Once upon a time, two brothers lived in a village. When their parents died, the greedy elder brother claimed the entire inheritance, leaving the younger brother with only a small shack and a single starfruit tree. The younger brother worked hard and cared for the tree with love. One day, a giant phoenix-like bird arrived and began eating the ripe fruit. When the younger brother lamented that the fruit was his only livelihood, the bird spoke: 'A piece of starfruit for a piece of gold. Bring a three-span bag to collect it.' The bird flew the brother on its back to a remote island filled with gold. The younger brother took only enough to fill his small bag and returned home a wealthy man. Driven by envy, the elder brother traded his entire fortune for the starfruit tree. When the bird arrived, the elder brother demanded gold and brought a massive nine-span bag. On the return flight, the bag was so heavy the bird struggled against a storm. The bird tilted its wings, and the greedy brother, refusing to let go of his gold, plunged into the deep ocean and was never seen again.
Greed leads to self-destruction, while kindness and contentment bring lasting prosperity and peace.
Questions about this story
What is the moral of The Starfruit Tree?
The story teaches that greed leads to ruin while kindness is rewarded. It emphasizes the importance of being content with what one has rather than seeking excess at any cost.
What kind of bird appears in the story?
The bird is often depicted as a Phượng Hoàng, a mythical phoenix-like creature in Vietnamese culture. It acts as a divine judge of character, rewarding the virtuous and punishing the wicked.
Why did the elder brother fall into the sea?
He fell because his greed made him bring a bag three times larger than requested. The weight of the gold was too much for the bird to carry during the flight, causing him to slip when the bird tilted.
What does 'three-span bag' mean?
A 'span' (gang) is an old Vietnamese unit of measurement based on the distance between the thumb and the middle finger. A three-span bag was meant to be small and manageable.
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Good night.
