Tuesday, 31 December 2013

A Sacrifice Hit

Download Story as PDF The editor of the Hearthstone Magazine his own ideas about the selection of manuscript for his publication. His theory is no secret; in fact, he will expound it to you willingly sitting at his mahogany desk,


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Schools And Schools

Download Story as PDF Old Jerome Warren lived in a hundred-thousand-dollar house at 35 East Fifty-Soforth Street. He was a down-town broker, so rich that he could afford to walk–for his health


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Seats Of The Haughty

Download Story as PDF Golden by day and silver by night, a new trail now leads to us across the Indian Ocean. Dusky kings and princes have found our Bombay of the West;


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The Snow Man

Download Story as PDF Note: Before the fatal illness of William Sydney Porter (known through his literary work as “O. Henry”) this American master of short-story writing had begun for Hampton’s Magazine the story printed below.


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Sociology In Serge And Straw

Download Story as PDF The season of irresponsibility is at hand. Come, let us twine round our brows wreaths of poison ivy (that is for idiocy), and wander hand in hand with sociology in the summer fields.


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The Song And The Sergeant

Download Story as PDF Half a dozen people supping at a table in one of the upper-Broadway all-night restaurants were making too much noise. Three times the manager walked past them with a politely warning glance;


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The Sparrows In Madison Square

Download Story as PDF The young man in straitened circumstances who comes to New York City to enter literature has but one thing to do, provided he has studied carefully his field in advance.


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The Sphinx Apple

Download Story as PDF Twenty miles out from Paradise, and fifteen miles short of Sunrise City, Bildad Rose, the stage-driver, stopped his team. A furious snow had been falling all day. Eight inches it measured now, on a level.


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Suite Homes And Their Romance

Download Story as PDF Few young couples in the Big-City-of-Bluff began their married existence with greater promise of happiness than did Mr. and Mrs. Claude Turpin. They felt no especial animosity toward each other;


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Monday, 30 December 2013

A Technical Error

Download Story as PDF I never cared especially for feuds, believing them to be even more overrated products of our country than grapefruit, scrapple, or honeymoons. Nevertheless, if I may be allowed,


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The Theory And The Hound

Download Story as PDF Not many days ago my old friend from the tropics, J. P. Bridger, United States consul on the island of Ratona, was in the city. We had wassail and jubilee and saw the Flatiron building,


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Thimble, Thimble

Download Story as PDF These are the directions for finding the I office of Carteret & Carteret, Mill Supplies and Leather Belting:
You follow the Broadway trail down until you pass the Crosstown Line,


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The Third Ingredient

Download Story as PDF The (so-called) Vallambrosa Apartment-House is not an apartment-house. It is composed of two old-fashioned, brownstone-front residences welded into one.


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To Him Who Waits

Download Story as PDF The Hermit of the Hudson was hustling about his cave with unusual animation.
The cave was on or in the top of a little spur of the Catskills that had strayed down to the river’s edge,


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Tommy's Burglar

Download Story as PDF At ten o’clock P. M. Felicia, the maid, left by the basement door with the policeman to get a raspberry phosphate around the corner. She detested the police- man and objected earnestly to the arrangement.


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The Whirligig Of Life

Download Story as PDF Justice of the peace Benaja Widdup sat in the door of his office smoking his elder-stem pipe. Halfway to the zenith the Cumberland range rose blue-gray in the afternoon haze.


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The World And The Door

Download Story as PDF A favourite dodge to get your story read by the public is to assert that it is true, and then add that Truth is stranger than Fiction. I do not know if the yarn I am anxious for you to read is true;


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Sunday, 29 December 2013

Fruits of Others Hardwork

Download Story as PDF The farmer is a hardworking person. He works hard every day from morning to evening to do farming on his land. The crops in his farm start to grow and the field turns from brown to green.


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Socrate's Triple Filter Test

Download Story as PDF One day an acquaintance met the great philosopher Socrates and said, “Do you know what I just heard about your friend?”
“Hold on a minute,” Socrates replied.


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My Fair Neighbour

Download Story as PDF My feelings towards the young widow who lived in the next house to mine were feelings of worship; at least, that is what I told to my friends and myself.


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Saved

Download Story as PDF Gouri was the beautiful, delicately nurtured child of an old and wealthy family. Her husband, Paresh, had recently by his own efforts improved his straitened circumstances.


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The River Stairs

Download Story as PDF If you wish to hear of days gone by, sit on this step of mine, and lend your ears to the murmur of the rippling water.
The month of Ashwin (September) was about to begin.


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The Elder Sister

Download Story as PDF Having described at length the misdeeds of an unfortunate woman’s wicked, tyrannical husband, Tara, the woman’s neighbour in the village, very shortly declared her verdict: ‘Fire be to such a husband’s mouth.’


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The Riddle Solved

Download Story as PDF Krishna Gopal Sircar, zemindar of Jhikrakota, made over his estates to his eldest son, and retired to Kasi, as befits a good Hindu, to spend the evening of his life in religious devotion.


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The Trust Property

Download Story as PDF Brindaban Kundu came to his father in a rage and said: ‘I am off this moment.’
‘Ungrateful wretch!’ sneered the father, Jaganath Kundu. ‘When you have paid me back all that I have spent on your food and clothing, it will be time enough to give yourself these airs.’


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Raja and Rani

Download Story as PDF Bipin Kisore was born ‘with a golden spoon in his mouth’; hence he knew how to squander money twice as well as how to earn it. The natural result was that he could not live long in the house where he was born.


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The Supreme Night

Download Story as PDF I used to go to the same dame’s school with Surabala and play at marriage with her. When I paid visits to her house, her mother would pet me, and setting us side by side would say to herself: ‘What a lovely pair!’


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The Auspicious Vision

Download Story as PDF Kantichandra was young; yet after his wife’s death he sought no second partner, and gave his mind to the hunting of beasts and birds. His body was long and slender, hard and agile; his sight keen; his aim unerring.


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The Skeleton

Download Story as PDF In the room next to the one in which we boys used to sleep, there hung a human skeleton. In the night it would rattle in the breeze which played about its bones.


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Mashi

Download Story as PDF ‘Mashi!’
‘Try to sleep, Jotin, it is getting late.’
‘Never mind if it is. I have not many days left. I was thinking that Mani should go to her father’s house.—I forget where he is now.’


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Saturday, 28 December 2013

Two Thanksgiving Day Gentlemen

Download Story as PDF There is one day that is ours. There is one day when all we
Americans who are not self-made go back to the old home to eat
saleratus biscuits and marvel how much nearer to the porch the old
pump looks than it used to.


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The Duplicity of Hargraves

Download Story as PDF When Major Pendleton Talbot, of Mobile, sir, and his daughter, Miss Lydia Talbot, came to Washington to reside, they selected for a boarding place a house that stood fifty yards back from one of the quietest avenues.


