Tiny Tales: Traditional Stories in 100 Words: January 2021

Feles, Vulpes, et Lupus

Feles et vulpes confabulantes ambulant. De vita, de moribus multa differunt; quid pium, quid impium; quid turpe, quid honestum... subtilius Socrate ipso disputant.

Interim lupum observant ovem miseram edentem.

Feles clamat, "O scelus atrox! O nefas dirum!"

Et vulpes quoque clamat, "O raptorem nefarium! O lupum scelestum!"

Sic philosophantes, feles et vulpes villae propinquant.

In agro proximo gallinam cum pullis observant.

Vulpes, philosophiam omnem obliviscens, gallinam capit.

Feles, vulpis facinus imitans, pullum pinguem rapit.

Philosophi in locum commodum secedunt et famem explent.

Fabula docet:

Multi homines honesti scelestos damnant, sed, si occasio eis data est, quodlibet scelus et honesti faciunt.

Inspired by: Mille Fabulae et Una.
Notes: This story is Fable 392. Feles, Vulpes, et Lupus, from the poet Desbillons (not in Perry). I have simplified the story, making it easier to read. For an English version (not a translation), see: Cat and Fox, Philosophers.

illustration by Billinghurst

Minerva et Naufragus

Dives quidam Atheniensis est.

Olim cum aliis nonnullis in nave navigat.

Tempestas autem ingens exorta est, et navis subversa est. Atheniensis naufragus est! Omnes naufragi sunt, undis iactati.

Reliqui omnes se servant, ad litus natantes, sed dives Atheniensis non natat.

Minervam invocat, clamans, "Dea magna, urbis meae patrona es, et patriae meae defensor es. Auxilium adfer! Pecuniam multam tibi promitto, si ex undis me eripis! Te imploro: salva me!"

Unus ex naufragis, adnatans, ei dicit, "Minerva potens est, sed tu quoque manus movere debes."

Fabula docet:

Qui in calamitates incidunt, necesse est pro se laborare, ac deinde auxilium divinum invocare.

Inspired by: Mille Fabulae et Una.
Notes: This story is Fable 790. Minerva et Naufragus, from De Furia's Latin translation of the Greek Aesop (Perry 30). I have simplified the story, making it easier to read. For an English version (not a translation), see: Athena and the Shipwreck.

Athena

Rabbit in the Well

Rabbit fell into a well.

Fox heard Rabbit shouting. "What are you doing down there?" Fox asked.

"Feasting on cheese," Rabbit lied.

Fox looked down. He saw the moon's reflection. "Cheese!" he howled. "I want some!"

"There's plenty," said Rabbit. "Hop in the bucket!" The well with two buckets; when Fox came down in one, Rabbit rode up in the other.

As they met midway, Rabbit said, "That's the way of the round world: some go up, some go down."

When he reached the top, Rabbit jumped free and ran home laughing.

Fox drowned himself trying to eat that cheese!

Inspired by: Florida Folktales, edited by J. Russell Reaver.
Notes: This story is "4. The Foolish Diver." Compare the motif of moon-cheese in this story: Rabbit, Tiger, and the Cheese. I added the part about Fox trying to eat the moon-cheese. In the European tradition, it is fox who is the trickster, riding up in the bucket while the wolf goes down.

Rabbit's Eyeball-Candy

Rabbit was sucking some candy.

"What's that?" asked Fox.

"Eyeball-candy," said Rabbit, taking it out of his mouth and offering it to Fox.

Fox sucked the candy. "That's good," he said. "Take out my eyeball! I want my own candy."

Rabbit pulled out Fox's eyeball, but he gave Fox a piece of candy instead.

Fox sucked the candy till it was gone. "I want more! Do my other eyeball," he said.

Rabbit pulled out Fox's other eyeball, and then he yelled, "Come on, hounds!"

Fox ran but he couldn't see.

He ran right into a tree.

The hounds got him!

Inspired by: Florida Folktales, edited by J. Russell Reaver.
Notes: This story is "3. Eyeball Candy." Compare the story of Anansi and Tiger's testicles: Anansi and the Coconut.

The Owl and the Grasshopper

Owls sleep during the day, which is when grasshoppers sing.

This can lead to... difficulties.

"Dear grasshopper, please be quiet," the owl asked politely. "I'm trying to sleep."

But the grasshopper just laughed and sang even more loudly.

Then the owl said, "Since I cannot sleep, let's enjoy a drink together! I have a bottle of wine that my mistress Athena gave me. As your divine music is worthy of Apollo, I'll share it with you."

Flattered, the grasshopper entered the owl's house.

As soon as he did so, the owl ate him up, and then went promptly to sleep.

