The Monkey and the Crocodile: Panchatantra Story in English

A monkey lived in a jamun tree on the bank of a river. The tree was full of sweet purple fruits. One day a crocodile swam up to the tree, looking tired and hungry. The kind monkey threw him some jamuns. The crocodile loved them, and the two became good friends.

Every day the crocodile visited the monkey, and every evening he took some jamuns home to his wife. One day his wife said, “If the fruits are so sweet, the monkey’s heart must be even sweeter. Bring me his heart. I want to eat it.”

The crocodile did not want to hurt his friend, but his wife kept insisting. So he said to the monkey, “My wife wants to thank you. Come to our home for dinner. Sit on my back, and I will carry you across the river.”

The monkey happily climbed onto his back. In the middle of the river the crocodile said, “I am sorry, my friend. My wife wants to eat your heart.” The monkey was shocked, but he thought quickly. “Oh, why didn’t you tell me before?” he said. “I keep my heart in the jamun tree. Take me back, and I will bring it.”

The foolish crocodile swam back to the tree. At once the monkey jumped onto a high branch and laughed. “Nobody can keep their heart in a tree! Go away and never come back. You are no friend of mine.”