A Greedy Woodcutter Story

Once, there lived a greedy woodcutter named Somu with his mother in a village. Every day he used to go to a nearby forest to cut some wood. He used to earn money by selling the wood he got. Also, he used to have some wood at home for cooking and was taken care of by his mother. He used to be satisfied at the beginning but a few months later, Somu thought that “Why should I do this much hard work every day?” He kept on thinking of a solution while working with a frustrated mind. However, he completed cutting the wood for the day and went to the village to sell it.

On the way back home, he saw a carpenter working with wood. The carpenter was really talented and was doing amazing furniture. Somu went to the carpenter and asked how he could do such fantastic equipment! The talk went on for a while and Somu returned home.

His mother had cooked food for him and served it. While having food, Somu started talking to his mother, “Mom! I am tired of cutting wood every day and I feel I could not do it. I want to do something else and earn a good living.” His mother was listening to him and Somu continued, “I found a carpenter on the way back home. I am thinking of selling the wood that I get from the forest to him and earn more. Then, I need not work for the whole day and we will get better income too”. After all this, his mother replied, “Okay Son. If you wish it is good for you. You can do the same”.

The next day, Somu went to the forest, got wood, sold it to the carpenter, and earned 50% more than what he usually gets. Days passed.

Somu has become greedy now and wants to earn a luxurious life. So, he wanted to cut many more trees in a day & sell to many more carpenters in his & nearby villages. When he told his mother, she told him not to do this saying “Son, now you are earning good and we are leading a happy life. This is enough, we should not be greedy. God has given us what we need”. “Also, we are living this life because of the forest trees. We should not overuse too. We must save trees for future generations.” Somu did not listen to his mother’s words and kept cutting more trees. For a few days, it went all well and everything was okay.

Suddenly, one day when Somu was cutting a branch of a tree and got injured with the axe on his leg. Now, the woodcutter could not walk and all his earned money had been spent on treatment. But, nothing worked and he had to stay home. Doctors told them that there is one tree in the forest that can cure this and he would be normal.

On going to the forest, they found that the tree was cut. Somu got to remember that he was the one who had cut it due to his greediness over money. He felt very sad and cried that he should not have done it and thought he would have listened to his mother’s words.

Fortunately, the woodcutter’s mother had planted a few saplings long back that had grown well now. In those, there was a tree that can help with her son’s recovery. Finally, doctors prepared medicine from that tree and Somu recovered very soon. The woodcutter learned a lesson now that trees are the most important living beings and we should save them too.

Somu thanked his mother and pledged himself that “I will not cut wood unnecessarily except for my living. I will never behave greedily and I will always respect my mother’s words.”

The woodcutter’s mother said, “If we save trees, they will save us too. Vruksho Rakshathi Rakshithaha” They lived together happily further.

Morals of The Greedy Woodcutter Story

Vruksho Rakshathi Rakshithaha!

Save trees! Let us save our environment and live peacefully and happily.

Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed. Satisfy with the needs and never be greedy for your wants.

Always listen to your parents’ or elders’ advice and respect them. You will find it valuable since everything they tell us of their own experiences.

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