Greedy is Man's worst enemy
Long time ago somewhere along the river coast lived a fisherman. He was leading a happy and content life catching fish and selling them in a local market to earn his livelihood. He was alone in this world. he had lost his parent at an early age in a flood that swept his village. He was few of the fortunate to survive. One day, when he was in his boat catching fishes, he caught amazingly large amount of fishes in his net. This is going to be lucky day, he thought while heading towards the local market along with his booty. Suddenly he heard a strange sound coming from nearby. At first he ignored it, but he heard it again, this time somewhat sharply "Help, help, save my life," somebody was shouting from nearby. The fisherman was puzzled and scared "This is not possible," he thought because he was alone and there was no sign of anyone else nearby. The only possibilities was that his fish could have been shouting. Thinking that, this could be an illusion in his mind, again he started walking towards the market.
As he was nearby to the market, he again heard the sound. "If you save my life, I will grant you three wishes." said the sound. This time fisherman absolutely sure that he heard it coming from the fish. Immediately, he emptied his load and started looking into his booty. Suddenly one fish stood up and stared talking. "Put me back into water, save my life and you will have three wishes granted." Said the fish. The fisherman scared at first and wanted to run away, but then as he took a second glance at the small attractive fish with golden fins, he gently lifted it and put in his carry-bottle which he always use to carry along with his food.
After swimming for a while in the bottle, the fish recovered and thanked the fisherman. The fish spoke again. Thank you sir for saving my life. Now it is my turn to keep my promise. You see I am a gifted fish and do have some magical powers, so feel free and ask what you want without any fear. But remember you have only three wishes to ask for.""
The fisherman could not believe his luck. He could not think what to ask for and was lost in thinking. Seeing this, the fish asked. "Don't you want be rich, eat good food, wear good clothes and live like a king in the big house ? Hearing this, the fisherman was dumbstruck all he could say was Yes, Yes and nod in excitement.
The fish smiled slyly and said "so be it". Suddenly a flash appeared and the fisherman was blinded for a second. The next thing he saw that he was completely in a different place. He was dressed up like a king and was sitting on a big dinning table with lots of good food and as many servants to sever him. Suddenly he looked around for the fish and found him near his seat comfortably lodged in a fish tank. "Don't worry" said the fish. "I won't leave you till i grant your three wishes". This made the fisherman happy.
Now his lifestyle changed completely.He gets up late in the morning lazily, eat good food, drink wine, and the gamble with his friends till late night and then sleep on his soft silky bed.
This went on for sometime and then the fisherman started feeling lonely. He again went to the fish and started talking to him. "He asked", "Is it a good time to ask for my second wish now ?" The fish smiled and said "Of course my friend I was waiting for you to come ans ask me your second wish". The fishermen now became very excited and smiled. He then asked for his second wish. "You see I have all the pleasures ans wealth that money can buy but no one to share with. Because of that I am feeling lonely. I wish for a very beautiful wife, the one who would care for me and love me like no one else ever had." The fish again smiled crooked smiled and said, "So be it". The fisherman could not believe his eyes when a beautiful damsel appeared before him and bowed down to touch his feet. This is too good to be true he thought and pinched himself to find out if he was dreaming but he wasn't. This beautiful lady was indeed his wife. This fisherman no longer lonely. His life became very organized that he had a good wife to take care of all his needs and to make him happy. The life of fisherman went on. He was pleased. He did not have any worries. So, there was nothing more that he could ask for. One morning he woke and realized that he did not have much energy left in him. It struck him that he was getting very old. Age was fast catching up with him. "This could not happen to me." he said and was left puzzled. He became very serious and started thinking about the situation. Suddenly, his eyes lit up and he started running toward the fish. The fish was expecting his arrival and waited for him to speak. "My friend," said the fisherman. You have given me everything that I am not fit as I used to be earlier to enjoy all the privileges." The fish was calm and asked him, "What can I do for you. Ask me and your wish will be granted."
The fisherman knew exactly what he had in his mind and loudly announced."My third wish is that you should make me immortal. Death should not embrace me and I should live forever." Hearing this, fish started screaming with joy and shouted, "I am free, I am free," The fisherman somewhat puzzled and asked, 'What happened to my wish.' The fish exclaimed delightfully, "So is it" To his horror, the fisherman starting shrinking ans started loosing his legs and hands. "What have you done to me ?" Asked the fisherman to the fish who was slowly turning into a human form now. The fish smiled and said "Thank you for letting me free. I was also leading a simple life like you before I was trapped into the unholy world of wealth and misery. I was also granted three boons by one sage and the last boon i asked for was immortality. The sage had to grant my wish that he was compelled to do so, but at the same time he was aware of the great truth that one who is born has to die.So, he converted me into a fish. After realizing my fault, I pray to the sage to relieve me if this curse. Then he told me to wait for the next greedy man. As my luck I found you after 100 years. Now it is your turn to find another greedy man to free yourself. And now i can die in peace." After saying this, the fish turned into a very old and frail human being.