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Telemachus, Friend

Download Story as PDF Returning from a hunting trip, I waited at the little town of Los Pinos, in New Mexico, for the south-bound train, which was one hour late.


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The Trimmed Lamp

Download Story as PDF Of course there are two sides to the question. Let us look at the other. We often hear “shop-girls” spoken of. No such persons exist. There are girls who work in shops. They make their living that way.


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A Madison Square Arabian Night

Download Story as PDF To Carson Chalmers, in his apartment near the square, Phillips brought the evening mail. Beside the routine correspondence there were two items bearing the same foreign postmark.


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The Rubaiyat of a Scotch Highball

Download Story as PDF This document is intended to strike somewhere between a temperance lecture and the “Bartender’s Guide.” Relative to the latter, drink shall swell the theme and be set forth in abundance.


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The Pendulum

Download Story as PDF “Eighty-first street—let ‘em out, please,” yelled the shepherd in blue.
A flock of citizen sheep scrambled out and another flock scrambled aboard.


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The Assesor of Success

Download Story as PDF Hastings Beauchamp Morley sauntered across Union Square with a pitying look at the hundreds that lolled upon the park benches. They were a motley lot, he thought;


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The Buyer From Cactus City

Download Story as PDF It is well that hay fever and colds do not obtain in the healthful vicinity of Cactus City, Texas, for the dry goods emporium of Navarro & Platt, situated there, is not to be sneezed at.


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The Meeting of Vikram and Betaal

Download Story as PDF Vikram was the name of a king. He ruled over a city on the banks of
Godavari River. He was very famous for his bravery and courage.


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The Three Brahmins

Download Story as PDF Once upon a time there lived a rich brahmin by name of Vishnuswamin, who
was performing a huge sacrificial rite. He had three sons who were each very
fastidious about three specific things.


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The Three Sensitive Queens

Download Story as PDF Once upon a time there lived a king of Ujjayani by name of Dharmadhvaja,
who had three exquisitely sensitive queens. He loved all three of them very
much, all of them were of unparalleled beauty.


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The Three Suitors

Download Story as PDF Once upon a time there was born a beautiful daughter, Mandaravati, to a very
famous priest. When the daughter grew of age, the father was worried about
her marriage.


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The Exchanged Heads

Download Story as PDF Once upon a time there lived a washerman named Dhavala. He once spotted a
very beautiful lady at pond, who happened to be the daughter of another
washerman.


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A Promise Not Kept

Download Story as PDF It was a dark night and was raining from time to time. Gusts of wind shook the
trees. There were strange noises and in between the thunderclaps the moaning
of jackals could be heard.


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Reward of Life

Download Story as PDF It was a dark night and was raining from time to time. Gusts of wind shook the
trees. There were strange noises and in between the thunderclaps the moaning
of jackals could be heard.


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The Four Boys Who Made a Lion

Download Story as PDF Once upon a time there lived four sons of a poor brahmin who taught them all
the Vedas and the holy scriptures. On their parents death, they decided to go
and stay with their mother’s father.


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True Reward

Download Story as PDF It was a dark night and was raining heavily and there were strange noises from
every where and voice of the moaning of jackals could be heard.


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Friday, 27 December 2013

Reward for Gatekeeper

Download Story as PDF It was a dark night and was raining heavily and there were strange noises from
every where and voice of the moaning of jackals could be heard.


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The Badge of Policeman O' Roon

Download Story as PDF It cannot be denied that men and women have looked upon one another for the first time and become instantly enamored. It is a risky process, this love at first sight,


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Brickdust Row

Download Story as PDF Blinker was displeased. A man of less culture and poise and wealth would have sworn. But Blinker always remembered that he was a gentleman—a thing that no gentleman should do.


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The Making of a New Yorker

Download Story as PDF Besides many other things, Raggles was a poet. He was called a tramp; but that was only an elliptical way of saying that he was a philosopher, an artist, a traveller, a naturalist and a discoverer.


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Vanity and Some Sables

Download Story as PDF When “Kid” Brady was sent to the rope by Molly McKeever’s blue-black eyes he withdrew from the Stovepipe Gang. So much for the power of a colleen’s blanderin’ tongue and stubborn true-heartedness.


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The Social Triangle

Download Story as PDF At the stroke of six Ikey Snigglefritz laid down his goose. Ikey was a tailor’s apprentice. Are there tailor’s apprentices nowadays?


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The Purple Dress

Download Story as PDF We are to consider the shade known as purple. It is a color justly in repute among the sons and daughters of man. Emperors claim it for their especial dye.


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The Foreign Policy of Company 99

Download Story as PDF John Byrnes, hose-cart driver of Engine Company No. 99, was afflicted with what his comrades called Japanitis.
Byrnes had a war map spread permanently upon a table in the second story of the engine-house,


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A Harlem Tragedy

Download Story as PDF Harlem.
Mrs. Fink had dropped into Mrs. Cassidy’s flat one flight below.
“Ain’t it a beaut?” said Mrs. Cassidy.


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The Guilty Party

Download Story as PDF A Red-haired, unshaven, untidy man sat in a rocking chair by a window. He had just lighted a pipe, and was puffing blue clouds with great satisfaction.


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According To Their Lights

Download Story as PDF Somewhere in the depths of the big city, where the unquiet dregs are forever being shaken together, young Murray and the Captain had met and become friends.


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A Midsummer Knight's Dream

Download Story as PDF “The knights are dead;
Their swords are rust.
Except a few who have to hust-
Le all the time
To raise the dust.”


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The Count and the Wedding Guest

Download Story as PDF One evening when Andy Donovan went to dinner at his Second Avenue boarding-house, Mrs. Scott introduced him to a new boarder, a young lady, Miss Conway. Miss Conway was small and unobtrusive.


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The Country of Elusion

Download Story as PDF The cunning writer will choose an indefinable subject, for he can then set down his theory of what it is; and next, at length, his conception of what it is not—and lo! his paper is covered.


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The Ferry of Unfulfilment

Download Story as PDF At the street corner, as solid as granite in the “rush-hour” tide of humanity, stood the Man from Nome. The Arctic winds and sun had stained him berry-brown. His eye still held the azure glint of the glaciers.


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The Tale of a Tainted Tenner

Download Story as PDF Money talks. But you may think that the conversation of a little old ten-dollar bill in New York would be nothing more than a whisper. Oh, very well! Pass up this sotto voce autobiography of an X if you like.


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Elsie in New York

Download Story as PDF No, bumptious reader, this story is not a continuation of the Elsie series. But if your Elsie had lived over here in our big city there might have been a chapter in her books not very different from this.


