In a village near a vast forest, two friends named Arul and Mani worked hard as woodcutters. Every day, they would head into the woods at dawn, gather dry wood, and sell it in the town market by evening to earn their living.
One scorching afternoon, while they were resting under a large banyan tree, an old man approached them. He looked frail and exhausted, his eyes reflecting deep hunger. Arul, being a kind-hearted man, immediately reached for his lunch box to share his meal with the stranger.
'Wait, Arul,' Mani said, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder. 'If we only give him food, his hunger will return tomorrow, and he will be in the same position. We should help him find a way to feed himself.'
Mani approached the old man gently. He noticed the man's old axe was broken and rusted. Mani handed him his spare axe and sat beside him. He didn't just give him a tool; he spent the next few hours teaching the man how to swing the axe properly, how to select the best wood, and how to work efficiently without getting too tired.
Encouraged by their kindness, the old man worked with newfound energy. By evening, the three of them went to the market together. Because the wood the old man had gathered was neatly cut and of high quality, it sold very quickly for a good price.
The old man was overwhelmed with gratitude. Using the earnings, Mani bought the man a sturdy new axe and a warm meal. Arul watched with admiration and said, 'I wanted to satisfy his hunger for a moment, but you, Mani, have helped him build a future.'
From that day on, the man was no longer a wanderer. He became a hardworking woodcutter, living a life of dignity and independence.
Moral
Instead of giving a fish, teach a person how to fish.
