Once upon a time in ancient India, there lived a wise old turtle in a peaceful and quiet pond. He was known for his friendliness and enjoyed spending time with all kinds of creatures such as fish, birds, and even animals that wandered by. Among them, two geese became his closest companions. They often visited the pond and would spend hours talking about life, nature, and the world beyond their little home.
As time passed, the seasons changed. One particularly harsh summer, the rains never came. Slowly, the water in the pond began to disappear. The geese grew increasingly worried. One of them said with concern, “Friend Turtle, if we don’t leave soon, you won’t survive. Let us take you to a larger lake where there’s still water.” The turtle was deeply moved by their kindness, but he was also confused. “How can I go with you? I don’t have wings like you do.”
The geese thought for a moment and then came up with a plan. “We’ll each hold one end of a stick in our beaks,” they explained. “You’ll bite the middle of the stick and we’ll fly, carrying you between us.” But there was one very important rule. They warned, “You must not open your mouth while we’re flying. If you do, you’ll fall.” The turtle agreed. He understood the risk and promised to stay silent.
The day of the journey arrived. The turtle bit down firmly on the stick, and the geese lifted him into the sky. The view was magnificent. The wind rushed by, and below them, people noticed the strange sight of two birds carrying a turtle through the air. Crowds pointed and laughed, shouting in amazement. The turtle, hearing their voices, felt a surge of pride. He wanted to shout down a witty remark, something clever that would impress them.
But the moment he opened his mouth, he lost his grip. The stick slipped from his jaws and he fell from the sky, crashing to the ground. The fall was fatal. The geese, heartbroken, could only continue their journey in silence, mourning the loss of their friend.
Sometimes, silence is the wisest choice. The turtle’s desire to speak at the wrong moment cost him everything. This timeless Indian folktale teaches us a powerful lesson: words hold great power, but knowing when not to use them is a sign of true wisdom.