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Let Me Feel Your Pulse

Download Story as PDF So I went to a doctor.
“How long has it been since you took any alcohol into your system?” he asked.
Turning my head sidewise, I answered, “Oh, quite awhile.”


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Thursday, 26 December 2013

First Meeting

Download Story as PDF Emperor Akbar had a mobile court which one day found itself in a village in what is now Madhya Pradesh, Where a young Brahmin farmer, Mahesh Das, lived.


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Birbal’s Journey to Paradise

Download Story as PDF The Court barber nursed his hatred for Birbal and plotted against him daily. One day he struck upon a plan and so, when Emperor Akbar next called him to trim his beard,


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All for the Best

Birbal constantly asserted that everything happens for one’s own good. Emperor Akbar, who was young, was distrustful of Birbal’s wisdom and questioned the minister’s constant, optimistic assertion.
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Emptying the Sea

Once two partridges, a husband and wife, were going on a trip. Before they left, the wife laid some eggs near the ocean. Then the husband said to the sea,
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Wednesday, 25 December 2013

List of Fools

One day an Arab merchant arrived at the Court of Akbar with a large consignment of horses of all ages and breeds and offered them for sale.
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Theft of Jewels

A merchant in Akbar’s kingdom felt hot and decided to have a bath. He bundled up all the jewels he was wearing, left them in a corner of his room along with his clothes and went for a bath.
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The Holy Book

Akbar once called Birbal and said to him, “Birbal, it is said in one of your Hindu Holy Books that Lord Vishnu one day heard the agonized cry of one of His elephants and rushed to his aid.
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Truth and Falsehood

One day Akbar asked his courtiers if they could tell him the difference between truth and falsehood in three words or less. The courtiers looked at one another in bewilderment.
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The Eggs-ample

Since Birbal always outwitted him, Akbar thought of a plan to make Birbal look like a fool. He gave an egg to each of his ministers before Birbal reached the Court one morning.
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Lost and Found

One day, when Akbar and Birbal were engaged in discussions, Birbal happened to pass a harmless comment about Akbar’s sense of humor. But Emperor Akbar was in a foul mood and took great offence at this remark.
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Akbar’s Dream

One night, Emperor Akbar dreamt that he had lost all his teeth, except one. The next morning he invited all the astrologers of his kingdom to interpret this dream.
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Pundit's Mother Tongue

Once Akbar’s court was visited by an eminent Pundit who was well versed in many languages. He challenged everybody in the Court that he could answer any question in any languages.
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Mahesh Das's Fortune

When Mahesh became a young man, he took the few coins which were all his savings, along with the Ring of the Royal Seal, kissed his mother farewell, and set out upon the long road to the new capital of the Empire, Fatehpur Sikri.
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The Man Who Takes Salt

Once upon a time there was a stupid man who went to another man’s home. The host gave
him something to eat. After he complained that the food was insipid,
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The Stupid Man Who Stored Up Milk

Once upon a time there was a stupid man who was about to give a party. He wanted to store
up milk for his guests.
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The Head is Broken with Pears

Once upon a time there was a bald-headed man who was bit in his head by a few pears
thrown at him. He forbore taking the blows without knowing that he should have tried to
dodge them.
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The Wife Who Pretends to be Dead

Once upon a time there was a stupid man who loved very much his beautiful wife. However,
she had no true love for him. In the meantime, she associated herself surreptitiously with
another man.
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Getting Thirsty on Seeing Water

Once there was a fellow desperately in need of water for his thirst. On seeing the blazing fog,
he mistook it for water. He pursued it until he reached the Indus River.
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The Dead Son

Once upon a time there was a man who brought up seven boys, one of whom died. Finding
the son dead, he intended to leave the body in the house and moved out himself.
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Debt of Half Cent

Once a merchant lent half a cent to a man who then took a long time repaying him. The
merchant went to the man to ask him to clear the debt sooner.
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Grind a Knife Upstairs

Once upon a time there was a poor man who had to work very hard in the king’s service. As
time went on, he became emaciated. Out of pity, the king gave him a dead camel.
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Loss of a Silver Bowl by Boat

Once upon a time there was a man who dropped a silver bowl into the sea while crossing it.
He pondered, “I’m going to make a mark on the water.
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The Stupid King

Once upon a time a man pronouncing his king’s crimes, said, “Very cruel is the king. He is
incapable of governing.”
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The Woman Who Longs for a Second Child

Once there was a woman who longed for a second child. He asked other women, “Who could
bring me another child?”
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Lignaloes From Under the Sea

Once upon a time there was a merchant who was getting lignaloes from under the sea. He did
not gather enough of them to fill up a cart to bring back home until several years later.
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The Thief Who Steals Embroidered Satin

Once upon a time there was a thief who sneaked into a rich man’s house to steal a piece of
embroidered satin. He used it to wrap up such objects as worn clothes,
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The Fire and the Water

Once upon a time, there was a man who needed fire and cold water in caring out his
household duties. He built a fire in his room.
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The King's Blinking Habit

Once upon a time, there was a man who wanted to please the king. He asked the others how
to do it and was told, “If you want to please the king, you should imitate him.”
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Dressing All Whipping Wounds

Once upon a time, there was a man who was punished by the king by whipping and was
wounded from it. He applied on the wounds horse excrement for quick recovery.
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The Wife's Nose

Once upon a time, there was a man whose wife was graceful except for her ugly nose. When
he was out, he saw another graceful looking woman with a pretty nose.
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The Poor Man Who Burns his Clothes

Once upon a time, there was a poor and weary man who wore a coarse woolen garment,
which he had made for his customer. He was seen by a stranger who said to him,
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The Stingy Shepherd

Once upon a time, there was a shepherd who was skillful in raising as many as thousands of
sheep. However, he was so stingy that he would not spend a penny.
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Mason Wanted

Once upon a time, a Brahman master indented to give a big party. He told his disciple, “I
need earthenware for the party. Go to the market and fetch for me a mason.”
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A Trader Who Steals Gold

Once upon a time, two traders ran some business together. One was a seller of genuine gold,
while the other, Tula cotton.
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Hacking a Tree Down for Fruit

Once upon a time, there was a king who had a tremendously gigantic and beautiful tree. It
always produced excellent fruit with fragrance and sweetness.
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To Send Pure Spring Water

Once upon a time, there was a village, which was located five Yojanas away from the city
and supplied pure spring water. The king ordered the water to be sent to him in the palace
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The Mirror in a Valuable Case

Once upon a time there was a poor and weary man who was always in debt. Insolvent, he hid
himself in the wilderness where he found a valuable case full of precious things.
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To Blind an Immortal

Once upon a time, there was a man who went to the mountains to learn Buddhist Priesthood.
He succeeded in becoming an Immortal possessing five supernatural powers.
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To Kill a Herd of Cattle