Inspired by: Mille Fabulae et Una, a collection of Latin fables that I've edited, free to read online. I am not translating the Latin here; instead, I am just telling a 100-word version of the fable. Notes: This is fable 656 in the book, which is Perry 507.

illustration by Bull

Rooster, Dog, and Fox

Rooster and Dog decided to travel the world together. At night, Rooster flew up in a tree, while Dog slept down below. Each dawn, Rooster crowed, just like back on the farm.

Fox heard Rooster crowing. "I've found my breakfast!" he thought, running towards the sound.

"Hello, Rooster!" Fox shouted. "I see you're a stranger here. Let's get acquainted! I'll be your new friend."

"Gladly!" said Rooster. "Go tell the doorkeeper below to let you in."

Fox eagerly ran to the tree, where Dog was waiting. He tore Fox to pieces, and then shouted to Rooster, "Thanks for the breakfast!"

illustration by Weir

Lion Visits Rabbit

Lion needed pepper to cook the cow-tail, so he went to see Rabbit. But before he could even ask for pepper, he smelled the beef cooking and heard Rabbit singing, "I've got cow-cow-cow, and Lion's got the taily-tail."

Lion roared and grabbed Rabbit by the throat.

"I'm going to tear off your ears!"

"Go ahead," said Rabbit. "They're too long anyway."

"I'm going to barbecue you!"

"Please do," said Rabbit. "That's fine! Just don't throw me in that briar-patch."

Lion threw Rabbit into the briar-patch.

Rabbit scampered off laughing, "Don't you know I was born and bred in the briar-patch?"

Inspired by: Storytellers: Folktales and Legends from the South, edited by John Burrison.
Notes: This is the second part of the story is "Brother Rabbit, Brother Lion, and the Cow." For the first part, see: Lion and Rabbit Kill a Cow.

Lion and Rabbit Kill a Cow

Lion and Rabbit killed a cow. "You do the butchering," Lion said. "I'm going to take a nap."

When Lion left, Rabbit cut off the cow's tail and hauled the beef to his house. Then he came back and buried the tail.

"Help, Lion!" Rabbit yelled. "The cow's getting away!"

Lion came running, grabbed the tail and pulled; it came up out of the ground. "Oh no," said Lion, "the cow escaped!"
"Well, I'll take half of the tail," said Rabbit. Lion gave Rabbit an angry look, but let him take half of the tail.

"Thanks, partner," said Rabbit, grinning.

Inspired by: Storytellers: Folktales and Legends from the South, edited by John Burrison.
Notes: The story is "Brother Rabbit, Brother Lion, and the Cow," as told by Christine Whitehead in 1969 (age fifty two, a Black resident of Macon in Bibb County). For the second part, see: Lion Visits Rabbit.

Leo et Tauri Duo

Leo, valde esuriens, tauros duo videt. Sibi cogitat, "Leo fortis sum! Potens sum! Dentibus et unguibus hos tauros lacerabo et necabo, et hoc modo laute cenabo."

In tauros leo impetum facit.

Sed tauri cornua opponunt, coniunctis viribus, et leo medios irruere non potest.

Tunc leo sibi cogitat, "Si duobus impar sum viribus, dolo agere debeo."

Leo sic taurum unum alloquitur, "Quam fortis es, et quam potens! Amico tuo potentior es, sine dubio. Si tu amicum tuum mihi trades,

ego te incolumem dimittam."

Eisdem verbis taurum alterum alloquitur.

Huius fraudis gratia, leo facile utrumque taurum necat.

Fabula docet:

Fortes in unitate.

Inspired by: Mille Fabulae et Una.
Notes: This story is Fable 4. Leo et Tauri Duo, from Syntipas (Perry 372). I have simplified the story, making it easier to read. For an English version (not a translation), see: The Lion and the Bulls.

illustration by Osius

Rabbit Learns What Trouble Is

"I don't know what trouble is," Rabbit said.
"I'll show you," said Anansi.
Anansi caught Tiger's cub, killed it, and put it in a basket.
"Give this to Tiger!" he told Rabbit.
Tiger was furious and chased Rabbit.
Then Anansi gave Rabbit a razor and said, "Hide in that hole."
"Hey, Reindeer!" Tiger yelled. "Come get Rabbit out of this hole!"
Reindeer came.
"Cut off his head!" Anansi said.
So when Reindeer put his head in, Rabbit cut it off with the razor.
Tiger ran away in terror.
Rabbit said to Anansi, "I don't want to ever see trouble again!"

Inspired by: Jamaica Anansi Stories by Martha Warren Beckwith
Notes: This is story 13a in the book. Beckwith heard this story from Susan Watkins; additional information in Beckwith's notes.

Fox and Rabbit Seek God's Blessing

Brer Fox had caught Brer Rabbit at last, holding him tight by the throat. "I'm going to kill you, Brer Rabbit," he said, "to pay you back for all the times you did me wrong. I'll kill you and then I'll eat you."

