Preschoolers love stories that are fun, colourful, and easy to understand. That’s exactly what makes the Panchatantra tales so special. Narrated by Pandit Vishnu Sharma centuries ago, these stories were created with young kids in mind, and they still resonate with kids today.
What makes these stories timeless? The stories use animals, birds, and other non-living things to teach lessons about cleverness, honesty, loyalty, and kindness in ways that children can easily understand and remember. Moreover, through simple tales about the relationships between all living beings, Panchatantra stories help develop emotional intelligence, wisdom, and a connection to cultural roots from a young age.
From the Monkey and the Crocodile to the Blue Jackal and the Elephant and the Mice, each story from the Panchatantra offers something valuable. In this blog, we’ll explore the most popular Panchatantra stories for kids, perfect for your next storytime.
History of The Monkey and The Crocodile Story
As mentioned before, the Monkey and the Crocodile story is part of the Panchatantra. These stories were originally written in Sanskrit to teach wisdom through simple and engaging tales. Over time, these stories travelled across cultures and languages, becoming a part of childhood for generations.
Out of all the stories in Panchatantra, the Monkey and the Crocodile remains one of the most popular stories because it beautifully explains friendship, trust, betrayal, and quick thinking in a way children easily understand.
Read More – Interesting Facts About Monkeys for Kids
Characters in The Monkey and The Crocodile Story
Here are the main characters of the popular Panchatantra story:
- The Monkey: A cheerful and clever monkey who lives on a fruit tree beside a river.
- The Crocodile: A friendly crocodile who later struggles between friendship and family pressure.
- The Crocodile’s Wife: A greedy and demanding character whose wish creates the conflict in the story.
The Monkey and The Crocodile Story
Once upon a time, a beautiful forest grew beside a wide river. The riverbanks were lined with tall trees that bore sweet, juicy fruit year-round. On one of these trees lived a happy monkey who spent his days eating mangoes and enjoying the peaceful forest life.
One day, a tired and hungry crocodile came near the riverbank. He had been searching for food all day but had not caught anything. The kind monkey noticed him and said, “You look tired and hungry. Would you like to try these sweet mangoes?”
The crocodile tasted the fruit and loved it. From that day onwards, he visited the monkey every day. They shared fruits, stories, and laughter, and soon became good friends.
One day, the crocodile carried some mangoes home for his wife. She loved their sweetness. But instead of feeling grateful, she became greedy.
“If the mangoes are so sweet,” she said, “imagine how sweet the monkey’s heart must be! Bring me his heart.”
The crocodile was shocked. He did not want to harm his friend. But his wife kept insisting and even pretended to be ill, saying only a monkey’s heart could cure her.
The crocodile felt trapped between friendship and family pressure.
The next day, the crocodile visited the monkey and said, “My wife wants to thank you for the mangoes. She has invited you home for lunch.”
The innocent monkey happily agreed. Since monkeys cannot swim, he sat on the crocodile’s back as they began crossing the river.
When they reached the middle of the river, the crocodile felt guilty and confessed the truth.
“My friend, I am sorry. My wife wants to eat your heart.”
The monkey was shocked, but he stayed calm and thought quickly.
“Oh dear!” said the monkey. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I left my heart on the tree! Let’s go back so I can bring it.”
The foolish crocodile believed him and turned back to the riverbank.
As soon as they reached the tree, the monkey jumped off and climbed high into the branches. “You silly crocodile!” he shouted. “How can anyone leave their heart behind? You tried to betray me. Go away and never return!”
The crocodile realised his mistake and sadly swam away, knowing he had lost a true friend forever.
Moral of the Story
The monkey and crocodile story emphasises that quick thinking and presence of mind can help one escape difficult situations. The story also teaches children the value of true friendship and thinking calmly in tough situations. Besides that, this Panchatantra story also teaches:
- Never forget kindness. The crocodile forgot the monkey’s kindness and lost a good friend.
- Don’t trust anyone blindly. With this story, children learn to be cautious and aware of others’ intentions.
- All decisions have consequences. The crocodile’s wrong choice cost him his friendship.
Read More – Monkey And The Cap Seller Story
Final Thoughts
The monkey and crocodile story is simple yet powerful, and children love listening to it again and again. Beyond entertainment, it gently teaches life lessons about friendship, wisdom, and decision-making.
The next time your child asks for a bedtime story, this Panchatantra classic is a wonderful choice for meaningful storytelling and bonding time. Meanwhile, if you are looking for Indian folklore with morals, check out our blog: Top 5 Indian Folk Tales For Kids With Moral Lessons.
You can also check out EuroKids Blogs for more insightful and fun articles on your baby’s growth, health, and learning. Don’t forget to check out EuroKids Preschool Admission for the perfect foundation to kickstart your little one’s learning journey.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is the Monkey and the Crocodile a folktale?
Yes, it is a traditional Indian folktale from the Panchatantra collection.
What is the Monkey and Crocodile story in Hindi?
यह कहानी एक बंदर की है जो नदी किनारे पेड़ पर रहता था और मीठे जामुन खाता था। एक मगरमच्छ उससे दोस्ती करता है, लेकिन बाद में उसकी पत्नी बंदर का दिल चाहती है। बंदर अपनी समझदारी से खुद को बचा लेता है।
How does the Monkey and Crocodile story end?
The monkey tricks the crocodile by saying he left his heart on the tree. Once back on the riverbank, he climbs to safety and ends the friendship. The lesson is to be cautious of untrustworthy people.
How did the monkey save himself?
He used quick thinking and told the crocodile his heart was in the tree. This made the crocodile return to the shore, allowing the monkey to escape.
Which other Panchatantra stories are similar?
Some popular ones include The Lion and the Mouse, The Fox and the Grapes, and The Turtle and the Geese.
