The woodcutter and the river goddess
words:231
Long long ago, there was a woodcutter in a certain place. He used to earn his bread by cutting wood in the forest. One day he was cutting wood by the side of (beside) a river. Suddenly his axe (ax) slipped from his hand and fell into the river. Losing his axe the woodcutter started crying bitterly. Hearing his cry the water goddess felt pity for him (took pity on him). She appeared before him. She asked the woodcutter why he was crying. The woodcutter told her everything. Then the water goddess divided into the water and came out with a gold axe. She asked, “Is this yours?” The woodcutter replied, “No, this is not mine.” The water goddess again dived into the water and came out (up) with a silver axe. She asked, “Is this yours?” The wood-cutter again replied, “No, this is not mine.” Thereafter the water goddess brought an iron axe and asked, “Is this yours?” Seeing his own axe, the wood-cutter jumped up and cried out in joy, it is mine. Being pleased with (at) the poor man’s honesty the water goddess gave the woodcutter all the axes and disappeared. [The water goddess was pleased at the honesty of the wood-cutter and rewarded him all the three axes.] The wood-cutter returned home happily with the axes.
Moral: Honesty is always rewarded.
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