Once upon a time, there was a man who owned two hundred fifty cows. He often took them
to the pastureland for grazing. By accident, one day a cow was killed by a tiger.
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Yelling at Water

Once upon a time, there was a man who was tired and thirsty from traveling. He drank some
fresh running water from the wooden bucket.
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Tuesday, 24 December 2013

House Painting

Once upon a time, there was a man who went to another man’s house, which had just been
painted, and the floor made even. It was nice and clean.
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To Cure Baldness

Once upon a time, there was a man who was completely bald. He felt very cold in winter and
hot in summer. He was stung by gadflies and mosquitoes.
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Pisacah Devils

Once upon a time, there were two Pisacah devils who conjointly owned a suitcase, a stick
and a pair of wooden shoes about which they fought for their monopoly.
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The Trader and the Dead Camel

Once there was a trader who was traveling on business. It so happened that the camel
suddenly died on the way. The animal was loaded with valuable things such as jewels,
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To Grind a Big Stone

Once there was a man who ground a big stone with great effort. He made a small toy bull out
of it after days and months of labor.
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Eating Half a Pancake

Once there was a man who felt hungry and longed to eat seven pancakes. He was already full
when he had eaten six pancakes and a half.
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The Salve Guards the Door

Once there was a man who was about to take a long trip. He gave orders to his slave and said,
“Keep a close watch over the door as well as the donkey and the rope”.
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The Poor Man Crows Like a Duck

It happened once that a foreign country was celebrating its Religious Day for festivities. All
women wore blue lotus flowers as ornament in their hair.
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The Fox Was Hit by a Snap to Twig

Once a fox who stood under a tree was hit by a twig fallen on his back. He then closed his
eyes for he did not like to see the tree.
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Boy's Argument on the Subject of Hair

There were once two boys who dived in a river where they found at its bottom a bundle of
feathers. One said that it was the beard of some spirit,
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To Cure a Hunchback

Once there was a man who suddenly became a hunchback. He went to a physician who
treated him first with ointment smeared on his back,
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Doing Enough for Life

A boat is docked in a tiny Mexican fishing village.
A tourist complimented the local fishermen on the quality of their fish and asked how long it took to catch them.
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The Perfume

As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children an untruth. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same.
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A Maid and her Five Masters

Once there were five men who together bought a maid to whom one of them said, “Get my
clothes washed.”
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The Musician

Once a musician played in the presence of the king who had promised him a thousand coins.
Later, he asked the king for the money.
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The Master's Aching Legs

Once a master told two of his disciples to take care of his aching legs. Each one had to
massage continuously each of his two legs.
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The Snake's Argument

Once there was a snake whose tail told its head, “I should lead the way.”
And the head said, “I’m used to leading, why do you want to change positions so suddenly?”
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To be a King's Barber

Once upon a time, a king’s personal attendant risked his life to save the king at the battlefield.
The king was so grateful that he gave his lifesaver whatever he wanted.
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To Ask Nothing

Once upon a time, two men walking together saw another fellow trying in vain to pull a
chariot loaded with sesame out of a hole on the road.
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Trading on the Elder's Mouth

Once upon a time there was an extremely wealthy elder whose attendants were eager to
please him by paying him all due deference. When he spat,
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Two Brothers and Their Inheritance

Once upon a time, there was a Ksatriya of the Makara Kingdom who fell seriously ill, and
was aware of the fatal hour. To his two sons he ordered, “After my death,
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Watching Urn Making

Once two men went to a potter’s field where they watched a tread-wheel making earns. They
were delighted at seeing the work without satiety.
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The Shadow of Gold

Once upon a time, there was a man who went to a large pond where he thought he had seen
the shadow of pure gold at the bottom of water.
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Bhramha's Disciple Can Create All Things

Bhramans say that the Great bhrahma was both father of the world and creator of all things.
One of the Great bhrahma’s disciples once said he also had the power to create things. He was
too stupid to be wise.
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The Paient Eats the Pheasant Meat

Once upon a time, there was a man who was seriously ill. A skillful physician prescribed that
he could be cured by eating some pheasant meat. After he finished eating one, the patient did
not eat it again. Afterwards,
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An Actor Wearing a Demon's Garment

Once upon a time, there was a troupe of actors from Cadhara Kingdom, rambling in different
parts of the country giving performances due to a famine. They passed the Pala New
Mountain where evil
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An Evil Demon in the Old House

Once upon a time, there was an old house where the rumors had it that an evil demon often
appeared. People were so frightened that no one would dare to be in it.
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Five Hundred Happy Pills

Once upon a time, there was a woman who led a promiscuous life. She hated her husband
when she was burning with lascivious desires. However, there was no opportunity for her to
carry out any of her schemes to kill him.
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Reading The Sailing Methods

Once upon a time, there was a young man from a respectable family who went to the sea
with some merchants to look for pearls. He had read all about sailing such as to know how to
steer the boat,
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Tuesday, 17 December 2013

A Bet Over A Cake

Once upon a time, there were a man and his wife who shared three cakes. On the third, they
made a bet, “whoever talks first loses his share of the cake.” After this, they stopped talking.
In no time,
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Bearing A Grudge Against One Another

Once upon a time, there was an unhappy man who bore grudges against another man. He was
asked: “Why are you so unhappy?”
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The Man Eats Quickly

Once upon a time, there was a man who went from North India to the South where he lived
for a long time, got married and settled down. One day the wife prepared some food.
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The Man Who Turned Blind

Once upon a time, there was a man who had two wives. Whenever he was with one of them,
the other got very angry. Faced with such a dilemma, he decided one night to lie flat on the
back between the two.
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An Operation on the Mouth

Once upon a time, there was a man who went to his wife’s home where he saw people
removing the husk from rice. He stole some rice and hid it in his mouth.
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The Horse Wad Dead

Once upon a time, there was a man who rode on a black horse to a battle. Out of fear, he was
incapable to combat. He daubed his face and eyes with blood and dirt.
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Become A Common Monk

Once upon a time, there was a kingdom which had a law that all Brahmans in the country
should keep their bodies clean and those who do not would be subject to all kinds of hard
works.
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The Came and the Jar are Both Lost

Once upon a time, there was a man who had a jar used to hold grain. A camel put its head
into it to eat the grain, but it could not get its head out. The man became angry and worried.
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The Farmer Longed for the Princess

Once upon a time, there was a farmer who went to the city and saw the princess who was
very graceful. He found she was quite a rare beauty. Afterwards he thought of nothing else
but the princess day and night.
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To Milk A Donkey

Once upon a time, there was a group of frontiersmen who had never seen a monkey before.
Thus they could not identify it. They were told that its milk was delicious.
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The Son's Trips

