MOTIVATIONAL AND THOUGHT PROVOKING STORIES

Story 1

In those old days, when monarchy used to be there, a king was gifted by his teacher; 4 idols who resembled great minds. He appointed a man who was told that he will be sentenced when any of the idols is broken. That man worked very carefully but 1 day 1 idol was broken to pieces.

The king came to know about this and he ordered that man to be sentenced. That man was asked of his last wish; he took other 3 idols and broke them. The king saw it and said – why you done that? The man replied – some day, you will appoint another man to take care of other 3 idols. Sooner or later 1 or 2 idols would be broken. That man would die then – so, I am saving that anonymous life in this manner.

The king instantly made him his chief minister.

Moral: You may rescue life of someone even indirectly which would please GOD. No one can go against what is predecided. We can only change our interpretations.

Story 2

One day, Mughal emperor Akbar was told that if he sees the face of a particular sick person, he would not get food for entire day. Akbar called that man and he found this statement to be true. He was surprised and frustrated at the same time.

He ordered that man to be sentenced. The genius Birbal pointed that – Your majesty, I know that you remained hungry on seeing him. But, he saw you for the 1st time and is now sentenced. He may lose his life; you only lost food. It seems you are sicker than him.

This moved Akbar and he released that man.

Moral: Beware of your misleading judgments.

Story 3

Once, a man approached sage Chanakya and said – I have something to say about your friend. Your friend is …

Chanakya interrupted – Answer my 3 questions before that.

Q1: Is whatever you are saying completely true? The man: No, I heard it somewhere from somebody's mouth.

Q2: OK. Is it good for me or him? The man: No, it is nothing good about anybody. I had heard only bad things. Q3: OK. Is it urgent or important? The man: No, it isn't.

Chanakya replied – neither it is true nor good nor even urgent or important. Why do you think should I listen? The man went away disgusted.

Moral: It is in the story itself. Read the story once again.

Story 4

Once upon a time, a man was searching for the genius Birbal. He had never seen Birbal. So, he was worrying – how to meet? Someone told him the address of Birbal and he went there searching for Birbal.

Accidently, he met Birbal himself on the roadway, but was unaware of this. He asked Birbal – Can you tell me where Birbal lives? Birbal pointed to his house and said – he lives there. The man went there but was stunned to see the lock at the door. He was thinking – where could Birbal be?

Suddenly, he saw Birbal himself there. He asked – Can you tell me where the genius Birbal is? Birbal replied – I am Birbal. I do not know who the genius is? The man replied – I met you before, why did not you told me that you are Birbal? Birbal said – You asked about Birbal's house but did not ask where he is. I replied where his house is. Later on, Birbal took him inside and removed his worries.

Moral: Be clear and concise in what you demand. Try to speak specific things.

Story 5

Once upon a time, a man named as Kalidas was cutting a tree. It was found that he was cutting the same branch on which he was sitting. Several passersby noticed this and said – hey, you do not do this. You may fall down. Kalidas laughed at that idea. But he realized that they were true when he actually fell down.

He met that passerby and said – you are my teacher as you are astrologer. Please preach me about my future and tell me about my new action. The passerby understood that he is a complete fool. However, he took him with him and said – do one thing. Go to the king's palace where Vidyutparhe is the princess. Answer her question without speaking anything. Then you would marry her.

The man who actually wanted to teach Vidutparhe a lesson, accompanied Kalidas to the palace. There he said – I know that you will marry only him who actually will answer your questions. He is that man but he won't speak today and tomorrow he will leave this place. So, he wants to marry you. You can test him.

Vidyutparhe thought whether GOD is one or more, so just showed a finger. Kalidas thought – she will pluck my an eye and hence he showed 2 fingers. The man replied – GOD is one but can be formless or having forms hence 2 types.

Vidyutparhe thought whether 5 elements (Air, Water, Earth, Space and Fire) can be independent, so she showed a hand. Kalidas thought that she will slap me and hence showed his fist. The man replied – 5 elements can be independent only if they join to form a living being just like 5 fingers join to form a fist.

Vidyutparhe accepted her defeat and married to Kalidas on the same day. Later on, she realized that Kalidas is a fool and hence banished him. However, GOD graced him to be the most genius poet ever.

Moral: At times, even fools can help in achieving your goals.

Story 6

Once GOD of Actions and Fortune were fighting that who can be superior. They both approached GOD of supreme powers that who among them is superior. Power GOD replied – you 1st show your powers. There is a man on earth, show him who is more powerful. Let Actions help him in getting money and let Fortune take it away.

Action gave him powers to earn more but at the same time, Fortune made him powerless and turned into a thief to steal all of his money. The man wept badly. Actions said – don't worry you will earn more. He put money in front of that man but Fortune made it disappear.

