The Loyal Mongoose (Book 5, Aparikshitakarakam, Panchatantra)

Long ago there was a farmer who lived with his wife and infant son in a village. The couple loved their son a lot. One day, while returning from the fields, the farmer found a little injured mongoose lying near the road. The farmer picked it up and brought it home. He told his wife that the little mongoose would be a pet for their son. His wife was not happy with the idea, however, accepted reluctantly. The farmer tended to the wounds of the mongoose and nourished it with food. As a result, the mongoose recovered quickly. The farmer's son and the mongoose started growing together.

One day the farmer's wife had to visit the market. She put her son to sleep, instructing her husband to look after him. She told him not to allow the mongoose go near their son. She considered it unsafe for the animal to be in close proximity with the infant. The husband assured her that he would take good care of the baby.

Soon after his wife had left for the market, the farmer was summoned by the local moneylender. The moneylender wanted his money to be returned that he had lent to the farmer.  Due a good harvest that season, the farmer had the money ready with him. The baby was in deep sleep, thus the farmer could not take the child with him. He placed the child in his cradle and left him with the mongoose. He believed that the mongoose was an intelligent animal and could take care of their son. After some time, when the farmer's wife came back with a basket full of vegetables, she found the mongoose waiting for her outside the house.

She looked at the mongoose and realized that something was not right. She was shocked to see the face and paws of the mongoose smeared with blood. "You terrible creature, you have killed my son!" she cried and struck the mongoose on the head with her basket. She ran inside and was relieved to find the baby sleeping peacefully in his cradle. On the floor lay a black snake, that had been torn into pieces and was bleeding. The snake appeared very poisonous. The farmer's wife understood the chain of events. The mongoose must have seen the snake and in order to protect the sleeping baby, it killed the snake.

The wife was extremely regretful about her action. With tears in her eyes, she lifted the heavy basket to find the 'loyal' mongoose dead.

Moral of the Fable

Acting impulsively in anger leads to regretful consequences.