Of fishes and tricks…

As the frog said, “the one with thousand tricks sat on the head of the fisherman, the one with hundred tricks is hanging by the fisherman’s arm and I with only one trick am happily swimming in the water.”

Two fish named Sahasrabuddhi and Satabuddhi made a lake their home. They had a frog as a friend whose name was Ekabuddhi. Every day, they used to meet on the bank of the lake and discuss everything under the sun and disperse at sunset. One day, they saw some fishermen equipped with nets and each carrying a basket full of fish came that way and saw the lake and noticed that it was full of good fish. They told themselves that they should come early the next morning and bait the fish.

The fish heard their conversation and were very worried. Then the frog asked Satabuddhi for advice.

“O Satabuddhi, you have heard what the fishermen were planning. Now tell us what we should do. Should we remain in the lake or go somewhere else.”

Sahasrabuddhi answered the question, “Don’t worry. You should not be scared by just words.

The learned have said “The world is still safe because the dreams of snakes and wicked men never come true.”

The fishermen may not even come tomorrow. If they come, I am here to save you.”

Satabuddhi said, “You are a genius. What you say is correct. There is nothing that accomplished men cannot conquer. Remember how Chanakya had killed all the armed Nandas.

“Where one cannot pierce sun and wind, the wits of a resourceful man enter.
One should not leave motherland, for, nothing is happier than one’s own land.”

Then, Ekabuddhi, the frog, said, “Friends, flight is the only thing I know. So, I and my wife will leave this place tonight itself.”

Accordingly, the frog left the lake immediately. Next day, the fishermen came and netted lot of fish, frogs, crabs, turtles etc. and also Satabuddhi and Sahasrabuddhi and killed all of them.

One of them carried Sahasrabuddhi on his head because he was heavier and slung Satabuddhi to his arm because he was long.

Ekabuddhi showed this scene to his wife and said, “Didn’t I tell you what the fishermen will do? Now, see the plight of Satabuddhi and Sahasrabuddhi. The one with thousand tricks (Sahasrabuddhi) sat on the head of the fisherman, the one with hundred tricks (Satabuddhi) is hanging by the fisherman’s arm and I with only one trick am happily swimming in the water.”

The wise indeed say:
Wisdom is superior to knowledge
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Since we are on the topic of fish, here is one more story – of three fish – Anagatvidhata (one who’s destiny is undecided), Pratyutpannamati (one who works using his intellect according to the situation) and third is Yadbhavishya (one who leaves everything on the destiny and does not work). 


Three fish lived in a pond. Their names were AnagatavidhataPratyutpannamati and Yadbhavishya. Some fishermen passing by the pond wondered, “Hey, we have never seen this pond. It seems to be full of fish. It is now evening. Let us come at dawn tomorrow and bag as many fish as we can.”

Hearing the fisherman, Anagatavidhata (the one who foresees a danger in time) called a meeting of all the fish and told them, “Haven’t you heard what the fishermen were saying? We must move out of this pond tonight itself.

As the wise men have said weak men should flee when a strong man invades or seek refuge in a fort. There is no alternative.”

“The fisherman will come tomorrow. I think we should not be here for even a moment more,” said Anagatavidhata.

“That’s true. I endorse your suggestion,” said Pratyutpannamati. “Let’s go elsewhere.

Those who are afraid of foreign lands and those who are bound to their soil will die in their own country. He who can prosper anywhere does not die in his own land clinging to sentiment.”

Loudly laughing, Yadbhavishya said, “Your plans are not good. Why should we leave this pond, ancient home of our forefathers, because the fishermen have evil intentions. If it is destined, we cannot escape death even if we go elsewhere. Everything is in the hands of God. You cannot dispose what he proposes. Without his blessings people will die even if they have protection. With his blessings nobody can kill them even if they do not have protection.

Unable to convince him, the other two fish left the pond. Coming the next day, the fishermen took a big catch of fish in the pond. Yadbhavishya was one among them.

The wise indeed say:
Those who foresee the problem and those who deal with the problem when it arises are always victors and those who trust their luck are the losers
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Simple stories, but profound meanings. As a kid, we enjoyed stories – they opened the floodgates of our imagination, and we didn’t just hear stories – we saw them with open eyes – the characters, the setting – why, we even became a part of these stories (usually the hero)…

As we grew up, seriousness took over. We lost our child-like innocence, that power of belief and faith in Santa Claus and Spiderman. To replace this innocence, came education and intellect. We grew, but lost the power of seeing things with a sense of wonder. Folk tales take us back to the times when we heard stories just for what they were – entertaining and engaging.


Everything doesn’t come with a to-do list, or a learning, or an actionable item at the end of it – sometimes, just be.

See a flower, enjoy its beauty, feel it, smell it..and then move on. The moment you pluck it…it remains a flower no more. It loses its fragrance, and withers and dies. Yoga is the sense of embracing life as it is – without the desire to manipulate it to your advantage. Yoga helps you become the change, rather than trying to change what is around you. That’s when the beauty of the flower is preserved, and enjoyed by everyone, not just you. Rediscover the child in you – and you will feel much more in tune with the world, more happy and always at peace:)