Think Before You Act: A Lesson from Udhata

Think Before You Act: A Lesson from Udhata

Think Before You Act: A Lesson from Udhata

Once upon a time, in a small village by the river, there lived a donkey named Udhata. Udhata belonged to a local fisherman. Every day, he worked hard, pulling the fisherman's cart and carrying heavy loads. But poor Udhata was always hungry. There was never enough food for him, and he grew thin and weak.

One day, Udhata said to himself,
"I cannot be hungry anymore. I must find some food for myself."

Udhata had a clever friend, a jackal, who often helped him. The jackal’s name was Jinku. Udhata shared his plan with Jinku.

"Jinku," Udhata said, "I want to find food tonight. Will you come with me?"

Jinku thought for a moment and replied, "I will go with you, Udhata. But we must be careful. Humans are nearby, and they might not like us eating their food."

That night, under the bright moon, Udhata and Jinku walked quietly through the village. They passed houses, gardens, and fields. Soon, they came to a big field full of cucumbers. The cucumbers were green, fresh, and looked very tasty.

Udhata’s eyes lit up. "Look, Jinku! So many cucumbers! We can eat as much as we want!"

Jinku smiled. "Yes, but we must be careful. Let’s eat quietly and not make any noise."

But Udhata was too hungry to worry. He started eating the cucumbers quickly. Jinku also ate, but he stayed alert and listened for any signs of humans.

"These cucumbers are so good!" Udhata said between bites. "I feel stronger already!"

Night after night, Udhata and Jinku returned to the cucumber field. Each time, Udhata ate a lot and felt healthier and stronger. His fur grew shinier, and he could walk faster and carry heavier loads.

One night, after eating a big, delicious supper of cucumbers, Udhata felt very happy. He wanted to sing.

"Jinku, listen to me! I want to sing because I am so happy!" Udhata said, swaying his head.

Jinku frowned. "Udhata, please do not sing. Humans might hear you. It is not safe."

But Udhata was stubborn. "I don’t care, Jinku. I want to sing! I am happy, and I have the right to show it!"

Jinku shook his head. "Your voice is not very nice, Udhata. And it is dangerous. Please stop!"

But Udhata ignored his friend. He started braying loudly, singing his song of happiness.

Jinku grew worried. "Oh no… I will wait outside the field. I do not want to get into trouble."

Udhata continued to bray loudly. He felt proud of himself, thinking, "I am strong now! Nothing can stop me!"

Suddenly, Udhata heard shouts and angry voices. The farmer who owned the cucumber field had woken up. Guards ran toward the field. Before Udhata could run away, one guard grabbed him and hit him very hard.

"Ouch! My back! My legs!" Udhata cried. He struggled, but he was hurt and could barely move.

Jinku ran into the field as quickly as he could. He found Udhata lying on the ground.

"Udhata! Are you okay?" Jinku asked, worried.

"I… I am hurt… I should have listened to you," Udhata said softly. His eyes filled with tears.

Jinku sighed and shook his head. "I told you so. That is why I said not to sing. You must always think before you act, Udhata."

Udhata nodded. "I understand now. I was too proud and too happy to think. I did not listen to your advice, and now I am hurt."

Jinku helped Udhata slowly get out of the field. They went back to the village, where Udhata rested. He realized that even though he wanted to show his happiness, it was more important to be careful and listen to friends.

From that day on, Udhata learned an important lesson: think before you act. He understood that if he had listened to Jinku, he would not have been beaten and hurt. He also learned that friends often give advice to help us, not to stop us from having fun.

Udhata said to Jinku one evening, "Thank you for staying with me, Jinku. I will always listen to you from now on."

Jinku smiled. "Good, Udhata. Remember, being strong is good, but being smart is even better."

Udhata and Jinku continued to explore together, but now they were careful and smart. They still enjoyed their adventures and tasty cucumbers, but they never acted without thinking first.

The story of Udhata the donkey teaches us a very simple but important lesson Always think before you act, Listen to your friends and elders, Being happy is good, but being careful is better.

Even little children can learn from Udhata. When you feel excited, remember to stop for a moment, think, and then act. This way, you will stay safe and happy, just like Udhata and Jinku.

And from that day forward, every time Udhata saw a cucumber, he smiled and thought, "I will enjoy it, but I will be careful too!"

And so, Udhata and Jinku lived happily, with many adventures and many lessons learned.

THE END

Questions and Answers for Kids

Easy Questions

  1. Q: Who is the main character of the story?
    A: Udhata, the donkey.

  2. Q: Who is Udhata’s clever friend?
    A: Jinku, the jackal.

  3. Q: What kind of food did Udhata and Jinku find in the field?
    A: Cucumbers.

  4. Q: Why was Udhata unhappy at the beginning of the story?
    A: He was hungry and weak because he did not have enough food.

  5. Q: Where did Udhata go at night with his friend?
    A: He went to the cucumber field to eat.

Medium Questions

  1. Q: What did Udhata do after he ate the cucumbers one night?
    A: He wanted to sing because he was very happy.

  2. Q: Why did Jinku warn Udhata not to sing?
    A: Because humans might hear him, and it could be dangerous.

  3. Q: What happened when Udhata sang loudly in the field?
    A: The guard heard him and beat him.

  4. Q: How did Udhata feel after he was hurt?
    A: He felt sad, regretful, and realized he should have listened to Jinku.

  5. Q: What lesson did Udhata learn?
    A: He learned to think before he acts and to listen to advice from friends.

Thought-Provoking Questions

  1. Q: Why do you think Udhata did not listen to Jinku at first?
    A: He was too proud and happy, and he wanted to show his joy.

  2. Q: Can you think of a time when you wanted to do something but someone warned you? What happened?
    A: (Open-ended; encourages children to share their experiences and relate to the story.)

  3. Q: How can thinking before acting help us in real life?
    A: It can help us avoid problems, stay safe, and make better choices.

  4. Q: Why is it important to listen to friends and family?
    A: They give advice to help us, not to stop us from having fun.

  5. Q: What would have happened if Udhata had listened to Jinku and not sung?
    A: He would have eaten the cucumbers safely and avoided getting hurt.

  6. Q: What does this story teach us about friendship?
    A: True friends care about us and try to keep us safe.

Fun Activity Questions

  1. Q: Can you make up a song that Udhata might have sung if it was safe?
    A: (Encourages creativity.)

  2. Q: Draw a picture of Udhata and Jinku in the cucumber field.
    A: (Visual activity to reinforce memory and storytelling.)

  3. Q: Can you act out the part where Udhata sings and Jinku warns him?
    A: (Role-playing activity for engagement.)

  4. Q: If you were Udhata, what would you do differently next time?
    A: I would listen to my friend and be careful before showing my happiness.

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