Panchatantra — The Monkey and the Crocodile
A clever monkey living in a rose-apple tree by a river befriends a crocodile, sharing sweet fruits with him daily. The crocodile's wife grows jealous and demands to eat the monkey's heart. The crocodile tricks the monkey into climbing onto his back for a ride, then reveals his plan. Quick-witted, the monkey claims he left his heart back in the tree and convinces the crocodile to return. Once safe in the branches, the monkey exposes the deceit: 'You foolish creature! How could anyone keep their heart outside their body?' This classic Panchatantra fable teaches that presence of mind can overcome