About the Author
"The Friendly Mongoose" is a story from the NCERT "A Pact with the Sun" textbook for Class 6. It’s a folktale, which means it’s an old story told by many people over time to teach a lesson. There’s no single author because folktales come from oral traditions, passed down through generations. The NCERT team has written it in simple words so students like you can enjoy and learn from it.
What’s the Story About?
This story is about a kind farmer, his family, and a little mongoose who becomes part of their home. It teaches us to think carefully before acting, especially when we’re scared or angry.
Once, a farmer and his wife lived in a village with their baby boy. They loved their son very much but worried about him because there were snakes around their house. One day, the farmer found a tiny baby mongoose, small and helpless. He brought it home, thinking it could grow up to protect their baby from snakes, as mongooses are known to fight them.
The farmer’s wife wasn’t sure at first. She thought the mongoose might harm their baby. But soon, she saw how gentle and playful the mongoose was, like a cute pet. They fed it milk and food, and it grew strong and fast. The mongoose became part of the family, running around the house and playing near the baby’s cradle. The wife started to trust it, seeing how it never hurt anyone.
One morning, the wife needed to go to the market. She told her husband to watch the baby, who was sleeping in the cradle. The farmer said, “Don’t worry, the mongoose is here to guard him.” But soon, the farmer also had to leave for some work, leaving the baby and the mongoose alone at home.
While they were gone, a big black snake slithered into the house, heading toward the baby’s cradle. The mongoose, quick and brave, saw the danger. It jumped on the snake, fought fiercely, and killed it. The mongoose’s mouth and paws were covered in the snake’s blood, but it saved the baby.
When the farmer’s wife came back from the market, she saw the mongoose waiting at the door with blood on its face. She didn’t see the dead snake inside. Thinking the mongoose had attacked her baby, she screamed in fear and anger. Without checking, she threw her heavy market basket at the mongoose, killing the poor animal.
Heartbroken and scared, she ran inside to check on her baby. To her surprise, the baby was safe and sleeping peacefully. Near the cradle, she saw the dead snake, torn apart by the mongoose. Only then did she realize her terrible mistake. The mongoose hadn’t hurt her baby—it had saved him! She cried for the loyal mongoose, but it was too late. The story ends with the lesson that acting in a hurry without thinking can lead to big mistakes.
Who’s Who in the Story
- The Farmer: A kind man who loves his family and brings the mongoose home to protect his baby.
- The Farmer’s Wife: A caring mother who loves her son but makes a mistake by not trusting the mongoose.
- The Baby: The farmer’s little son, who sleeps in a cradle and is kept safe by the mongoose.
- The Mongoose: A small, brave, and loyal animal who becomes part of the family and saves the baby from a snake.
- The Snake: A dangerous black snake that tries to attack the baby but is killed by the mongoose.
Themes and Moral
Themes (Big Ideas in the Story):
The story talks about trust, love for family, and the dangers of acting too quickly. It shows how the mongoose was loyal, but a mistake made in fear caused a sad ending. It also teaches us to understand animals and their actions.
Moral (The Lesson):
Don’t act in a hurry when you’re scared or angry. Always check the truth before deciding, or you might make a big mistake you’ll regret later.
Important Vocabulary and Phrases
Here are some key words and phrases from the story, explained in simple, everyday words for you.
| Word or Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Farmer | A person who grows crops or takes care of animals to earn a living. |
| Cradle | A small bed for a baby that can rock gently. |
| Mongoose | A small, quick animal that fights snakes and eats insects. |
| Helpless | Unable to do things on your own, needing help. |
| Gentle | Kind and soft, not rough or harmful. |
| Playful | Full of fun, liking to run around and play. |
| Guard | To watch over and protect someone or something. |
| Slithered | Moved smoothly and quietly, like a snake sliding on the ground. |
| Fiercely | In a strong and wild way, like fighting with all your strength. |
| Blood | The red liquid that comes out when someone is hurt. |
| Screamed | Shouted loudly because of fear or anger. |
| Heavy | Something that weighs a lot, hard to lift. |
| Torn apart | Broken into pieces, like the snake after the mongoose fought it. |
| Realize | To understand something clearly, often after a mistake. |
| Loyal | Staying true and faithful to someone, like a good friend. |
| Regret | Feeling sad about something you did wrong. |