Once upon a time, there was a man who told his son one night, “Tomorrow I’ll go with you to
another tribe for some errands.”
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Carrying Stairs for the King

Once upon a time, there was a king who wished to go to the garden named “Free From Care”
for a good time. He ordered one of his ministers, “You’ll drag a lounge chair to that garden
for me to sit and take rest on.”
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To Take An Enema

Once upon a time, there was a man who had a pain in his rear. The doctor said it would be
healed by giving an enema. He immediately went to fetch the instruments for that purpose.
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Getting Bitten By A Bear

Once upon a time, there were a man and his son traveling together. The son got into the
woods and was bitten by a bear. Scratches were all over his body.
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The Cultivation of the Land

Once upon a time, there was a peasant who went to another farmer’s property to examine his
wheat plants. He asked the owner, “How do you make the wheat grow so well?”
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A Female Monkey

Once upon a time, a female monkey was beaten by a full-grown person. The animal had no
other alternative than gave vent to its anger later on a small boy.
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Dogs Were Beaten

Once upon a time, there was a king of Asuras who covered the moon with his hands when he
thought it too bright. However,
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The Woman Who Had Sore Eyes

Once upon a time, there was a woman who had a bad case of sore eyes. Another woman told
her, “Where there are eyes, there are some times pains. Although my eyes do not ache now, I
want to gouge them out so that they will not ache later.”
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The Father And His Son's Earrings

Once upon a time, there were a man and his son taking a business trip together. On their way,
they came across robbers trying to rob the valuable things off them. The son had a pair of
pure gold earrings on.
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The Robber's Joy

Once upon a time, there was a band of robbers who divided their boot according to their
different ranks. Among the belongings, there was a Benares Kambala, the color of which left
much to be desired.
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The Female Monkey And A Handful of Beans

Once upon a time, there was a female monkey holding a handful of beans. After dropping to
the ground a grain of bean, she dropped all the beans in her hands by looking for the first
one.
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The Gold Weasel

Once upon a time, there was a man who found a gold weasel while traveling. He put it inside
of his shirt as he leaped for joy. Traveling on, he reached a river where he took off his clothes
for crossing.
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Picking Up Money

Once upon a time, there was a poor man who picked up a sack of money in the streets. He
was overwhelmed with happiness. Then he began to count the money. Suddenly, the real
owner of the money showed up.
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The Poor Want To Have As Much As The Rich

Once upon a time, there was a poor man who had but few possessions. After meeting some
rich men, he wanted to be like one of them. Unable to do so, he was about to throw the little
he had into the water.
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The Child Gets Happy Pills

Once upon a time, a wet nurse was walking along the road with a child in her arms. She
became also weary that she fell asleep on the way. Then a man appeared and gave the child
some happy pills.
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The Old Woman Caught A Bear

Once upon a time, there was an old woman who was resting under a tree when a bear came to
attack her. She ran around the tree trying to get away, while the bear held the tree with one
hand and tried to grasp her with the other.
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The Mani And The Sewer

Once upon a time, there was a man who was having an affair with a married woman. They
were together when her husband came back. He found out their affair and stopped outside the
door waiting for the man to come out to kill him.
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A Dove

Once upon a time, there were two doves, male and female, which lived together in a nest.
They filled their nest with fruit seed that grew up during the fall. Later, the fruit dried and
shrank to fill but half of the nest.
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Pretending To Be Blind

Once upon a time, there was a trained craftsman who worked for the king. He could not bear
the hardship and deceitfully said he was blind in order to release himself from the hard work.
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The Woollen Coat Was Rubbed By The Wicked Thief

Once upon a time, two friends were walking in the wilderness. On the way, one of them
wearing a woolen coat was robbed of it by a thief. The other successfully escaped into a
thicket. The loser of the coat had a piece of gold concealed in the collar.
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A Boy Caught A Big Turtle

Once upon a time, there was a boy who was playing on dry land and caught a big turtle. He
intended to kill it, but he did not know how to do so.
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The Burglar's Christmas

Two very shabby looking young men stood at the corner of Prairie avenue and Eightieth street, looking despondently at the carriages that whirled by. It was Christmas Eve, and the streets were full of vehicles;
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Papa Panov's Special Christmas

It was Christmas Eve and although it was still afternoon, lights had begun to appear in the shops and houses of the little Russian village, for the short winter day was nearly over.
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A Letter from Santa Claus

Palace of Saint Nicholas in the Moon
Christmas Morning
My Dear Susy Clemens,
I have received and read all the letters which you and your little sister have written me . . . .
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The Gold Wrapping Paper

Once upon a time, there was a man who worked very hard just to keep food on the table for his family. This particular year a few days before Christmas, he punished his little five-year-old daughter after learning
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Monday, 16 December 2013

Clever Birbal

Once an oil merchant and the villager came to Akbar with a quarrel about the money Bag.
Merchant said that When the villager came to buy oil from him he gave them the oil and collected money from them.
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Honest Birbal

One fine day Akbar was discussing the brinjal with Birbal . He told him what a delicious and nutritious vegetable it was. Birbal agreed with him and said “Huzoor you are right brinjal is delicious vegetable”.
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Red Hot Iron

One day, one rich man wanted to punish a man named Hasan. He blamed him that he had stolen necklace from his house, and reported to the Akbar. The case was brought in the court.
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The Well Dispute

Once there was a complaint at King Akbar’s court.
There were two neighbors who shared their garden. In that garden, there was a well that was possessed by Iqbal Khan.
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The True King

The King of Iran had heard that Birbal was one of the wisest men in the East and desirous of meeting him sent him an invitation to visit his country.
In due course, Birbal arrived in Iran.
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The Sharpest Shield and Sword

A man who made spears and shields once came to Akbar’s court.
“Your Majesty, nobody can make shields and spears to equal mine,” he said. “My shields are so strong that nothing can pierce
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The Sadhu

Akbar came to the throne when he was only thirteen years old. In the years that followed, he built on of the greatest empires of his time. He lived in unimaginable splendor.
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The Musical Genius

Famous musicians once gathered at Akbar’s court for a competition.
The one who could capture a bull’s interest was to be declared the winner.
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The Loyal Gardener

One day the Emperor Akbar stumbled on a rock in his garden. He was in a foul mood that day and the accident made him so angry that he ordered the gardener’s arrest and execution.
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The Jealous Courtiers

One day Emperor Akbar was inspecting the law and order situation in the kingdom. One of his ministers, who was jealous of Raja Birbal, complained that the Emperor gave importance only to Birbal’s suggestions and all the other ministers were ignored.
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The Choice of Birbal

One day Emperor Akbar asked Birbal what he would choose if he were given a choice between justice and a gold coin.
“The gold coin,” said Birbal. Akbar was taken aback.
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The Blind Saint

