The Story of the Tiger and the Woodpecker | Bedtime stories for children | Fairytale

 Once upon a time, deep within a dense jungle, there lived a mighty tiger named Raju. He roamed the forest with grace and power, but one day, misfortune struck. While hunting, Raju chomped down on a bone that stubbornly lodged itself between his teeth, causing him great agony.

Try as he might, Raju couldn't dislodge the bone. He prowled around in distress, growing in pain under the shade of a towering tree. It was there that a wise woodpecker named Piko noticed the tiger's plight.

Piko, with his keen eyes and sharp beak, approached Raju and asked gently, "What troubles you, friend tiger?"

Raju, his voice strained with discomfort, explained his prediction. Hearing this, Piko offered his assistance. "I can help you remove the bone," he said, "but in return, I ask for a small portion of your meal."

Desperate for relief, Raju agreed without hesitation. With careful precision, Piko pecked at the bone until it finally dislodged from Raju's jaws, freeing him from his torment.

Grateful for the woodpecker's aid, Raju continued his journey through the jungle. Hours later, as Raju indulges in a hearty meal, Piko flies by, reminding the tiger of their agreement.

But instead of gratitude, Raju responded with arrogance, belittling Piko for his small size and demanding nature. "You should be thankful I didn't devour you when you entered my mouth," he snarled.

Hurt by the tiger's ingratitude, Piko's feathers bristled with anger. Without another word, he darted towards Raju and, with a swift peck, struck the tiger's eye.

Raju recoiled in pain, shocked by the woodpecker's retaliation. "How dare you!" he cried out.

Piko, undeterred, hovered above Raju, his gaze unwavering. "Consider yourself fortunate," he said sternly, "for I could have taken much more. But I chose mercy."

With that, Piko flew off into the forest, leaving Raju to ponder his actions amidst the throbbing ache in his eye. And from that day forth, Raju learned the true value of gratitude and kindness, taught to him by a humble woodpecker with a heart of gold.

Moral of The Story

The story is very rich in terms of morals. One of the most noted ones is – ‘You get what you give’, or ‘As you sow, so shall you reap’.

This story is very much relevant in terms of human relations. If you treat others kindly, they will treat you the same way. The tiger failed to repay the woodpecker’s kindness; instead, he was unkind, arrogant, and mean towards him. Thus, the woodpecker taught him a good lesson by giving back what he deserved.