PanchatantraAnimal Stories with Life Lessons

The Loyal Mongoose

A mother’s impulsive mistake leads to the tragic death of the mongoose that saved her child's life.

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Illustration for The Loyal Mongoose - a animal stories with life lessons Panchatantra story with moral lessons

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Story Summary

Read The Loyal Mongoose, a tragic Panchatantra tale of a pet that saves a baby from a cobra, only to be killed due to a mother's impulsive misunderstanding.

Once, a farmer and his wife lived in a small village with their infant son and a pet mongoose. They loved the mongoose like their own child. One day, the wife had to go to the market and asked her husband to watch the baby. However, the farmer soon left for the fields, leaving the baby alone with the mongoose, trusting the animal's loyalty. While the baby slept, a venomous cobra slithered into the house. Sensing danger, the brave mongoose fought the snake and killed it, saving the child. When the mother returned and saw the mongoose’s mouth and paws covered in blood, she instantly assumed it had killed her baby. In a fit of blind rage, she threw a heavy water pot at the mongoose, killing it on the spot. Rushing inside, she found her baby sleeping peacefully next to the mangled body of a dead cobra. She realized her horrific mistake and wept bitterly, but it was too late to save her loyal friend.

The Moral

Do not act in haste. Always verify the facts before taking a step that leads to irreversible regret.

“Haste is the mother of regret, and blind anger is the enemy of truth.”

Fun Fact

This story has traveled globally; a famous Welsh version replaces the mongoose with a dog named Gelert, showing how these themes resonate across cultures.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the moral of The Loyal Mongoose?

The moral is to never act in haste or anger without knowing the truth. Impulsive actions often lead to deep, irreversible regret once the reality of the situation is revealed.

Why did the mother kill the mongoose?

The mother saw blood on the mongoose's mouth and immediately assumed it had attacked her baby. Blinded by grief and rage, she acted before checking on her child.

Who wrote the story of The Loyal Mongoose?

This story is part of the Panchatantra, an ancient Indian collection of interrelated animal fables in Sanskrit verse and prose, attributed to Pandit Vishnu Sharma.

How did the mongoose save the baby?

While the parents were away, a venomous cobra entered the house and approached the baby's cradle. The mongoose fought the snake and killed it to protect the infant.

Is The Loyal Mongoose based on a true story?

While it is a fable used to teach moral lessons, the story reflects universal themes of loyalty and the dangers of human impulse found in many cultures throughout history.

What happens at the end of The Loyal Mongoose?

The story ends tragically with the mother realizing she killed her loyal pet for no reason. She finds her baby safe and sees the dead snake, leading to lifelong remorse.