The Tortoise Who Could Not Keep Quiet

In a certain lake lived a tortoise named Kambugriva. Two geese, Sankata and Vikata, were his dearest friends. Every day they came to the bank and traded stories of gods and sages with him, and flew home at sunset.

In time the rains failed and the lake began to dry up. The geese said sadly: "Friend, this lake is nothing but mud now. How will you live? Our hearts are troubled for you."

Kambugriva said: "With the water gone, my life is over unless something is done — so think of something. One must not let go of courage in trouble; even when a ship breaks up at sea, the traveller still means to swim. And a wise creature must always exert himself for his friends. So bring a strong stick, and look for a lake with plenty of water. I shall grip the middle of the stick in my teeth; you two take the ends and carry me there."

The geese said: "We will do it, friend — but on one condition. You must keep silent. If you open your mouth on the way, the stick will slip and you will fall and die."

The journey began. As they were passing over a town, the people below saw the strange sight and set up a clamour: "Look! Two birds are carrying something like a wheel through the air!" They came running, clapping their hands.

At that noise the tortoise could not hold himself. Without a thought he began: "This is not a wheel; this is what they call—" The sentence was never finished. His mouth opened, the stick slipped, and the tortoise fell — and the crowd standing below tore him to pieces.

So it is said: he who will not listen to well-meaning friends arranges his own destruction, like that foolish tortoise.

सुहृदां हितकामानां न करोतीह यो वचः । स कूर्म इव दुर्बुद्धिः काष्ठाद्भ्रष्टो विनश्यति ॥

Moral: He who will not do as well-wishing friends advise is destroyed like that foolish tortoise, fallen from the stick.

From the Panchatantra, Book I — The Loss of Friends.