Loyalty & Devotion
Promises, family duties, love and commitment place characters under pressure in these stories. Their decisions can reveal care, conflicting responsibilities or demands that ask too much. Examine who makes each promise and whether it was freely chosen; suffering by itself does not prove devotion or create a duty to remain in danger.
Indian Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
Keep It for the Beggar
Every night a farmer asks his wife to save some dhal soup for his breakfast, until one night an invisible someone laughs out loud at his words.
Indian Folk Tales
The Three Calamities
Minister Bodhaditya hears Kali weep over three threats to the king; he averts arrows, poisoned rice, and a serpent, then proves loyalty.
Indian Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Fish Prince
A prince transformed into a fish is cared for by a queen. Maya, brought as his bride after her father accepts payment, receives a cobra's help to end the spell.
Indian Folk Tales
Ekalavya and Drona
A forest prince turned away by the great archery teacher Drona trains alone before a clay statue of him, until his skill outshines even Arjuna’s.
Hitopadesha
The Story of the Faithful Rajpoot
A king secretly follows his highly paid soldier and discovers a demand for a terrible family sacrifice, followed by a supernatural reversal.