GOD saw this and said – Good, now you do the reverse. Let Action betray that man and fortune help him. Fortune instantly made thousand gold coins arrive there. As soon as the man went to take it, Actions made him forget how to take it. He accepted that and kept crying. Fortune immediately lifted that money and put it on his head. Actions made it fall away.

GOD saw this and said – you both are equally powerful but are mutually dependent.

Moral: Believe in neither actions nor fortune but in both as one is followed by the other.

Story 7

One day, a king saw in his dream – out of 32 of his teeth, only 1 remained and rest had fallen down. He called his astrologer and asked – what does this dream mean?

Astrologer said – it means that 31 of your relatives will die before you would. The king was furious and ordered astrologer to be kept in prison. Then he asked his minister of the same thing.

The minister said – it means that you would live more than 31 of your relatives. The king was happy and said – demand a reward. The minister said – please release your astrologer. Whatever he said is same as what I commented. The king was shocked but he gave the desired reward.

Moral: Things always remain the same, how you perceive makes the difference.

Story 8

One day, Mughal emperor Akbar accidently cut one of his fingers. The genius Birbal said – whatever happens is for our welfare. Akbar imprisoned Birbal. Birbal said – even this is for my welfare.

Akbar was astonished. Akbar went on to hunting the next day. Unfortunately, he was left alone by some hypocrites who wanted him to perish. Suddenly, 2 men belonging to nomadic tribes arrived there and said – let's sacrifice him. Suddenly, one of them noticed Akbar's gone finger which made him say – he is physically challenged. We can't sacrifice him as the Lord would kill us. Akbar was freed and he somehow joined his camp.

Akbar freed Birbal and said – You were right. My gone finger saved from such a terrific disaster. Birbal replied – If I were with you, I would have been caught along with you. To save me, lord actually made me imprisoned. This proved that whatever happens is for our welfare.

Moral: Try your best to be an optimist.

Story 9

Once upon a time, when Mewad was ruled by Maharana Pratap, mughal emperor Akbar decided to snatch the kingdom from him. He told Maharana Pratap to fight and easily defeated him. Maharana was made a begger in his own territory. He wasn't able to cope up. His family was worrying.

He had 2 sons and they both were fighting for same bread. Seeing this condition, Maharana wanted to make Akbar his friend. One of his companion said – Take your Chetak horse and fight with Akbar. Maharana refused as he did not had any substantial army soldiers. But that friend told him to make allies with tribes there. Maharana succeeded in that and managed to defeat Akbar there after following long strategy. Alas! his beloved horse Chetak died there.

Moral: Must learn to convert failures to successes.

Story 10

When a boy was sad, his grandfather took him to the fish pond on the farm when he was about seven, and he told him to throw a stone into the water. He also told to watch the circles created by the stone. Then he asked to think of himself as that stone person.

"You may create lots of splashes in your life but the waves that come from those splashes will disturb the peace of all your fellow creatures," he said. "Remember that you are responsible for what you put in your circle and that circle will also touch many other circles. You will need to live in a way that allows the good that comes from your circle to send the peace of that goodness to others. The splash that comes from anger or jealousy will send those feelings to other circles. You are responsible for both." That was the first time the boy realized each person creates the inner peace or discord that flows out into the world.

Moral: We cannot create world peace if we are riddled with inner conflict, hatred, doubt, or anger. We radiate the feelings and thoughts that we hold inside, whether we speak them or not. Whatever is splashing around inside of us is spilling out into the world, creating beauty or discord with all other circles of life.

Story 11

Once, a boy named as Mohan was fed up of life. He decided to quit. He went to the woods to have one last talk with GOD. "GOD," he said. "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"

GOD's answer surprised him... "Look around," GOD said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?" "Yes," Mohan replied.

"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took a very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water.

The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the second year, the fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo," GOD said.

"In the third year, there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit. In the fourth year, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I would not quit," GOD said

"Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant... But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall.

It had spent the five years growing roots.

Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle. Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots?"

"I would not quit on the bamboo. Neither will I ever quit on you."

Moral: Never compare yourself with others as that is illegal.

Story 12

Many hundreds of years ago in a small Italian town, a merchant had the misfortune of owing a large sum of money to the moneylender. The moneylender, who was old and ugly, fancied the merchant's beautiful daughter so he proposed a bargain. He said he would forgo the merchant's debt if he could marry the daughter.

The moneylender told them that he would put a black pebble and a white pebble into an empty bag. The girl would then have to pick one pebble from the bag. If she picked the black pebble, she would become the moneylender's wife and her father's debt would be forgiven. If she picked the white pebble, she need not marry him and her father's debt would still be forgiven. But if she refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown into jail.

