In a quiet village of Sri Lanka, there lived a man who tended a lush, vibrant garden. Among the trees and flowering shrubs stood a magnificent Kaekiri tree, whose branches bent gracefully under the weight of its fruits. One morning, as the man wandered through the garden, a brilliant glimmer caught his eye. Nestled among the green leaves was a golden Kaekiri fruit, shining as though it held the sun within. “This is very precious,” he murmured. “I must keep it carefully.”
News of this extraordinary fruit traveled swiftly through the village. Curious neighbors came to glimpse it, marveling at the rare treasure. But it wasn’t only humans who were drawn to the golden fruit; word reached the ears of a clever Jackal who prowled the forest nearby. “A fruit of such beauty and value must be mine,” he whispered to himself, devising a plan to claim it.
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As night fell and the moon cast silvery light over the garden, the Jackal slinked quietly between the trees, careful not to disturb the stillness of the village. With nimble paws, he leapt onto the low branches of the Kaekiri tree and plucked the golden fruit from its perch. Clutching it tightly, he darted into the darkness, his heart beating with excitement at the thought of his clever theft.
At dawn, the man discovered the golden fruit missing. Alarmed, he called out, “Who took my golden fruit?” His voice echoed through the quiet village, but no one answered. He searched high and low, under trees and among the garden shrubs, yet the fruit was nowhere to be found. Meanwhile, the Jackal, confident in his cunning, had hidden the prize in a deep hole at the edge of the forest, thinking it safe from all eyes.
The Jackal returned under the pale light of morning, eager to enjoy his prize. He retrieved the golden Kaekiri fruit and sank his teeth into it, expecting the sweet, succulent taste he had imagined all night. But to his shock, the moment he bit the fruit, it hardened in his mouth, transforming instantly into solid stone. He yelped in surprise and pain, spitting it out onto the ground. “Cleverness alone is not enough!” he cried, his eyes wide in disbelief. “I was so eager that I did not think of the danger!”
The man, who had followed the Jackal’s trail silently, witnessed the moment the Jackal dropped the fruit in fear. With a sigh of relief, he retrieved the golden Kaekiri fruit, unharmed and gleaming as if nothing had happened. He returned it to the tree, securing it carefully where it could be admired but kept safe. The Jackal, humbled by his own haste and folly, slunk back into the forest, wiser for the experience. From that day forward, it was said in the village: cleverness without caution brings its own punishment.
The golden Kaekiri fruit remained a symbol of vigilance and wisdom, reminding both humans and animals that a moment of greed or overconfidence could turn triumph into trouble. The villagers told the tale for generations, praising the man’s prudence and caution, and laughing at the Jackal’s hasty misjudgment.
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Moral Lesson
Cleverness without careful thought can lead to trouble; patience, caution, and wisdom are as important as intelligence in achieving success.
Knowledge Check
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Who discovers the golden Kaekiri fruit?
The man, who tends the garden, finds the golden Kaekiri fruit in his tree. -
Which animal tries to steal the fruit?
A clever Jackal hears about the fruit and attempts to take it. -
What happens when the Jackal bites the fruit?
The golden Kaekiri fruit turns to stone in the Jackal’s mouth. -
What is the main lesson of the story?
Intelligence or cleverness alone is not enough; caution and patience are essential. -
What cultural origin does this folktale represent?
It is a Sinhalese folktale from Sri Lanka. - Why does the man keep the fruit carefully?
Because it is precious, rare, and valuable, symbolizing wisdom and vigilance.
Source: Adapted from the Sinhalese folktale “The Golden Kaekiri Fruit” in Village Folk-Tales of Ceylon, Vol. I, collected by H. Parker (1910), London: Luzac & Co.
Cultural Origin: Sri Lanka (Sinhalese folklore)
