Tale of the Three Fishes: The lake lay deep within a lush forest. It was far from the bustling villages of men. It was filled with crystal-clear water and a vibrant community of aquatic life. Among the many inhabitants of this lake lived three large fishes who were inseparable friends. However, despite their bond, they couldn’t have been more different in their outlook on life. Their names were Anagatavidhata (Forethought), Pratyutpannamatih (Ready-witted), and Yadbhavishya (Fatalist).
The Three Personalities
Anagatavidhata was a fish of great wisdom. He believed in looking ahead and preparing for potential dangers before they arrived. His philosophy was comparable to the story of The Elephant and the Sparrow. In that tale, planning and strategy overcome brute force.
Pratyutpannamatih, the second fish, was a master of the present moment. He didn’t worry much about the future, but he possessed an incredibly sharp mind. He believed that no matter how difficult a situation became, one could always find a way out. Intelligence could be used, much like the cleverness displayed in The Lion and the Jackal.
Then there was Yadbhavishya. He was a fatalist. He believed that whatever was destined to happen would happen. He thought that no amount of effort could change the course of fate. He frequently dismissed advice. This behavior was similar to the stubborn characters in The Bird and the Monkey. They refuse to listen to reason until it is too late.
The Looming Danger
One evening, the sun dipped below the horizon. It painted the sky in shades of orange and purple. The three fishes were swimming near the edge of the lake. They overheard a group of fishermen walking along the bank.
“Look at this pond!” one fisherman exclaimed. “It’s full of large fishes. We have never cast our nets here. Let’s come back tomorrow morning and clear it out.”
Anagatavidhata’s heart sank. He knew this was a warning they could not ignore. He turned to his friends and said, “Did you hear that? We must leave this lake immediately. There is a small canal that leads to a neighboring pond. We should migrate tonight before the sun rises.”
Yadbhavishya laughed it off. “Why worry about tomorrow? Those fishermen might not even come. And if death is my destiny, I cannot escape it, whether I stay here or go elsewhere.” His attitude was a dangerous mix of laziness and misplaced faith, reminiscent of the conflict between Right-Mind and Wrong-Mind.
Pratyutpannamatih also decided to stay. “I don’t see the need to leave my home just yet,” he said. “If the fishermen do come, I will find a way to escape then.”
The Morning of Reckoning
Anagatavidhata saw that his friends would not budge. He sadly bid them farewell. He then swam through the canal to reach the safety of the neighboring pond. He knew that ignoring a warning often led to disaster. This was evident in the tragedy of The Sparrow And The Monkey.
As dawn broke, the fishermen arrived with their heavy nets. They cast them wide across the lake, trapping hundreds of fishes, including Pratyutpannamatih and Yadbhavishya.
Pratyutpannamatih immediately realized the gravity of the situation. He didn’t panic like the Foolish Crane And The Mongoose; instead, he used his wit. He held his breath, stiffened his body, and pretended to be dead. When the fishermen hauled the net onto the shore, they saw him lying still and thought he was already rotten. They threw him back into the water, and he quickly swam away to safety.
Meanwhile, Yadbhavishya did nothing but thrash around in the net, hoping for a miracle that fate would never provide. He was easily caught, and that was the end of his journey. His belief in fate without action was as illogical as the story of The Mice That Ate Iron.
Moral of the Story
The Tale of the Three Fishes teaches us that while we cannot control everything, those who plan ahead will thrive. Those who use their intelligence to adapt to crises will also succeed. Relying solely on luck or fate is a path to certain ruin.
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