Let us enjoy reading this one of Birbal Stories of The Blind Saint.
There lived a saint in an ashram in the kingdom of Emperor Akbar.
He was believed to prophecy the future correctly.
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Question for Question

One day Akbar said to Birbal: “Can you tell me how many bangles your wife wears?”
Birbal said he could not.
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Painting By Birbal

Once Akbar told Birbal ‘Birbal, make me a painting. Use imagination in it.
To which the reply was ‘But hoozoor, I am a minister, how can I possibly paint?’
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Noble Beggar

Emperor Akbar asked Birbal if it was possible for a man to be the lowest and the noblest at the same time.
“It is possible,” said Birbal.
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List of blinds

Once King Akbar questioned Birbal if he knows the number of blind citizens of their kingdom.
Raja Birbal had requested Akbar to give him a week’s time.
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Limping Horse

A nobleman’s prized racehorse began to limp for no apparent reason.
Veterinarians who were called found nothing wrong with the leg – no fracture, no sprain and no soreness – and they were baffled.
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Just One Question

One Day a scholar came to the court of Emperor Akbar and challenged Birbal to answer his questions and thus prove that he was as clever as people said he was.
He asked Birbal: “Would you prefer to answer a hundred easy questions or just a single difficult one?”
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Identify The Guest

Birbal had been invited to lunch by a rich man.
Birbal went to the man’s house and found him in a hall full of people. His host greeted him warmly.
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Half The Reward

Once when Akbar went hunting in the jungle, he lost his way. Mahesh Das who lived in the outskirts helped the king reach the palace. The emperor rewarded him with his ring.
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Cooking The Khichdi

It was winter. The ponds were all frozen.
At the court, Akbar asked Birbal, “Tell me Birbal! Will a man do anything for money?” Birbal replied, ‘Yes’.
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Birbal Turns Tables

Emperor Akbar was narrating a dream.
The dream began with Akbar and Birbal walking towards each other on a moonless night. It was so dark that they could not see each other and they collided and fell.
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Birbal The Wise

Ram and Sham both claimed ownership of the same mango tree.
One day they approached Birbal and asked him to settle the dispute.
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Birbal The Servant

One day Akbar and Birbal were riding through the countryside and they happened to pass by a cabbage patch.
“Cabbages are such delightful vegetables!” said Akbar. “I just love cabbage.”
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Sunday, 15 December 2013

Poet Raidas

In the town of Agra there lived a rich businessman. But he was also quite a miser. Various people used to flock outside his house everyday hoping for some kind of generosity,
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The Foolish Brahmin

Once upon a time a foolish brahmin came to visit Birbal with a strange request. He wanted to be addressed as ‘pandit’. Now, the term ‘pandit’ refers to a man of learning. But unfortunately this poor brahmin was uneducated.
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How Akbar Meet Birbal

Akbar loved hunting and used to escape to go for hunting even from his studies. Well, later he became a better rider and hunter than any one of his courtiers. One day when Akbar went for hunting,
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Answering a Question with a Question

One day Akbar asked Birbal, “Birbal, can you tell me how many bangles are on your wife’s hand?” Birbal said, “No, Huzoor, I cannot.” “You cannot? Although everyday you see her hand,
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Washerman's Donkey Load

Once Akbar went to the river with his two sons and wise Minister Birbal. On the bank of the river, Akbar and his two sons took off their clothes and asked Birbal to take care of them while they took bath in the river.
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Birbal's Fake Death

One day the court barber, who was very jealous with Birbal, plotted a plan against him. So when the King called him again to trim his beard, he went and started trimming his beard.
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Caught the Thief

It so happened once that once a rich merchant’s house was robbed. The merchant suspected that the thief was one of his servants. So he went to Birbal and mentioned the incident.
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Count The Crows

One day Akbar was strolling in his palace gardens with his dear minister Birbal. Many crows were flying around. The King enjoyed their flying. Just then he thought,
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Birbal Always A Problem Solver

Several courtiers were vying to be the Royal Advisor of Emperor Akbar. So one day, when they came to the court, they said to the Emperor, “We want to be your Royal Advisor.”
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Best Flowers

One day Akbar was taking a walk in his Royal gardens with several courtiers. Many flowers were flowering at that time of season. A poet pointed out towards a beautiful flower and said,
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Short Sweet Reply

Akbar used to ask many odd questions from his courtiers and amused himself. One day he entered the Royal Court, settled in his Royal chair, and asked his courtiers:
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Identifies the Guest

Once Birbal was invited for dinner by a rich man. When Birbal reached there, he found himself in a large crowd. The host greeted him warmly and took him inside. Birbal said,
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The Woodpecker, Turtle, and Deer

Once upon a time a Deer lived in a forest near a lake. Not far from the same lake, a Woodpecker had a nest in the top of a tree; and in the lake lived a Turtle. The three were friends, and lived together happily.
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The Woodpecker and the Lion

One day while a Lion was eating his dinner a bone stuck in his throat. It hurt so that he could not finish his dinner. He walked up and down, up and down, roaring with pain.
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The Wise Goat and the Wolf

Once upon a time, many, many wild Goats lived in a cave in the side of a hill. A Wolf lived with his mate not far from this cave. Like all Wolves they liked the taste of Goat-meat. So they caught the Goats,
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The Tricky Wolf and the Rats

Once upon a time a Big Rat lived in the forest, and many hundreds of other Rats called him their Chief.
A Tricky Wolf saw this troop of Rats, and began to plan how he could catch them. He wanted to eat them,
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The Three Fishes

Once upon a time three Fishes lived in a far-away river. They were named Thoughtful, Very-Thoughtful, and Thoughtless. One day they left the wild country where no men lived, and came down the river to live near a town.
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The Stupid Monkeys

Once upon a time a king gave a holiday to all the people in one of his cities.
The king’s gardener thought to himself: “All my friends are having a holiday in the city.
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The Stolen Plow

At one time there were two traders who were great friends. One of them lived in a small village, and one lived in a large town near-by. One day the village trader took his plow to the large town to have it mended.
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The Red-Bud Tree

Once upon a time four young princes heard a story about a certain wonderful tree, called the Red-Bud Tree. No one of them had ever seen a Red-Bud Tree, and each prince wished to be the first to see one.
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Prince Wicked and the Grateful Animals

Once upon a time a king had a son named Prince Wicked. He was fierce and cruel, and he spoke to nobody without abuse, or blows. Like grit in the eye, was Prince Wicked to every one, both in the palace and out of it.
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The Penny-wise Monkey

Once upon a time the king of a large and rich country gathered together his army to take a faraway little country. The king and his soldiers marched all morning long and then went into camp in the forest.
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The Otters and the Wolf

One day a Wolf said to her mate, “A longing has come upon me to eat fresh fish.”
“I will go and get some for you,” said he and he went down to the river.
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How the Monkey Saved his Troop