By now fisherman had already become a fish. The human form of the fish lifted the trembling fisherman and carried him to the near by river. Before dipping him into the river, he said, "I am sorry my friend. Hand't you asked for anything to return for saving my life, This would not have happen to you.
As he was nearby to the market, he again heard the sound. "If you save my life, I will grant you three wishes." said the sound. This time fisherman absolutely sure that he heard it coming from the fish. Immediately, he emptied his load and started looking into his booty. Suddenly one fish stood up and stared talking. "Put me back into water, save my life and you will have three wishes granted." Said the fish. The fisherman scared at first and wanted to run away, but then as he took a second glance at the small attractive fish with golden fins, he gently lifted it and put in his carry-bottle which he always use to carry along with his food.
After swimming for a while in the bottle, the fish recovered and thanked the fisherman. The fish spoke again. Thank you sir for saving my life. Now it is my turn to keep my promise. You see I am a gifted fish and do have some magical powers, so feel free and ask what you want without any fear. But remember you have only three wishes to ask for.""
The fisherman could not believe his luck. He could not think what to ask for and was lost in thinking. Seeing this, the fish asked. "Don't you want be rich, eat good food, wear good clothes and live like a king in the big house ? Hearing this, the fisherman was dumbstruck all he could say was Yes, Yes and nod in excitement.
The fish smiled slyly and said "so be it". Suddenly a flash appeared and the fisherman was blinded for a second. The next thing he saw that he was completely in a different place. He was dressed up like a king and was sitting on a big dinning table with lots of good food and as many servants to sever him. Suddenly he looked around for the fish and found him near his seat comfortably lodged in a fish tank. "Don't worry" said the fish. "I won't leave you till i grant your three wishes". This made the fisherman happy.
Now his lifestyle changed completely.He gets up late in the morning lazily, eat good food, drink wine, and the gamble with his friends till late night and then sleep on his soft silky bed.
This went on for sometime and then the fisherman started feeling lonely. He again went to the fish and started talking to him. "He asked", "Is it a good time to ask for my second wish now ?" The fish smiled and said "Of course my friend I was waiting for you to come ans ask me your second wish". The fishermen now became very excited and smiled. He then asked for his second wish. "You see I have all the pleasures ans wealth that money can buy but no one to share with. Because of that I am feeling lonely. I wish for a very beautiful wife, the one who would care for me and love me like no one else ever had." The fish again smiled crooked smiled and said, "So be it". The fisherman could not believe his eyes when a beautiful damsel appeared before him and bowed down to touch his feet. This is too good to be true he thought and pinched himself to find out if he was dreaming but he wasn't. This beautiful lady was indeed his wife. This fisherman no longer lonely. His life became very organized that he had a good wife to take care of all his needs and to make him happy. The life of fisherman went on. He was pleased. He did not have any worries. So, there was nothing more that he could ask for. One morning he woke and realized that he did not have much energy left in him. It struck him that he was getting very old. Age was fast catching up with him. "This could not happen to me." he said and was left puzzled. He became very serious and started thinking about the situation. Suddenly, his eyes lit up and he started running toward the fish. The fish was expecting his arrival and waited for him to speak. "My friend," said the fisherman. You have given me everything that I am not fit as I used to be earlier to enjoy all the privileges." The fish was calm and asked him, "What can I do for you. Ask me and your wish will be granted."
The fisherman knew exactly what he had in his mind and loudly announced."My third wish is that you should make me immortal. Death should not embrace me and I should live forever." Hearing this, fish started screaming with joy and shouted, "I am free, I am free," The fisherman somewhat puzzled and asked, 'What happened to my wish.' The fish exclaimed delightfully, "So is it" To his horror, the fisherman starting shrinking ans started loosing his legs and hands. "What have you done to me ?" Asked the fisherman to the fish who was slowly turning into a human form now. The fish smiled and said "Thank you for letting me free. I was also leading a simple life like you before I was trapped into the unholy world of wealth and misery. I was also granted three boons by one sage and the last boon i asked for was immortality. The sage had to grant my wish that he was compelled to do so, but at the same time he was aware of the great truth that one who is born has to die.So, he converted me into a fish. After realizing my fault, I pray to the sage to relieve me if this curse. Then he told me to wait for the next greedy man. As my luck I found you after 100 years. Now it is your turn to find another greedy man to free yourself. And now i can die in peace." After saying this, the fish turned into a very old and frail human being.
By now fisherman had already become a fish. The human form of the fish lifted the trembling fisherman and carried him to the near by river. Before dipping him into the river, he said, "I am sorry my friend. Hand't you asked for anything to return for saving my life, This would not have happen to you.
No comments