"I understand, Brer Fox, I surely do," said Brer Rabbit. "But before I die, let's pray together. Put your hands together and say, 'God, bless us two, your creatures.' Then God's blessing will be upon us both."

When Brer Fox put his hands together to pray, Brer Rabbit slipped out of his grasp and ran away, laughing.

Inspired by: Jamaica Anansi Stories by Martha Warren Beckwith

Notes: This is story 59b in the book, told by Rennie Macfarlane of Mandeville: Saying Grace.

Wolf, Rabbit, and the Hollow Tree

Running away from Wolf, Rabbit jumped into a tree hollow. "I've got you now," said Wolf, and he went home to fetch fire. After Wolf left, Rabbit hopped out and ran away. Then Wolf came back and burnt down the tree.

Imagine Wolf's surprise seeing Rabbit the next day. "I burnt you up!" he said.

"The fire melted the honey in the tree, and the honey kept me safe," Rabbit said. "Then I ate all I wanted."

"I want to eat honey too!" said Wolf. He jumped in the tree hollow, and Rabbit set the tree on fire.

Wolf died.

Inspired by: Negro Myths from the Georgia Coast by Charles C. Jones.

Notes: This story is "Buh Rabbit, Buh Wolf, an de Holler Tree."

The Animals Build a House

The animals worked hard building a house together: Possum, Squirrel, Deer, Elephant, Cow, Lion, Tiger, Wolf, Turtle, all the animals... except Rabbit. "My wife's sick," Rabbit lied. "I have to take care of her."

When the house was done, the animals stored all their food in the cellar.

Rabbit sneaked into the cellar and ate the food.

Deer came to get some food, and Rabbit blew his big horn. "Whoo-hoo-HOOOOOO!"

Deer ran out, yelling, "Our house is haunted!"

Lion came next. "Whoo-hoo-HOOOOOO!"

Lion ran out, yelling, "Our house is haunted!"

The animals left, and Rabbit had the house to himself.

Inspired by: Negro Myths from the Georgia Coast by Charles C. Jones.

Notes: This story is "Buh Rabbit an de Tarruh Beastises."

Seven Onions

Anansi had a magic onion field: if you counted the onions up to seven, you fell down dead!

Goat came by and saw Anansi crying. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"I don't know how to count my onions," Anansi said.

Goat counted, and when he said "seven," he fell down dead. Anansi ate him.

Same for Dog. Sheep. Cow.

Rabbit came. "One two three four five six plus one," he said.

"That's not right!" said Anansi.

Rabbit counted the same again.

"You fool! Can't you count?" Then Anansi counted. When he said "seven," he fell down dead, and Rabbit ate him.

Inspired by: Folklore of the Antilles by Elsie Clews Parsons.
Notes: Parsons collected this story in Grenada; you can find it online at Hathi Trust; she indexes it as: Fatal Count.

The Kid and the Wolf

A young goat sprouted horns. Feeling brave and bold, he wandered away from the flock, looking for fresh grass to eat.

A hungry wolf saw the kid wandering alone, far from the flock.

"You'll make a nice little feast!" he growled as he grabbed the kid.

"I'm glad to oblige, Mister Wolf," said the quick-thinking kid. "Let's sing and dance to celebrate your feast!"

The kid started singing and whistling and clicking his heels. Enchanted by the music, the wolf also started to dance, letting go of the kid, who laughed and ran back to the safety of his flock.

Notes: This is fable 330 in the book, which is Perry 97.

Weir illustration

Asinus et Tympana

Negotiator in via cum asino festinat. Nundinas festinat, lucri causa.

Negotiator dominus saevus est, et asinum multis mercibus onerat. Onustum asinum flagello caedit et baculo crudele tundit. "Citius veni!" clamat negotiator, asinum caedens et tundens.

Asinus miser sibi cogitat, "Vita mea miserimma est, et dominus meus crudelissimus. Dominus me flagello caedit et baculo tundit. Sed post mortem securus ero. Post mortem requiescam in pace."

Flagello et baculo quassatus, asinus moritur.

Sed post mortem... asinus securus non est. Asinus non requiescit in pace.

De pelle asini facta sunt tympana!

Asinus miser, qui tunditur semper in vita, semper et post mortem tunditur.

Inspired by: Mille Fabulae et Una.
Notes: This story is Fable 245. Asinus et Tympana, from Ademar (Perry 164). I have simplified the story, making it easier to read. For an English version (not a translation), see: Death and the Donkey.

Steinhowel

Mures, Feles, et Tintinnabulum

Mures, felem timentes, consultant.

"Quid faciemus?" dicunt.

"Quomodo se a fele tueri possumus?" quaerunt.

Mures singuli consilia multa proponunt, sed nihil omnibus placet.

Postremo mus unus dicit, "Tintinnabulum feli annectamus! Tum statim audiemus felem venientem, et facile effugiemus."

