stick and fall to your death. Do you understand?”

“Of course,” promised Kambugriva. “I will keep my mouth firmly shut the entire journey. You have my word.”

The next morning, the geese found a strong stick, and Kambugriva clamped his powerful jaws around the middle. The geese each took an end in their beaks and, with powerful flaps of their wings, lifted off into the sky with the tortoise hanging between them.

The sensation of flying was exhilarating for Kambugriva. He had never imagined he would see the world from such a height. Below him, forests, fields, and villages passed by in a beautiful panorama. The tortoise was filled with joy and wonder at this miraculous journey.

As they flew over a small village, some children playing in the streets looked up and spotted the unusual sight.

“Look!” they shouted, pointing upward. “Two geese are carrying a tortoise through the air! Have you ever seen anything so strange?”

More villagers gathered, laughing and pointing at the spectacle. “What a clever idea!” some exclaimed. “Who would have thought of such a thing?”

Kambugriva, hearing these comments, felt immensely proud. “It was my idea!” he wanted to tell them. The urge to speak grew stronger and stronger as more people gathered below, marveling at the sight.

Finally, forgetting the geese’s warning in his moment of pride, Kambugriva opened his mouth to claim credit for the clever plan. “It was my—”

But the instant his mouth opened, he lost his grip on the stick. The tortoise plummeted through the air, falling faster and faster toward the hard ground below. The geese could only watch helplessly as their friend crashed to earth.

The villagers rushed to where Kambugriva had fallen. The poor tortoise had not survived the fall. The geese circled overhead, mourning their friend who had met his end because he could not control his pride and follow their simple but vital instruction.

“Poor Kambugriva,” said Sankata sadly. “If only he had remembered to keep his mouth shut, he would have reached the beautiful lake and lived many more happy years.”

“His inability to follow that one simple rule cost him his life,” replied Vikata. “Sometimes the most important wisdom is knowing when to remain silent.”