The Monkey and the Fox
THE MONKEY AND THE FOX
Once upon a time, in a forest filled with tall trees, tangled creepers and little streams, there lived a monkey and a fox.
The two were good friends.
They wandered through the forest together, searched for food together and often shared whatever they found.
But although they called each other friends, their natures were very different.
The monkey was lively and impulsive.
The fox was clever, observant and always ready with a plan.
And one day, their friendship led them into a most unusual adventure.
---
A PLAN FOR FOOD
Food had become difficult to find in the forest.
The monkey and the fox wandered here and there, but their stomachs remained empty.
At last, the fox had an idea.
“Friend,” he said to the monkey, “why should we remain hungry when there is plenty of food near the houses of men?”
The monkey's eyes brightened.
The two friends left the forest and went searching for something to eat.
Before long, they came upon a place where food was plentiful.
Now their hunger made them forget caution.
They began helping themselves.
The monkey ate eagerly.
The fox ate too, but kept his eyes and ears open.
For stealing food is one thing.
Escaping after stealing it is another.
---
TROUBLE ARRIVES
It was not long before their presence was discovered.
People came running.
The monkey panicked.
The fox immediately thought of saving himself.
Each tried to escape in his own way.
The peaceful meal suddenly became a scene of complete confusion.
There was shouting.
There was running.
There was chasing.
And the two friends learned that food obtained through mischief often comes with a price.
Eventually, they managed to get away.
But the incident did not cure them of their mischievous ways.
Instead, one adventure led to another.
---
THE FOX'S CLEVERNESS
Whenever the two landed in trouble, the fox relied upon his intelligence.
He knew when to speak.
He knew when to remain silent.
And most importantly, he knew how to turn a dangerous situation to his advantage.
The monkey, on the other hand, often acted before thinking.
Again and again, the fox's quick mind rescued him from situations that seemed impossible.
The monkey began to admire his companion's cleverness.
But there was something he had not yet understood:
A clever companion does not always use his cleverness for your benefit.
---
FRIENDSHIP PUT TO THE TEST
As their adventures continued, the monkey slowly discovered that the fox always thought of himself first.
Whenever there was something good to eat, the fox wanted his share.
Whenever danger appeared, however, he was quite willing to let the monkey face it.
The monkey began to realise that there was a difference between a companion and a true friend.
A companion may walk beside you when the road is pleasant.
A true friend remains beside you when the road becomes dangerous.
The monkey had to learn this lesson through experience.
---
WIT AGAINST STRENGTH
The two animals repeatedly found themselves in situations where strength alone was useless.
The monkey could climb.
He could jump.
He could move quickly from branch to branch.
But there were dangers from which speed could not save him.
The fox possessed something different.
He watched.
He waited.
He understood the intentions of others.
Then he acted.
Again and again, his intelligence proved more powerful than physical ability.
But intelligence without loyalty can become cunning.
And cunning without kindness can easily become deception.
---
THE MONKEY LEARNS HIS LESSON
By the end of their adventures, the monkey was no longer quite as innocent as he had been before.
He had learned to look beyond pleasant words.
He had learned that someone who constantly calls you “friend” may not necessarily behave like one.
And he had learned that cleverness should be admired—but never followed blindly.
The fox, meanwhile, remained the fox.
Quick-thinking.
Resourceful.
Mischievous.
And always ready to find a way out of trouble.
Thus ended another curious adventure of the monkey and the fox.
But the lesson of their friendship remained.
---
WHAT THIS FOLKTALE TEACHES US
The animals in Assamese folktales are rarely just animals.
They often behave very much like people.
The monkey represents impulsiveness, innocence and the tendency to act before thinking.
The fox represents intelligence, strategy and cunning.
Neither physical ability nor intelligence alone makes someone virtuous.
What matters is how those abilities are used.
---
THEMES OF THE STORY
- Friendship and self-interest
- Intelligence versus impulsiveness
- Cleverness and cunning
- Trust and betrayal
- Consequences of greed
- Learning through experience
- The importance of judging people by their actions
---
A TIMELESS LESSON
There is a subtle difference between being clever and being wise.
A clever person may know how to escape trouble.
A wise person knows which trouble should never have been entered in the first place.
And there is an equally important difference between a companion and a friend.
A companion shares your journey.
A true friend shares your difficulties.
---
TAKE-HOME MESSAGE
Do not judge friendship by words alone.
Watch what people do when circumstances become difficult.
That is often when the difference between convenience and genuine friendship becomes visible.
---
Heritage Note
Burhi Aair Xadhu is one of the most cherished collections of Assamese folktales associated with Lakshminath Bezbaroa, whose literary work played an enduring role in Assamese language and culture.
Through the Regional Stories series, these tales are being presented in accessible English so that readers beyond the Assamese-speaking community can discover the imagination, humour, wisdom and cultural heritage carried within them.
Tales from the Grandmother's Bag
Original Assamese Collection: বুঢ়ী আইৰ সাধু
Original Author: Lakshminath Bezbaroa
Story No.: 2
Original Title: বান্দৰ আৰু শিয়াল
English Title: The Monkey and the Fox
English Retelling: Translated and adapted from the original Assamese folktale