In a large pond lived three fish: Anagatavidhata, Pratyutpannamatih, and Yadbhavishya. One evening, they overheard fishermen planning to net the pond the following morning. Anagatavidhata, the foresighted one, suggested they leave immediately through a small canal. 'I am leaving now,' he said, and swam away to a safer lake. Pratyutpannamatih, the quick-witted one, decided to stay, confident he could handle the situation when it arose. Yadbhavishya, the fatalist, refused to move, believing that if he was destined to die, no escape would save him. The next morning, the fishermen arrived and cast their nets. Pratyutpannamatih was caught but immediately feigned death. Seeing him belly-up, the fishermen threw him back into the water, thinking he was rotten, and he escaped. Yadbhavishya, however, did nothing but swim aimlessly in circles. He was caught in the net and met his end on the fisherman's hook.
Foresight and quick thinking ensure survival, while relying solely on luck or fate leads to ruin.
Questions about this story
What is the moral of The Three Fish?
The moral is that proactive planning and quick thinking are essential for survival. Those who wait for fate to decide their future often face avoidable disasters.
Who are the characters in The Three Fish?
The story features three fish with distinct personalities: the Foresighted one who plans ahead, the Ready-witted one who acts fast in a crisis, and the Fatalist who leaves everything to luck.
How did the second fish escape the fishermen?
The second fish, Pratyutpannamatih, played dead when he was caught in the net. The fishermen, believing he was already dead and decaying, threw him back into the water, allowing him to swim away.
Why did the third fish die?
The third fish, Yadbhavishya, believed entirely in destiny and refused to take any action to save himself. His lack of initiative led to him being caught and killed by the fishermen.
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