Omnes mures laeti sunt. Hoc consilium omnibus placet. Mures omnes consilium approbant, et consilii auctorem laudant.

Ei dicunt, "Quam prudens es! Iam tu feli annecte tintinnabulum."

Sed consilii auctor eis respondet, "Ego vero consilium dedi. Alius operam sumat!"

Quis feli tintinnabulum annectet?

"Nolo!" dicit unus.

"Nolo!" dicit alius.

"Nolo!" dicunt mures omnes.

Consilium ergo irritum est.

Fabula docet:

Dictum citius quam factum.

Inspired by: Mille Fabulae et Una.
Notes: This story is Fable 206. Mures, Feles, et Tintinnabulum, from Gildersleeve's textbook (Perry 613). I have simplified the story, making it easier to read. For an English version (not a translation), see: Belling the Cat.

Grandville

Cat Wants to Marry the Princess

The King had tied Rabbit to a tree while he went to fetch his whip.

Then Cat walked by. "What's going on, Rabbit?"

"The King is making me marry the Princess," said Rabbit. "But I don't want to get married."

Cat wanted to marry the Princess! "Would you let me take your place?" he asked.

"Gladly, my friend," said Rabbit. "Just untie me!"

So Cat united Rabbit, and then Rabbit tied Cat.

The King came back, and he whipped Cat.

"Meow!" yelled Cat. "MEOW!"

Cat hates Rabbit to this day. If Cat catches Rabbit, he kills him and eats him.

Inspired by: Folklore of the Antilles by Elsie Clews Parsons.
Notes: See notes to the first part of the story: Anansi and Rabbit in the Cow. In other versions of this story, it is Tiger, not Cat, and Rabbit promises not just a wedding but also the wedding feast. The man then burns Tiger's butt, and Rabbit teases Tiger for his burnt-butt. Still other versions feature Zamba (elephant). Sometimes animals leave their tail behind to escape when the whipping begins.

Anansi and Rabbit in the Cow

Anansi had magic to get inside cows.

"Teach me!" said Rabbit.

Anansi taught Rabbit and then said. "Go into that cow, and fetch the tripe."

Rabbit went into the cow, fetched the tripe, and gave it to Anansi.

"I'll go cook this," Anansi said, "while you fetch the heart; I'll be right back."

But when Rabbit cut the heart, the cow fell down dead, and the King grabbed Rabbit coming out of the cow. "I'm going to go get my whip!" said the King, tying Rabbit to a tree.

"I've got to get out of here!" Rabbit thought to himself...

Inspired by: Folklore of the Antilles by Elsie Clews Parsons.
Notes: Parsons collected this story in Saint Lucia; you can find it online at Hathi Trust; she indexes it as: In Cow's Belly and then Take My Place (in the second part of the story). This is the first part of the story; you can read the second part here: Cat Wants to Marry the Princess.

Tiny Tales from the Mahabharata

Welcome to Tiny Tales from the Mahabharata. This is a retelling of the Mahabharata using two hundred episodes that are each 100 words long.

PDF - EPUB - MOBI - HTML - TXT - Audio - Kindle - Print - Website

Creative Commons. This work is released with a Creative Commons license: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. That means you can remix and reuse individual stories or the contents of the whole book with attribution for non-commercial purposes, provided that you release your work with the same license. Find out more.

Attribution: Tiny Tales from the Mahabharata by Laura Gibbs.

Version: January 22 2021.

You can access the book in a variety of formats, along with individual stories here at the blog (see story title list and links below).

Pressbooks. This is a web-based presentation of the book with all the stories on one page, chapter by chapter.

Audiobook. There is a free audiobook at SoundCloud. I've also made the mp3 files available for download if you prefer not to use SoundCloud and/or if you want to repurpose the audio (which is also released with the CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license).

EPUB. You can use this epub file for ebook readers like Nook, etc. (I'm a fan of the app ReadEra.)

MOBI. You can download this free mobi file to load onto your Kindle. (Here's how to add a free MOBI file to your Kindle.)

Kindle. There is a Kindle version of the book for 99 cents from Amazon.

Print. There is a paperback version for $6.25 from Amazon (free Prime shipping).

Text file. This is a plain text file, no special characters. This option might be useful if you want to repurpose the entire book with your own formatting; see Creative Commons licensing CC BY-NC-SA above.

HTML. This is a super-simple very vanilla HTML version.

PDF. You can download a PDF copy of the book.

Website. The website has illustrations for all the stories, along with additional notes. The reading is broken up into four parts (my students read two parts per week, finishing the book over a two-week period).

