Sankar was a fisherman. He and his wife Sonu lived in a small hut near the seashore. They lived a simple, happy and contented life. Sankar would go to the sea daily and cast his net. He would take his catch to the fish market and sell his fish. On his way back home he would buy rice, dal and some vegetables. His wife would prepare sambar and rice. Both of them would sit outside their hut and eat the food, enjoying the sea breeze.
One day Sankar’s net was quite heavy. He drew it ashore with great difficulty. He was taken by a big surprise when he saw a four-foot goldfish flapping its tail and struggling for breath. Sankar was happy. He could get a fortune in the market.
To his utter amazement the goldfish began to talk. “Kind fisherman, I’m not a fish. I am a prince. But a witch turned me into a fish. Please let me go. Call me whenever you need anything.
I’ll come and help you. Please...!” Sankar was moved with pity. His kind heart would not permit him to sell the fish. So he took the fish gently out of the net and put it in the water. The fish swam in quickly, raised its head and asked, “Dear fisherman, do you want anything?” The fisherman thought for a while and politely replied, “God has blessed us with a house, food and clothes, Goldfish. I don’t think we need anything. Thank you.” At that the fish disappeared into the swirling waters.
Sankar came home and narrated the entire story in detail, bubbling with excitement. Sonu’s face fell. She started shouting at Sankar, “You fool! Look at our hut. It is leaking for every rain. You could have taken advantage of the offer and asked for a decent house. Go this very minute and ask for a house.” Sankar was taken aback. He was ashamed to ask something from the fish. Yet, seeing his wife’s face, he started walking towards the sea.
He called, “Goldfish! Goldfish!” The next minute he could see the goldfish swimming near the shore. “What, kindly fisherman? What do you want?” it asked. Hesistantly the fisherman said, “I’m sorry Goldfish, my wife wants a good house.” “Fine” said the fish and disappeared into the deep waters. The fisherman returned home and saw his wife sitting on the verandah of a cute house, complete with electricity and gas stove. His wife was very happy... only for a week.
The next week she said, “I think a bungalow would be better. We really deserve it because you saved a prince’s life. Go,” she commanded. The timid fisherman went to the sea and expressed his wife’s wish to the fish. “No problem,” said the fish. Sure enough the fisherman found a smiling wife sitting in the lawn of a bungalow. A car was in the portico and servants were serving tea.
The next week Sonu’s face was depressed. “I wish I’m the queen,” she said, “Go to the fish. I’m sure it will grant our wish.” He said, “Say, my wish, not our wish! It is only your wish, not mine. You are going too far.” But on seeing the angry face of his wife, he walked away to the sea, head bent. The wish was granted. Both had crowns on their head and thrones to sit on. Exotic food was served every day.
But the fisherman’s heart was trembling. “What will my wife ask next? I’m not at all happy” were his thoughts. The next week his wife came up with a new proposal. “I don’t have power,” she complained. “Tell the fish that the sun must rise at my command and set at my command. Go.” Sankar had no voice. He apologetically told the fish his wife’s demand. “Don’t worry fisherman. You will be a happy man. Go,” said the fish and disappeared with a powerful swish of its tail. Sankar felt reassured at the fish’s words.
And what do you think he saw? His wife was sitting in front of their old hut, cleaning rice. “Hurray!” cried Sankar, “I’m a happy man!” Sonu’s teardrops fell on the rice.
Beware of greed. It will destroy you. Be simple and humble. That’s the way to a happy life.
Dr. Lilian Stanley
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91 9843511943
lilianstanley@gmail.com
Blessing Youth Mission
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91-416-2242943, +91-416-2248943
hq@bymonline.org
www.bymonline.org
Click here for more options
To buy books written by Dr. Lilian Stanley, kindly reach to us in the follwing address
Blessing Literature Centre
21/11 West Coovam River Road,
Chintadripet,
Chennai 600 002, India.
