Parables of Wisdom
The True Woodcutter
सच्चा लकड़हारा · સાચો કઠિયારો
Three axes, one truthful answer, and a man who already had enough
- 4 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- For all ages
A poor woodcutter's only axe slips into a deep river. When a shining figure rises from the water holding a golden axe, he has to decide what to say.
What it teaches Truth Contentment Aparigraha
The opening of the children's telling
Once upon a time there was a kind woodcutter named Bholaram. Every day he took his old iron axe into the forest. He never cut down living trees. He only gathered dry, fallen branches.
One day, his axe slipped from his hand and splashed into a deep river. "Oh no!" said Bholaram. "Now how will I work?"
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
A truthful tongue and a contented heart are treasures no river can take.
To talk about together
Why do you think Bholaram gave the gold away instead of keeping it?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.