Long ago, in the heart of a dense forest, lived a jackal named Kshudra. He was always wandering in search of food.
One hot afternoon, when the forest was still and quiet, a strange sound suddenly echoed—
“DUM… DUM… DUM!”
Startled, Kshudra froze.
“What is that dreadful noise?” he whispered to himself, his ears twitching. “Could it be a fierce animal waiting to attack me?”
The sound grew louder as the wind blew again—
“DUM! DUM!”
Kshudra’s heart pounded. “If it truly is a monster, I must be careful. But if it is not, perhaps it could lead me to food. I should see for myself.”
Cautiously, step by step, the jackal moved forward. Soon, he reached a clearing where he saw a huge war drum lying under a tall sal tree. Each time the wind blew, a branch struck the drum, making the terrifying noise.
Kshudra blinked in surprise. “So, this was the great monster? A hollow drum making empty sounds!”
He tapped it with his paw—DUM!
Then again with his nose—DUM!
“Ha-ha!” laughed Kshudra. “I was frightened by nothing but an empty shell.”
Then he thought, “If it makes so much noise, perhaps it hides something delicious inside.”
He bit and tore at the leather skin of the drum, but alas, there was nothing inside.
With a heavy sigh, Kshudra muttered,
“Now I understand—things that make the loudest noise are often empty within. Neither food nor danger lay here, only sound.”
And so, the jackal returned to the forest, a little wiser than before.
✨ Moral: Empty vessels make the loudest sound. One should not fear or admire things merely because they seem big or noisy.