The Snake Who Paid Cash
Panchatantra
A hardworking farmer often rested beneath a tree beside an anthill. One summer he noticed a hooded snake there and decided to treat the creature as the guardian of his field.
Each evening he left a small bowl of milk at a safe distance. Each morning a single golden coin lay beside the empty bowl. The farmer accepted one coin with gratitude and never disturbed the anthill.
When he travelled to town, he asked his son to carry the bowl. The boy found the coin and thought, “If one appears each day, a whole treasure must be hidden below.”
The next morning the boy brought a digging stick. The snake saw his raised arm and slipped into the grass. The boy dug up the anthill but found only earth, roots, and the homes of frightened insects.
The farmer returned and carefully repaired the damage. He called gently, but the snake stayed far away. “Trust once broken cannot be demanded back,” the farmer told his son.
No more coins appeared. The boy helped rebuild the field boundary and learned to be satisfied with an honest gift. The family still prospered, but through steady work instead of a treasure seized by greed.
“Greed can destroy trust that patience has carefully built.”