The Woodcutter and the Axe Story

The Woodcutter and the Axe Story is a moral story about a hardworking woodcutter named Raghav who loses his axe in a river.

When a river goddess offers him a golden and silver axe, he truthfully admits they aren’t his, even though they are valuable.

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Impressed by his honesty, the goddess rewards him with all three axes. However, a greedy neighbour who tries to deceive the goddess is punished for his dishonesty.

The story teaches the important lesson that honesty is always rewarded, while greed leads to misfortune.

The Woodcutter and the Axe – Let’s Read

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful village surrounded by a dense forest, where lived a humble woodcutter named Raghav.

He was known for his honesty and hard work.

Every day, he went to the forest, cut wood, and sold it in the market to provide for his family. Raghav’s only valuable possession was his old, sturdy axe, which he used for his work.

One day, as Raghav was cutting wood near a river, his axe slipped from his hand. The axe was fell into the deep, fast-flowing water.

He was devastated, for without his axe, he could no longer work and earn a living. Sitting by the riverbank, he began to cry in despair.

Suddenly, there was a shimmering light from the river, and a divine figure emerged. It was the river goddess, who had heard Raghav’s cries.

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“Why are you so sad, dear woodcutter?” she asked gently.

“My axe has fallen into the river, and without it, I cannot work,” Raghav replied, wiping his tears.

The goddess smiled kindly and said, “Do not worry. I will help you.“

She disappeared into the river and returned moments later with a gleaming golden axe. “Is this your axe?” she asked.

Raghav was amazed by the beauty of the golden axe but shook his head. “No, this is not my axe. Mine was old and made of iron.”

The goddess dipped into the water again and came back with a silver axe. “What about this one?”

Raghav looked at the silver axe and replied, “No, this is not mine either.”

Finally, the goddess brought up a simple iron axe, rusty and worn. “Is this your axe?” she asked.

Raghav’s eyes lit up with joy. “Yes! This is my axe!” he exclaimed.

The goddess was pleased with Raghav’s honesty. “Because you have been truthful, I will give you all three axes: the gold, the silver, and your own iron axe.”

Raghav was overjoyed and thanked the goddess for her kindness. He returned home with all three axes and continued his work with a grateful heart.

The news of Raghav’s good fortune spread throughout the village.

One of his neighbors, who was greedy and dishonest, decided to try his luck. He went to the same spot by the river, deliberately dropped his axe into the water, and pretended to cry.

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True wealth is not measured by gold or silver, but by the honesty we carry in our hearts; for in truth, we find the richest rewards.

The river goddess appeared once again and asked, “Why are you crying?”

“My axe fell into the river,” the neighbor said, pretending to be upset.

The goddess went into the river and returned with a golden axe. “Is this your axe?” she asked.

Without hesitation, the greedy man nodded. “Yes, that is mine.”

But the goddess saw through his lie. She took back the golden axe and disappeared, leaving the man with nothing.

The neighbor learned a hard lesson: dishonesty never leads to true success.

Moral of the Story

Here are possible morals of this story:

• Honesty is the best policy – Being truthful always leads to good outcomes. Raghav’s honesty earned him more than he expected, while the dishonest man lost everything.
• Greed leads to loss – The greedy neighbor thought he could trick the goddess, but instead, he was left empty-handed. Greed never brings true success.
• Truth earns respect and rewards – People trust and respect those who are honest. Raghav’s honesty made him an example for everyone in the village.
• Hard work and sincerity pay off – Raghav worked hard every day, and because of his sincerity, he was rewarded in an unexpected way.
• Lies are always uncovered – The dishonest man tried to deceive the goddess, but the truth was revealed. Lies might work for a short time, but they never last.
• Contentment brings happiness – Raghav was happy with his simple iron axe, while the greedy man wanted more than he deserved and ended up with nothing.

What Kids Learn from This Story

This story teaches kids important values that help them become better individuals. Here are some key lessons with more details:

• Always tell the truth – If we are truthful in our daily lives, people will trust and respect us. On the other hand, lying can lead to loss and regret, just like it did for the greedy neighbor.
• Greed never brings happiness – The greedy man wanted the golden axe even though it wasn’t his. Instead of gaining something, he lost everything. This shows that wanting more than we deserve can make us lose what we already have. True happiness comes from being satisfied with what we earn honestly.
• Hard work pays off – Raghav worked hard every day to earn his living, and because of his dedication, he was blessed with more than he expected. This teaches kids that putting in effort and doing the right thing always leads to success, while shortcuts and dishonesty often lead to failure.
• Lying never works – The greedy man thought he could trick the goddess, but she saw through his lie. Even in real life, lies may work for a short time, but eventually, the truth is revealed. When people discover that someone is dishonest, they lose trust in that person. That’s why it’s always better to be truthful.
• Good people are always rewarded – When we choose honesty and kindness, we earn respect and sometimes even unexpected rewards. Raghav did not expect the golden and silver axes, but because of his honesty, he received them. This teaches kids that doing the right thing always leads to good results, even if they don’t come immediately.
• Be thankful for what you have – Raghav was happy with his simple iron axe, and because he didn’t try to take something that wasn’t his, he was given more than he had before. This shows that being grateful for what we have can bring more blessings into our lives. Complaining and being greedy, on the other hand, can lead to disappointment.

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