~ ~ ~

TINY TALES FROM THE MAHABHARATA

A Book of Two Hundred 100-Word Stories

ABOUT THIS BOOK

The Mahabharata tells of the war between the Pandavas and Kauravas, cousins who conceived a deadly hatred for one another. The epic begins with the story of King Shantanu, the Pandavas' great-grandfather, and ends with King Janamejaya, the Pandavas' great-grandson. You will meet Draupadi, the heroine who is married to all five of the Pandava brothers, and you will also meet Krishna, the human avatar of the god Vishnu who sides with the Pandavas in the war. For first-time Mahabharata readers, I've included a list of characters in an appendix to the book, and you'll find additional notes at:

Mahabharata.LauraGibbs.net

The paragraph you just read about the Mahabharata is 100 words long, as is this paragraph, and that's also the length of each episode in this book. The episodes go fast, but you can slow down when you find one you like. Read it again. Let it sink in. You might even write your own versions of your favorite episodes, using your imagination to add more details. Meanwhile, if you get confused by a particular episode, don't get bogged down; just keep reading! You can find more 100-word stories from the Mahabharata, along with a "Tiny Tales" Ramayana, at:

100Words.LauraGibbs.net

THE STORIES

1. Vyasa Seeks a Scribe
2. King Shantanu Gets Married
3. The Story of Mahabhisha
4. King Shantanu Confronts the Queen
5. The Story of the Vasus
6. Devavrata Departs and Returns
7. Shantanu Sees Satyavati
8. The Story of Satyavati
9. Devavrata Swears an Oath
10. King Shantanu Marries Satyavati
11. Bhishma Goes to the Swayamvara
12. Amba Pleads with Bhishma
13. Amba Goes to Parashurama
14. Amba Prays to the Gods
15. How the Sons of Satyavati Died
16. Vichitravirya Leaves Two Widows
17. Another Story of Satyavati
18. Satyavati Summons Vyasa
19. Three Sons are Born
20. The Story of Mandavya
21. The Brothers Get Married
22. Pandu Goes Hunting
23. The Story of Kunti's Mantra
24. Kunti and Madri Have Sons
25. Dhritarashtra Has a Son
26. Gandhari Has Sons
27. Pandu Cannot Resist
28. A Story about Pandu
29. Duryodhana Plots against Bhima
30. Bhima Meets the Naga King
31. Drona Comes to Hastinapura
32. Drona Arranges an Archery Contest
33. A Crocodile Attacks Drona
34. Ekalavya Seeks a Guru
35. Drona Demands Payment
36. The Princes Display Their Prowess
37. Karna Becomes King of Anga
38. The Story of Karna and the Two Curses
39. Karna Becomes Parashurama's Disciple
40. The Story of Drona and Drupada
41. Drona Gets Revenge
42. Drupada Prays for Children
43. Shikhandin Gets Married
44. Shikhandin Meets a Helpful Yaksha
45. Kubera Confronts Sthuni
46. Kunti's Elephant Ritual
47. Queen Satyavati Departs
48. The Kauravas and Pandavas Trade Insults
49. Bhishma Imprisons Subala
50. King Dhritarashtra Sends the Pandavas Away
51. Duryodhana Plots against the Pandavas
52. The House in Varanavata Burns
53. The Pandavas Escape
54. Bhima Fights a Rakshasa
55. Bhima Fights Baka
56. The Pandavas Meet a Gandharva
57. Drupada Holds a Swayamvara
58. Krishna Recognizes the Pandavas
59. Arjuna Competes in the Swayamvara
60. The Pandavas Must Share the Alms
61. King Drupada Receives the Pandavas
62. The Story of Nalayani
63. Shiva Fulfills a Woman's Prayer
64. Draupadi Marries the Pandavas
65. King Dhritarashtra Deliberates
66. The Pandavas Go to Khandavaprastha
67. Khandava Forest Burns
68. The Story of Sunda and Upasunda
69. Draupadi Becomes a Mother
70. Arjuna Violates the Agreement
71. Arjuna Comes to a Deadly Lake
72. Arjuna Meets Ulupi
73. Arjuna Elopes with Subhadra
74. Duryodhana Visits Indraprastha
75. Shishupala Insults Krishna
76. King Yudhishthira Makes a Vow
77. Duryodhana Plots with Shakuni
78. Duryodhana Invites the Pandavas to Hastinapura
79. The Pandavas Enter the Gambling Hall
80. The Game Begins
81. Duryodhana Summons Draupadi
82. Dushasana Brings Draupadi into the Assembly
83. Duryodhana Seeks to Disrobe Draupadi
84. Bhima Makes a Vow
85. King Dhritarashtra Grants Draupadi a Boon
86. Duryodhana Demands a Rematch