They were standing on a pebble-strewn path in the merchant's garden. As they talked, the moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles. As he picked them up, the sharp-eyed girl noticed that he had picked up two black pebbles and put them into the bag. He then asked the girl to pick her pebble from the bag.

The girl put her hand into the moneybag and drew out a pebble. Without looking at it, she fumbled and let it fall onto the pebble-strewn path where it immediately became lost among all the other pebbles.

"Oh, how clumsy of me," she said. "But never mind, if you look into the bag for the one that is left, you will be able to tell which pebble I picked." Since the remaining pebble is black, it must be assumed that she had picked the white one.

Moral: There is always a solution to even the impossible. Unfortunately, we never think of that.

Story 13

When king Krishnadev Rai used to rule South India. One day, he gave each of his courtiers a bag containing fifty gold coins. The courtiers were thrilled. Just then the king said, "You have to use these gold coins within one week. At the end of the week, you will show me all that you have bought with these gold coins. But there is a condition. Every time you spend some gold coins, you will have to see my face." All the courtiers were very pleased. They left for the market to do some shopping. But whenever they decided to buy something, they remembered the king's condition. How could they see the king's face in the market? And if they did not see the king's face, they could not spend the gold coins. The courtiers were puzzled.

When the court assembled after a week, the king asked the courtiers, "Well, what did you buy with the gold coins that I had given you?" The royal priest arose from his seat. On behalf of all the courtiers, he said, " Since none of us could see your face in the market, not a single gold coin could be spent."

Hearing this, the king began to laugh. He then asked Tenalirama, "Did you buy anything?" That day, Tenalirama had come to the court wearing new clothes and ornaments. He said, "I bought all these things with the gold coins given by you." All the courtiers were pleased to hear this. The king said, "Tenalirama! You have not fulfilled the condition laid down by me. You did not see my face in the market. Yet you dared to buy these things!" Tenalirama said, "Your Majesty, I have spent every single gold coin only after I saw your face."

The king was surprised. He said, "How is that possible?" Tenalirama said, "Your Majesty, Have you forgotten that every gold coin bears the imprint of your face ?"

Moral: Unfortunately, we do simple things in complicated manner.

Story 14

One day, The king Krishnadev Rai wanted all his people to grow horses . He called all his people and gave them one horse each to bring up. He also gave them lot of straw so that the horses can eat. All people were happy except Tenalirama. He tied his horse in a room and daily in the morning gave it very little straw. The rest of the straw he gave to his cows.

After one more year, the king wanted to see all his horses. All of them brought their horses. They were indeed very strong. But King noticed that Tenalirama had not brought his horse. He asked him why he has not brought his horse. Tenalirama replied that his horse was very strong and he could not bring it. The king was surprised. He said, "I will send my guard to your house tomorrow."

Next day the guard went to TenaliRama’s house. He had a beard, which was very long. TenaliRama took him to the room where the house was kept locked. He asked him to see through the window. The inspector peeped in through the narrow window and his beard entered the room first. The horse thought that it was straw. It caught the beard of the guard and started pulling. The inspector was crying in pain. The Guard lost his beard and ran to the king.

He told the king that Tenaliraman's horse was very strong. King gave Tenali Raman 100 gold coins.

Moral: When you can't get the answer seriously, try not being serious.

Story 15

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway, it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey. He invited all his neighbours to come over and help him. They each grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement, he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer looked down the well, and was astonished at what he saw.

As every shovel of dirt hit his back, the donkey did something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed, as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off! The donkey was wise

Moral: Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of a hole is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest holes just by not stopping, never giving up!

Story 16

One day, 3 boys went to an astrologer and said, "Tell us our future. But donot look at our forehead nor palmistry or kundli milap to be needed." The astrologer said, "Fine. Just take 1 banana and eat it." He gave an banana to each.

One of them threw the peel on the ground. The astrologer said, "He will be a fool."

Second threw it in dustbin. The astrologer said, "He will be intelligent."

Third gave it to a cow. The astrologer said, "He would be helping and benevolent by nature."

Moral: What you are depends on how you tackle things.

Story 17

One day, king Amartya Singh called 2 of his sons and gave them 2 horses i.e., 1 horses each. Then he told them to race. The son with slowest horse wins. Both the sons were wondering as this would result in infinitely long race.

They approached the minister during king's absence and told about this. The minister said, "Oh its simple. You just exchange the horses and then be the fastest so that your horse becomes the slowest."

Both the sons agreed and commenced the race as told.

Moral: Half of the solution is hidden in problem itself. Our job is to find the other half.