A mango-tree grew on the bank of a great river. The fruit fell from some of the branches of this tree into the river, and from other branches it fell on the ground.
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The Hawks And Their Friends

A family of Hawks lived on an island in a lake not far from the great forest. On the northern shore of this lake lived a Lion, King of Beasts. On the eastern shore lived a Kingfisher.
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The Foolhardy Wolf

A lion bounded forth from his lair one day, looking north, west, south, and east. He saw a Buffalo and went to kill him. The Lion ate all of the Buffalo-meat he wanted, and then went down to the lake for a drink.
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The Brave Little Bowman

Once upon a time there was a little man with a crooked back who was called the wise little bowman because he used his bow and arrow so very well. This crooked little man said to himself:
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Beauty and Brownie

Two Deer named Beauty and Brownie lived with their father and mother and great herds of Deer in a forest. One day their father called them to him and said: “The Deer in the forest are always in danger
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The Prince and the She-devils

Once upon a time King Brahmadatta was ruling in Benares, in northern India. The Enlightenment Being was born as the last of his 100 sons and grew up to be a wise young man.
In those days there were Silent Buddhas who came to the palace to receive alms food.
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A Feast in the Palace

Finally they arrived at Takkasila. The she-devil made her ‘son’ disappear and followed alone.
At the city gate the prince stopped and went into a rest house. Because of the magic
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A Man Named Bad

Once upon a time there was a world famous teacher in Takkasila, in north-western India. He had 500 high class students who learned sacred teachings from him.
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A Man Named Wise

Once upon a time, the Enlightenment Being was born in a merchants’ family in Benares, in northern India. He was given the name Wise. When he grew up he began doing business with a man whose name just happened to be Verywise.
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Achieving Nothing

Once upon a time the Bodhisatta – the Enlightenment Being – was born into a high class family in northern India. When he grew up he gave up the ordinary desires of the everyday world and became a holy man.
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A Mother's Wise Advice

Once upon a time, the son of Brahmadatta was ruling righteously in Benares, in northern India. It came to pass that the King of Kosala made war, killed the King of Benares, and made the queen become his own wife.
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The Mystery of the Missing Necklace - One Crime Leads to Another

Once upon a time, King Brahmadatta was ruling in Benares in northern India. After completing his education, the Enlightenment Being became one of his ministers.
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The Mystery of the Missing Necklace - The Mystery is Solved

Meanwhile, the royal minister who happened to be the Enlightenment Being had seen and heard all that had taken place in the pleasure garden. He realized that the mystery could be solved only by careful examination.
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The Careless Lion

Once upon a time, the Five Training Steps were not yet known in the world. There was a very wealthy man living in Benares who owned a large herd of cattle. He hired a man to look after them.
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The Holy Man Who Tried To Be Too Holy

Once upon a time, the Enlightenment Being lived in a world where most religions were very similar. They taught that the way to remove suffering from the mind was to make the body suffer instead.
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Clear-sighted the Great King of the World

It is said that there are two ways to practice religion. One is to live apart from the ordinary everyday world as a monk, a nun or a holy one. Those who are sincere in this way have as their highest goal
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The Curse of Mittavinda - Jealousy

Once upon a time, there was a monk who lived in a tiny monastery in a little village. He was very fortunate that the village rich man supported him in the monastery. He never had to worry about the cares of the world.
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The Curse of Mittavinda - Greed

Little did poor Mittavinda know that his lives of constant hunger were about to come to an end. After wandering about, he eventually ended up in Benares.
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The Curse of Mittavinda

After seven days on the Indian Ocean, all the winds and currents stopped completely. The ship was stuck! After being dead in the water for seven days, all on board were terrified they would die.
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A Hero Named Jinx

Once upon a time, there was a very rich man who was well known for wholesomeness. He had a good friend who had the somewhat strange name, Jinx. They had been the best of friends ever since they were
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A Question From a Seven Year Old

Once upon a time there was a rich man living in Benares, in northern India. He had a son who was intelligent, curious and eager to learn. Even though he was only seven years old,
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A Lesson From a Snake

Once upon a time, King Brahmadatta of Benares had a very valuable adviser priest. He came from a rich noble family. He was intelligent and full of knowledge. He was generous with his wealth and knowledge,
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A Priest Who Worshiped Luck

Once upon a time, the Enlightenment Being was born into a high class family in north-western India. When he grew up, he realized his ordinary life could not give him lasting happiness.
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The Bull Called Delightful

Once upon a time, in the country of Gandhara in northern India, there was a city called Takkasila. In that city the Enlightenment Being was born as a certain calf. Since he was well bred for strength,
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The Phoney Holy Man

Once upon a time there was a man who looked and acted just like a holy man. He wore nothing but rags, had long matted hair, and relied on a little village to support him. But he was sneaky and tricky.
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One Way Hospitality

Once upon a time there were two merchants who wrote letters back and forth to each other. They never met face to face. One lived in Benares and the other lived in a remote border village.
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Poison Dice

Once upon a time there was a rich man living in Benares who was addicted to gambling. He played dice with another gambling addict, a man whose mind worked in tricky ways.
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Friday, 13 December 2013

The Curb in the Sky

When Charlie Deshler announced that he was going to marry Dorothy, someone said he would lose his mind posthaste. “No,” said a wit who knew them both, “post hoc.” Dorothy had begun, when quite young,
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The Well Dispute

Once there was a complaint at King Akbar’s court.
There were two neighbors who shared their garden. In that garden,
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Roaring Bulls With No Fight

King Brahmadatta knelt down before the holy man and then sat next to him. He asked, “Your reverence, can you tell me the meanings of my 16 dreams?”
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Teaching

King Brahmadatta bowed to the ground before the holy man and said, “Your wisdom has taken my fear and panic from me. Your compassion has kept me from doing terrible unwholesome things to many helpless beings.
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Fear Maker and Little Archer

Some say that the world comes into being, disappears, and comes into being … over and over, throughout time. In one of these previous worlds, countless years ago, Truth was unknown and the Five Training Steps
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Illisa the Cheap

Once upon a time, there was a billionaire in northern India. He was an adviser to a king. Although he was very rich. he was not at all good looking. He was lame due to crooked feet,
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Forest Monks in a King's Pleasure Garden

Once upon a time, there was a high class rich man who gave up his wealth and his easy life in the ordinary world. He went to the Himalayan forests and lived as a homeless holy man.
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The Sixteen Frightening Dreams

Once upon a time there was a king called Brahmadatta who was ruling in Benares, in northern India. One night he had 16 frightening nightmare dreams. He awoke in the morning in a cold sweat,
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The Frightening Sound of 'Munch, Munch, Munch'

