The story
A farmer bought a well from his neighbour. But when he went to draw water, the neighbour stopped him. “I sold you the well,” he said, “not the water!”
The farmer went to Emperor Akbar, and Birbal was asked to settle it.
“You are right,” Birbal told the neighbour. “The water is yours and the well is the farmer’s. So please take your water out of his well at once — or pay him rent for keeping it there!”
The neighbour realised he was beaten, apologised, and let the farmer use his well.
Moral of the Story
Tricks and twisted words cannot beat fairness for long.
More stories on HonestyStories for this age
कहानी — कुआँ और पानी
एक किसान ने अपने पड़ोसी से एक कुआँ ख़रीदा। पर जब वह पानी भरने गया, तो पड़ोसी ने उसे रोक दिया। "मैंने तुम्हें कुआँ बेचा है," उसने कहा, "पानी नहीं!"
किसान बादशाह अकबर के पास गया, और बीरबल से यह झगड़ा सुलझाने को कहा गया।
"तुम ठीक कहते हो," बीरबल ने पड़ोसी से कहा। "पानी तुम्हारा है और कुआँ किसान का। तो अपना पानी फ़ौरन उसके कुएँ से निकाल लो — या उसमें पानी रखने का किराया दो!"
पड़ोसी समझ गया कि वह हार गया है। उसने माफ़ी माँगी और किसान को उसका कुआँ इस्तेमाल करने दिया।
कहानी की सीख
चालाकी और बातों को तोड़-मरोड़कर न्याय को ज़्यादा देर तक नहीं हराया जा सकता।
What Children Can Learn
- Fairness
- Logical thinking
- Honest deals
Emotional & social lesson
Keep your promises in the spirit they were made.
Key vocabulary
- well
- a deep hole dug to reach water
- deal
- an agreement to buy or swap
- rent
- money paid to use something
Think & Answer
- What trick did the neighbour try?
- How did Birbal turn it around?
- What makes a deal fair?
Parent–child activity
Play “fair swap”: trade toys and talk about whether each swap feels fair to both.
Parent / Teacher Discussion
A story about using logic, not anger, to settle a dispute.
Try a Learning Activity
Read the story → answer the questions → practise on the Logic & Intelligence island and work towards a 🏅 Gold Medal.
FAQ
What is the moral of “The Well and the Water”?
Tricks and twisted words cannot beat fairness for long.
What age is “The Well and the Water” suitable for?
It suits children of about 6–12 years, read aloud or read together.
Is “The Well and the Water” a true story?
No. It is a folk tale. The witty stories about them, however, are folk tales that grew up and were retold long afterwards — they are not documented historical events.