87. Yudhishthira Gambles Again
88. The Exile Begins
89. The Story of Kurukshetra
90. The Story of Rama
91. The Story of Nala
92. The Story of Savitri
93. The Rishi Maitreya Curses Duryodhana
94. Jayadratha Comes to the Forest
95. The Pandavas Stop Jayadratha
96. Bhima Searches for Lotuses
97. A Python Captures Bhima
98. Vyasa Advises Yudhishthira
99. Arjuna Encounters a Hunter
100. Arjuna Visits Indra's Heaven
101. The Pandavas Are Reunited
102. Duryodhana Fights the Gandharvas
103. The Pandavas Look for Water
104. Yudhishthira Answers the Questions
105. The Yaksha Revives the Pandavas
106. The Pandavas Go to King Virata
107. Kichaka Pursues Draupadi
108. Draupadi Seeks Protection
109. Bhima Kills Kichaka
110. Duryodhana Searches for the Pandavas
111. Duryodhana Attacks Virata
112. Prince Uttara and Arjuna Ride into Battle
113. Arjuna Faces the Kauravas in Battle
114. King Virata Boasts about Prince Uttara
115. The Pandavas Reveal Themselves
116. Yudhishthira Hopes for Peace
117. Dhritarashtra Sends an Envoy of Peace
118. Dhritarashtra Seeks Advice
119. Arjuna and Duryodhana Go to Dwaraka
120. Whose Side Will Balarama Join?
121. King Shalya Makes an Alliance
122. Duryodhana Insists on War
123. Krishna Consoles the Pandavas
124. Dhritarashtra Learns of Krishna's Coming
125. Krishna Comes to Hastinapura
126. Krishna Addresses the Assembly
127. Krishna Speaks with Karna
128. The Armies Assemble
129. The Story of the Lakes at Kurukshetra
130. The Story of Vishnu and Bhudevi
131. Kali Demands a Sacrifice
132. Iravan Watches the Battle
133. Arjuna Arrives at Kurukshetra
134. Krishna Reveals Himself to Arjuna
135. Yuyutsu Chooses a Side
136. The War Begins
137. The Pandavas and Kauravas Clash
138. Arjuna Attacks Bhishma
139. Duryodhana Attacks with Elephants
140. Barbarika Joins the War
141. Shikhandin Confronts Bhishma
142. Bhishma Lies on the Bed of Arrows
143. Kunti Comes to Karna
144. Indra Visits Karna in Disguise
145. Bhima Pursues the Sons of Gandhari
146. Duryodhana Plans to Capture Yudhishthira
147. Abhimanyu Enters the Maze
148. Arjuna Vows to Avenge Abhimanyu
149. Duryodhana Seeks Gandhari's Blessing
150. Bhima Fights Karna
151. King Bhagadatta Attacks Arjuna
152. The Rakshasas Attack
153. The Pandavas Plan Drona's Death
154. Drona Hears Word of Ashwatthama's Death
155. Ashwatthama Launches the Narayana-Astra
156. Ashwatthama Makes a Vow
157. Bhima Finds Dushasana
158. Karna Duels with Arjuna
159. The Duel Continues
160. Karna Forgets the Mantra
161. Krishna Tests Karna's Generosity
162. Yudhishthira Confronts Shalya
163. Duryodhana Despairs
164. Duryodhana Hides in the Lake
165. Duryodhana Duels with Bhima
166. Duryodhana Summons Balarama
167. Duryodhana Addresses His Son
168. Draupadi Greets the Victorious Pandavas
169. Barbarika Settles an Argument
170. Ashwatthama Makes a Final Vow
171. The Kauravas Raid the Camp by Night
172. Ashwatthama Returns to Duryodhana
173. The One Hundred Kauravas
174. Krishna Curses Ashwatthama
175. Kunti Searches the Battlefield
176. The Pandavas Honor Karna
177. Gandhari Searches the Battlefield
178. The Pandavas Return to Hastinapura
179. Gandhari Curses Krishna
180. The Pandavas Mourn the Dead
181. Yudhishthira Becomes King of Hastinapura
182. Bhishma Instructs Yudhishthira
183. Bhishma Departs This World
184. Dhritarashtra Stays in the Palace
185. The Elders Go into the Forest
186. The Yadavas Quarrel
187. The Story of the Reeds
188. Balarama and Krishna Depart the World
189. Krishna Tells Jara a Story
190. The Pandavas Depart
191. The Pandavas Climb Mount Meru
192. Yudhishthira Must Choose
193. Yudhishthira Finds the Kauravas in Heaven
194. Yudhishthira Descends to Naraka
195. Parikshit Is Cursed
196. Parikshit Hides in the Tower
197. Janamejaya Conducts a Snake Sacrifice
198. Astika Confronts Janamejaya
199. Janamejaya Hears the Mahabharata Story
200. You Reach the End

STORY SOURCES

For story-specific sources, see the links above.

Ganguli, Kisari Mohan. The Mahabharata. [Available online.]

Narayan, R. K. The Mahabharata: A Shortened Modern Prose Version.

