The Monkey and the Crocodile Story With Moral for Kids

The Panchatantra stories, originating from India about 18 centuries ago, are a rich collection of animal fables that offer timeless moral values and wisdom. These stories are universally relatable and are appreciated by audiences of all ages. Among the numerous tales in this collection is “The Monkey and the Crocodile,” which explores themes of generosity, friendship, greed, and deception. This particular story is a perfect choice if you are searching for a meaningful and educational moral story to read to your child at bedtime, providing not only entertainment but also valuable life lessons. Read on to learn more about the Monkey and Crocodile short story.

Origin of the Story “The Monkey and the Crocodile” 

“The Monkey and the Crocodile” story is a part of the Panchatantra series. The story originates from when folk stories were told orally without written records. The stories of the Panchatantra illustrate the morals or wise conduct of life. Panchatantra stories have undergone various modifications over the centuries as they were retold in more than 200 different versions. However, they still retain their essence, although translated into more than 50 languages. 

Story of the Monkey and the Crocodile 

Here is the full Monkey and Crocodile story in English with pictures:

Long back, a monkey lived on a berry tree by the side of a river. The monkey was smart and a quick thinker on his feet. Not too far from where the monkey lived, a crocodile and his wife lived in the river. One day, while on its quest to explore the region, the crocodile swam up the river and came to rest under the tree where the monkey lived. Since the crocodile was exhausted from his swim, he was also hungry for food. The monkey saw that the crocodile was tired and hungry and offered him some berries. The crocodile happily accepted the berries and relished their sweetness.

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1. Crocodile and Monkey Become Friends

The crocodile, who was very happy with the monkey’s generosity, went back to the tree again the next day. The monkey happily offered him more berries. They talked throughout the day. The crocodile ate all the fruits that the monkey offered. Soon they became great friends. They developed a trust and spent the days happily talking, playing, and eating all the delicious fruits that the monkey could gather. One day the monkey offered the crocodile some extra berries so he could take them home to his wife.

2. The Greedy and Jealous Wife

The crocodile’s wife had heard about her husband’s friend before and longed to taste those delicious berries. When the crocodile brought them home, she gleefully ate the berries while listening to her husband talk about the monkey. The wife did not like that the monkey could get so many berries for himself, and her husband had grown fond of him. She became greedy for the delicious taste of the berries and thought of a wicked plan and said to her husband, “The berries are delicious, and I want more of these right now!” she continued, “Why haven’t you brought me these berries before?” and then, she poisoned her husband’s mind saying “If the berries are this delicious, how delicious would the heart of the monkey be, that he eats these every day?”

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The shocked crocodile listened to his wife talk in complete disbelief. She demanded the monkey’s heart. The crocodile couldn’t accept the thought of killing his best friend, who trusted him more than anything. The crocodile declined her wish and offered her more berries instead. The wife was adamant and promised to starve until he brought her the monkey’s heart. The crocodile was torn between his wife and his best friend. He wondered if it was better to lose his friend and please his wife or keep his friendship and lose his wife. He swam back to the monkey, deep in thought.

3. The Crocodile Deceives the Monkey

On his way to the tree, the crocodile came up with the idea of deceiving the monkey and taking him home to his wife. The monkey, as usual, was happy to see the crocodile and greeted him happily. The crocodile greeted him back and said, “My wife is very pleased with the berries you offered to her. She would like to invite you home for dinner.” “She wants to meet my best friend and thank him for the delicious berries.” The monkey gleefully accepted the invitation.

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The monkey cannot swim in the river to go for the invitation. So the crocodile agreed to carry the monkey on his back. Without a second thought, the monkey hopped on the crocodile’s back. The crocodile left for his den relieved that the monkey did not suspect anything. 

4. The Monkey Outsmarts the Crocodile 

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However, the crocodile could not hold back his joy that his wife would be very pleased to have the monkey’s heart. He blurted out the truth to the monkey. The monkey was shocked at the betrayal of the crocodile but kept calm. Then he told the crocodile, “Why didn’t you say earlier that your wife wanted to taste my heart? I would have brought it along with me!” He continued, “I always keep my heart safe in the treetop.” “If you take me back to the tree, I will fetch the heart in no time and come back with you.”

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The foolish crocodile believed in the monkey’s story and took him back to the tree. The monkey at once leaped onto the tree and climbed up high, away from the crocodile, and laughed hard at the crocodile’s foolishness. The crocodile realized his folly and returned to his wife empty-handed. 

What Is the Moral of the Story? 

The moral of the short story can be interpreted in different ways: 

• Staying calm under pressure can help you make smart decisions to save your life. 
• It is important to be careful while making new friends. Not everyone will be good to you. 

FAQs

1. What happens when the crocodile betrays the monkey?

In the story “The Monkey and the Crocodile,” the crocodile pretends to be the monkey’s friend but later tries to eat him. This part of the story shows how betraying a friend can destroy trust and end a friendship. It teaches kids that being dishonest can hurt others and have bad results.

2. How does the monkey use his intelligence to escape?

The monkey in the story escapes from a dangerous situation by thinking quickly. When he learns that the crocodile wants to eat him, he makes up a story about leaving his heart in the tree to trick the crocodile into taking him back. This shows how being clever and thinking fast can help solve tough problems.

3. Is this story only for kids in India, or can other kids enjoy it too?

While “The Monkey and the Crocodile” comes from India, its lessons about friendship and smart thinking are for everyone, no matter where they’re from. Different places around the world might tell the story a little differently, but its message is universal, making it a great story for teaching important values to kids everywhere.

4. How does the story teach us about good winning over bad?

This story mixes negative things, like the crocodile’s greed and trickery, with a positive ending where the monkey safely escapes using his brains. It helps children see that even though bad things happen, good thinking and smart actions can lead to happy endings. This gives kids hope that good can win over bad.

“The Monkey and the Crocodile” is one of the most important fables in the Panchatantra. It teaches us to be careful about who we make friends with and to remain calm under intense pressure. Quick thinking saved the monkey’s life. Therefore it is important to develop abilities to think quickly under stressful situations.  

Also Read:

The Story of Jack and the Beanstalk for Children
Boy Who Cried Wolf Story with Moral for Kids
The Story of the Gingerbread Man for Children
The Town Mouse & The Country Mouse Story for Kids