“Indeed,” said King Brahmadatta to the humble forest monk, “you have set my mind to rest concerning my first eight dreams. But my last eight dreams are even more frightening.
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A Motherless Son

Once upon a time, King Brahmadatta was ruling in Benares in northern India. He had a clever minister who pleased him very much. To show his appreciation he appointed him headman of a remote border village.
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The Meditating Security Guard

Once upon a time, the Enlightenment Being was born into a rich and powerful family. When he grew up he became dissatisfied with going after the ordinary pleasures of the world. So he gave up his former lifestyle,
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Thursday, 12 December 2013

The Fish Who Worked a Miracle

Once upon a time, the Enlightenment Being was born as a fish in a pond in northern India. There were many kinds of fish, big and small, living in the pond with the Bodhisatta.
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The Elephant King Goodness

Once upon a time the Enlightenment Being was born as an elephant. He was wonderfully white in color, glowing like polished silver. His feet were as smooth and bright as the finest lacquer.
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The Shovel Wise Man

Once upon a time, the Enlightenment Being was born into a family of vegetable gardeners. After he grew up he cleared a patch of land with his shovel. He grew herbs, pumpkins, melons, cucumbers and other vegetables.
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New Homes for the Tree Spirits

Once upon a time, as happens to all beings, the King of the Tree Spirits died. King Sakka, ruler of the Heaven of 33, appointed a new King of the Tree Spirits. As his first official act,
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Four on a Log

Once upon a time, King Brahmadatta of Benares had a son. He grew up to be a mean and cruel he-man – the type that’s always trying to prove he’s tougher than everyone else.
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The Green Wood Gatherer

Once upon a time there was a world famous teacher and holy man in the city of Takkasila. He had 500 students training under him.
One day these 500 young men went into the forest to gather firewood.
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The Wisdom of Queen Tenderhearted

Once upon a time, the Enlightenment Being was born into a rich high-class family in Kasi, in northern India. He grew to young manhood and completed education. Then he gave up ordinary desires and left
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The Wicked Lady and the Buttermilk Wise Man

Once upon a time, a very rich man was living in Benares, in northern India. He had a daughter who was one of the most beautiful women in the city. Her skin was as soft as rose petals,
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A Wife and Mother Who Was a Sister First

Once upon a time some bandits robbed a village. Then they escaped into a thick forest. Some men from the village chased them. They surrounded the forest and searched it for the robbers, but they could not find them.
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Country Man and City Wife

Once upon a time, there was a well-known teacher who taught in and around Benares. He had over 500 students. One of these was from the distant countryside. Knowing little about the ways of city folks,
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The Strong Minded Snake

Once upon a time there was a doctor who was an expert at treating snakebites. One day he was called for by the relatives of a man who had been bitten by a deadly poisonous snake.
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The Last Three Wishes of Alexander the Great

Just before he died, Alexander convened his generals and told them his last
three wishes:
First is that his coffin SHOULD BE carried on the shoulders and transported by
the best doctors of the time.
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Saturday, 7 December 2013

Two Ways of Beating a Drum

Once upon a time there was a drummer living in a small country village. He heard there was going to be a fair in the city of Benares. So he decided to go there and earn some money by playing his drums.
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Mr Monkey and Sir Crocodile

Once upon a time, Mr. Monkey was living by himself near a riverbank. He was very strong, and he was a great jumper.
In the middle of the river there was a beautiful island covered with mango, jackfruit and other fruit trees.
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Two Mothers

Once upon a time there was a very well known teacher in the city of Takkasila, in northern India. He taught religion, as well as all other subjects. His knowledge was enormous and his teaching ability made him world famous.
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A Prince of Monkeys

Once upon a time there was a cruel monkey king who ruled in the Himalayas. All the monkeys in his band were his own wives and children. He was afraid that one of his sons might grow up and take over as king.
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The Priest Who Gambled With a Life

Once upon a time, there was a king who loved to gamble with his royal priest. When he threw the dice, he always recited this lucky charm:
“If tempted any woman will, for sure, give up her faithfulness and act impure.”
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A Huge Lump of Gold

Once upon a time there was a rich village. The wealthiest of the villagers decided to hide a huge lump of gold to protect it from bandits and robbers. So he buried it in a nearby rice field.
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Giving Up Power

This story happened very long ago, at a time when people lived much longer lives, even 10,000 years! After King Fruitful had ruled for about 7,000 years, it just so happened that the royal gardener brought him
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A Gang of Drunkards

Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king, the Enlightenment Being was born in a wealthy family. He became the richest man in Benares.
There also happened to be a gang of drunkards who roamed the streets.
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Gaining Power

The baby grew into a little boy. His friends took to making fun of him for not being of high-class birth like they were. So he went and asked his mother who his father was. She told him to pay no attention to what
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The Whatnot Tree

Once upon a time there was a caravan leader. He went from country to country selling various goods. His caravans usually had at least 500 bullock carts.
On one of these trips his path led through a very thick forest.
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Rebirth of the Bodhisatta

Once upon a time in the city of Mathila, there was a king who had two sons. The older one was named Badfruit, and his younger brother was called Poorfruit.
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King Goodness the Great

Once upon a time, in Benares in northern India, the Enlightenment Being was born into the royal family. When he became king he was called Goodness the Great. He had earned this title by trying to do good all the time,
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The Case of the Hollow Canes

Buddha told this story while journeying through Kosala. When he came to the village of Nalakapana (Cane-drink Village), he stayed near the Nalakapana Lake. One day, after bathing in the pool,
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The Baby Quail

While he was on tour through Magadha, Buddha told this story about the extinguishing of a forest fire.
One day, Buddha went on his morning round for alms through a hamlet in Magadha.
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Prince Five-weapons

Buddha told this story while at Jetavana monastery, about a monk who had stopped making effort.
Asked if it was true that he was a backslider, the monk immediately admitted it was so.
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The Elephant Who Saved a Kingdom

One day, while Buddha was staying at Jetavana, a bhikkhu came to him and confessed that he was weak-hearted. Buddha encouraged him, saying, “Monk, in bygone days you won the entire kingdom of Baranasi and presented
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The Sixteen Dreams

One morning, when the ministers and brahmans went to the palace to pay their respects to King Pasenadi, the King of Kosala, and to inquire whether His Majesty had slept well, they found him lying in terror,
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The Virtuous Wife

During a stay in Veluvana, the Buddha heard that Devadatta intended to kill him. “Monks, this is not the first time that Devadatta has tried to kill me; he tried before and failed.” Then he told them this story of the past.
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The Jackal's Judgment

While staying in Jetavana the Buddha told this story about the bhikkhu Upananda the Sakyan. Upananda had forsaken the virtues of contentment and had become extremely greedy. At the beginning of the rains retreat
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