Pattanaik, Devdutt. Jaya: An Illustrated Retelling of the Mahabharata.

GLOSSARY. See the website for a glossary of characters and terms.

Errata. I will record errata here as I find them.

Rabbit's Wedding Feast

Rabbit built a trap in the shed and then boiled water for stew.

"I'm getting married!" Rabbit yelled. "Come to the feast!"

Cow came.

"Go fetch wine from the shed," Rabbit said. "Here's the key."

Cow opened the door. SNAP went the trap.

Rabbit threw Cow in the pot.

Elephant came, opened the door, SNAP went the trap.

Rabbit threw Elephant in the pot.

Monkey came. "Help!" he yelled. "I can't figure out how this key works."

"Fool!" said Rabbit. "Like this." Rabbit opened the door, SNAP went the trap.

Rabbit jumped just in time, but he lost his tail.

Inspired by: Folklore of the Antilles by Elsie Clews Parsons.
Notes: Parsons collected this story in Les Saintes; you can find it online at Hathi Trust; she indexes it as: 14. Caught in his own trap, although it's not a "heave!" type as told here; it really should be classified as 15. Pitfall; see this story from Guadaloupe (French) for example.

photo by Becky Matsubara

Tiger on the Run

People were chasing Tiger, so he jumped in a hole.

Rabbit saw Tiger's butt sticking out and poked him with a hat-pin.

"Ouch! Sandflies are biting!" Tiger groaned.

Poke. "Ouch!"

Then Tiger heard Rabbit laughing. He jumped out and grabbed Rabbit. "I'll barbecue you right here. Go up this tree and fetch down some wood!"

From up in the tree, Rabbit yelled, "Tiger, I see them coming for you!"

"Which way?"

"Coming from the east!"

Tiger ran west.

"Coming from the west!"

Tiger ran south.

"Coming from the south!"

Tiger ran north, fell off a cliff, and died.

Inspired by: Folklore of the Antilles by Elsie Clews Parsons.
Notes: Parsons collected this story in Saint Croix; you can find it online at Hathi Trust; she indexes it as: 013. Mock pursuit. Tiger is fleeing from the man after a "take-my-place" episode with Rabbit earlier.

Gorilla's Gold Teeth

Rabbit needed gold. No time to dig a mine or rob a bank; he'd just take Gorilla's gold teeth!

He went to Gorilla's house, weeping.

"What's wrong, Rabbit?" she asked.

"God said I must eat every bite of his biggest cow, or he'll kill me."

"No worries, Rabbit!" said Gorilla. "I'll eat God's cow!"

"Thank you!" said Rabbit. "Let's gather wood to make a roasting-fire."

They gathered wood and Gorilla put the bundle on her head.

Then Rabbit set that bundle on fire!

Gorilla screamed, ran, and fell down. Her gold teeth popped out, and Rabbit grabbed them

Mission accomplished.

Inspired by: Folklore of the Antilles by Elsie Clews Parsons.
Notes: Parsons collected this story in Santa Lucia; you can find it online at Hathi Trust; she indexes it as: 1. Rabbit Seeks Endowments. In the original story, God wants the Gorilla's gold teeth as part of the wisdom quest.

gold teeth

Box of Wisdom

Waving the bottle of Tiger's tears, Rabbit shouted at God. "Mission accomplished! Now show me wisdom!"

"It's under that crate," said God, pointing at an overturned crate. "Go look! You'll see what I mean."

But when God turned around, Rabbit hid in the bushes.

Next, God let loose a thunderbolt that smashed the box to pieces.

Rabbit hopped out of the bushes and laughed. "If I weren't so smart, that would've killed me!"

"Then you don't need my wisdom!" God yelled, grabbing Rabbit by the ears and threw him far as he could.

That's how Rabbit got his long ears.

Inspired by: Folklore of the Antilles by Elsie Clews Parsons.
Notes: For the first part of this story and notes, see: Tiger's Tears.

Tiger's Tears

"I want more wisdom!" Rabbit said to God.

"Bring me Tiger's tears," God replied. "Then I'll show you wisdom."

Rabbit got some paper and wrote on it with charcoal. Then he went to Tiger. "Message for you from God!" he said.

"You know I can't read," said Tiger. "Read it for me!"

"Message says: HURRICANE COMING."

"Oh no!" shouted Tiger. "Tie me to the tree before the winds come, Rabbit! Tie me!"

Rabbit tied Tiger and then beat Tiger so hard Tiger cried.

After collecting Tiger's tears, he thanked Tiger, and then hopped back to God to claim his reward.

Inspired by: Folklore of the Antilles by Elsie Clews Parsons.
Notes: Parsons collected this story in Trinidad; you can find it online at Hathi Trust; she indexes it as: 1. Rabbit Seeks Endowments. This is just part of the story. In the first part, Rabbit tricks wasps into getting into a gourd (pretending he has a bet with someone who says the wasps cannot get into the gourd). For the final part of the story, see: Box of Wisdom.

