The Monkey and the Fishermen

Summary

The story features a Monkey who observes Fishermen casting their nets and decides to imitate them once they leave for a meal. In his attempt to mimic the Fishermen's actions, the Monkey handles and throws the net into the river but becomes entangled and drowns. The tale concludes with the Monkey's realization that he got into trouble because he tried to undertake a task he was neither experienced nor skilled at. This narrative serves as a cautionary lesson on the risks of blindly imitating others, especially in tasks or situations where one lacks proper knowledge or experience.

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A Monkey perched upon a lofty tree saw some Fishermen casting their nets into a river, and narrowly watched their proceedings. The Fishermen after a while gave up fishing, and on going home to dinner left their nets upon the bank. The Monkey, who is the most imitative of animals, descended from the treetop and endeavored to do as they had done. Having handled the net, he threw it into the river, but became tangled in the meshes and drowned. With his last breath he said to himself, “I am rightly served; for what business had I who had never handled a net to try and catch fish?”