Parables of Wisdom
The Rabbit and the Turtle
खरगोश और कछुआ · સસલું અને કાચબો
The fastest runner in the forest takes a little nap
- 3 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- For all ages
Sheru the rabbit laughs at slow old Kurmu the turtle, so Kurmu challenges him to a race to the banyan tree on the hill. Everyone knows who will win, or do they?
What it teaches Pride Steady effort Humility
The opening of the children's telling
In a forest lived a rabbit named Sheru. He could run very, very fast. But he liked to show off. "Nobody is as fast as me!" he said.
Sheru liked to tease Kurmu, the old turtle, who walked slowly, step by step. One day Kurmu said, "Sheru, let us have a race to the big tree on the hill." Sheru laughed. "You? All right!"
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
Steady steps go further than proud leaps.
To talk about together
What are you good at, and how can you use it without showing off?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.