Cerva in Spelunca

Cerva canes audit, et sibi dicit, "Ubi canes, ibi venatores!"

Cerva valde venatores timet, et eorum canes timet quoque.

Sic territa, cerva venatores celeriter fugit, et in speluncam pervenit.

Cerva sibi cogitat, "Ecce spelunca! In hac spelunca latebo. Si in spelunca latebo, venatores me non invenient."

Fortuna sua gaudens, cerva in speluncam intrat, dicens, "Nunc salva sum!"

Sed in hac spelunca vivit leo! Leo cervam comprehendit, fortuna sua gaudens.

Ab leone comprehensa, cerva ad mortem se parat, exclamans, "Vae mihi! Hominem fugiens, ferae me tradidi, et nunc moritura sum."

Fabula docet: Homines quoque, minoribus periculis territi, in mala maiora incurrunt.

Inspired by: Mille Fabulae et Una.
Notes: This story is Fable 159. Cerva in Speluncam Fugiens, from De Furia's Latin translation of the Greek Aesop (Perry 76). I have simplified the story, making it easier to read. For an English version (not a translation), see: The Deer in the Cave.

image source

Asinus et Leo

Asinus occurrit leoni et dicit, "Te saluto, O rex regum! Quid facis? Si nihil facis, ascendamus in cacumen montis! Tibi ostendam rem mirabilem: animalia omnia me timent."

Leo aselli verba ridet, et dicit, "Eamus! Mihi ostende istam rem mirabilem!"

Ad cacumen montis veniunt. In hoc loco edito stant, et asellus voce magna et terribile clamat.

Hanc vocem terribiliem audientes, lepores fugiunt; vulpes fugiunt; apri et lupi et animalia omnia fugiunt.

Asellus leoni dicit, "Nunc vides: animalia omnia me timent."

Leo asino respondet, "Te non timent, asine! Vocem tuam timent. Sed vox tua me non terret, quia scio: tu asinus es!"

Inspired by: Mille Fabulae et Una.
Notes: This story is Fable 233. Asinus Animalia Fugans et Leo, from Steinhowel (Perry 151). I have simplified the story, making it easier to read. For an English version (not a translation), see: The Lion and the Donkey Go Hunting.

Steinhowel

Leo et Mus

Leo dormit, et musculi circum eum lascive currunt. Unus in leonis dorsum insilit. Leo experrectus est et murem capit.

Mus, territus, leoni dicit, "Imprudentiam meam excusa! Si vitae meae parces, tibi gratias referam. Gratias magnas tibi referam. Firmiter hoc promitto!"

Leo ira commotus est, sed musculum dimittit, dicens, "Tibi ignosco, bestiola contempta!"

Paulo post, leo incautius praedam vestigat. In laqueos incidit et captus est. Rugitum maximum edit.

Accurrit musculus et leonem vinculis detentum videt. Arrepit ad laqueos et eos corrodit.

Hoc modo leonem periculo liberat et dicit, "Tibi ludibrio eram. Sed nunc scias: etiam musculi minusculi gratias magnas referunt posse."

Inspired by: Mille Fabulae et Una.
Notes: This story is Fable 208. Mus et Leo, from Yenni's Latin textbook (Perry 150). I have simplified the story, making it easier to read. For an English version (not a translation), see: The Lion and the Mouse.

illustration by Conde

Mus in Cervisia

Cervisia in olla bullit.

Mus in spumam cervisiae cadit.

Catus, transiens, murem audit pipantem.

"Exire non possum!"

Catus dicit, "Quare clamas?"

Mus respondet, "In spumam cervisiae cecidi! Exire non possum!"

Catus dicit, "Si te extraham ex cervisiae spuma, quid mihi dabis?"

Mus respondet, "Tibi dabo quidquid postulabis!"

"Si te liberabo, veni ad me quando te vocabo."

Mus iurat. "Firmiter hoc promitto."

Catus murem extrahit et ire permittit.

Alio die, catus, esuriens, venit ad muris foramen et clamat, "Veni ad me, mus!"

Sed mus dicit, "Ad te non venio."

Catus respondet, "Sed iuravisti mihi!”

Mus ridet. "Frater, ebria fui quando iuravi."

Inspired by: Mille Fabulae et Una.
Notes: This story is Fable 202. Mus in Cervisia, from Odo of Cheriton (Perry 615). I have simplified the story, making it easier to read. For an English version (not a translation), see: The Cat and the Mouse in the Beer.

cat and mouse

Audiobook: Tiny Tales from the Mahabharata

You will find links to the texts of the individual stories below, and you can access the playlist at SoundCloud here: Tiny Tales from the Mahabharata playlist.