+91-44-28450411, 8806270699
blc@bymonline.org
Sankar was a fisherman. He and his wife Sonu lived in a small hut near the seashore. They lived a simple, happy and contented life. Sankar would go to the sea daily and cast his net. He would take his catch to the fish market and sell his fish. On his way back home he would buy rice, dal and some vegetables. His wife would prepare sambar and rice. Both of them would sit outside their hut and eat the food, enjoying the sea breeze.
One day Sankar’s net was quite heavy. He drew it ashore with great difficulty. He was taken by a big surprise when he saw a four-foot goldfish flapping its tail and struggling for breath. Sankar was happy. He could get a fortune in the market.
To his utter amazement the goldfish began to talk. “Kind fisherman, I’m not a fish. I am a prince. But a witch turned me into a fish. Please let me go. Call me whenever you need anything.
I’ll come and help you. Please...!” Sankar was moved with pity. His kind heart would not permit him to sell the fish. So he took the fish gently out of the net and put it in the water. The fish swam in quickly, raised its head and asked, “Dear fisherman, do you want anything?” The fisherman thought for a while and politely replied, “God has blessed us with a house, food and clothes, Goldfish. I don’t think we need anything. Thank you.” At that the fish disappeared into the swirling waters.
Sankar came home and narrated the entire story in detail, bubbling with excitement. Sonu’s face fell. She started shouting at Sankar, “You fool! Look at our hut. It is leaking for every rain. You could have taken advantage of the offer and asked for a decent house. Go this very minute and ask for a house.” Sankar was taken aback. He was ashamed to ask something from the fish. Yet, seeing his wife’s face, he started walking towards the sea.
He called, “Goldfish! Goldfish!” The next minute he could see the goldfish swimming near the shore. “What, kindly fisherman? What do you want?” it asked. Hesistantly the fisherman said, “I’m sorry Goldfish, my wife wants a good house.” “Fine” said the fish and disappeared into the deep waters. The fisherman returned home and saw his wife sitting on the verandah of a cute house, complete with electricity and gas stove. His wife was very happy... only for a week.
The next week she said, “I think a bungalow would be better. We really deserve it because you saved a prince’s life. Go,” she commanded. The timid fisherman went to the sea and expressed his wife’s wish to the fish. “No problem,” said the fish. Sure enough the fisherman found a smiling wife sitting in the lawn of a bungalow. A car was in the portico and servants were serving tea.
The next week Sonu’s face was depressed. “I wish I’m the queen,” she said, “Go to the fish. I’m sure it will grant our wish.” He said, “Say, my wish, not our wish! It is only your wish, not mine. You are going too far.” But on seeing the angry face of his wife, he walked away to the sea, head bent. The wish was granted. Both had crowns on their head and thrones to sit on. Exotic food was served every day.
But the fisherman’s heart was trembling. “What will my wife ask next? I’m not at all happy” were his thoughts. The next week his wife came up with a new proposal. “I don’t have power,” she complained. “Tell the fish that the sun must rise at my command and set at my command. Go.” Sankar had no voice. He apologetically told the fish his wife’s demand. “Don’t worry fisherman. You will be a happy man. Go,” said the fish and disappeared with a powerful swish of its tail. Sankar felt reassured at the fish’s words.
And what do you think he saw? His wife was sitting in front of their old hut, cleaning rice. “Hurray!” cried Sankar, “I’m a happy man!” Sonu’s teardrops fell on the rice.
Beware of greed. It will destroy you. Be simple and humble. That’s the way to a happy life.
Dr. Lilian Stanley
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91 9843511943
lilianstanley@gmail.com
Blessing Youth Mission
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91-416-2242943, +91-416-2248943
hq@bymonline.org
www.bymonline.org
Click here for more options
To buy books written by Dr. Lilian Stanley, kindly reach to us in the follwing address
Blessing Literature Centre
21/11 West Coovam River Road,
Chintadripet,
Chennai 600 002, India.
+91-44-28450411, Mob:8806270699
blc@bymonline.org
