The Monkey who could not be Taught

This story is part of TIMELESS TALES OF WISE SAGE by U. Mahesh Prabhu. Illustrations by Shantheri Bhat.

No knife prevails against a stone;
Nor bends the unbending tree;
No good advice from sage
Helped indocility.”

In a part of a forest was a troop of monkeys who found a firefly one winter evening when they were dreadfully depressed. On examining the insect, they believed it to be fire, so lifted it with care, covered it with dry grass and leaves, thrust forward their arms, sides, stomachs...