Panchatantra

Jackal and Drum

There was a jackal who was very hungry. While searching for food, the jackal reached a place which had once been a battlefield. Rusted weapons, mangled chariots, drums and bones of animals and humans were lying strewn all around. Jackal was searching for something to eat in all this debris. Suddenly, the jackal heard a strange sound.

Noisy Drum

As a first reaction, he got frightened and hid behind a bush. After gaining his composure, he mustered some courage to check the source of the sound. The jackal tiptoed in the direction from where the sound was coming.

jackal with drum

Brave Jackal

When the jackal reached near the source of the sound, he was much relieved to see that the sound was coming from a drum. Some vines were swaying with the wind and were striking the drum to create sound. Jackal enjoyed playing with the drum for a while. Later, he tore the drum in the hope of finding some food inside but it was of no avail.

The moral of the story is, "Rather than just reacting to the situation, one should try to find the real cause of fear or happiness."