The Two Brothers and the Mango Story

This is a story of two brothers quarrelling over a mango tree. They both wanted the tree and showed ownership. The dispute led to seeking help from Birbal, the witty man of Emperor Akbar’s Royal Court. What did Birbal say? How did he solve the problem between the brothers? Read this interesting story and find out.

The Two Brothers and Their Mango Tree

Once upon a time, two brothers lived in a village. Their names were Ramu and Shyamu. They had a mango tree near their house. One day, Ramu said to Shyamu, “I need the mango tree. It is mine.” Shaym said, “How can it be yours? It is mine.” The dispute grew bitter and both the brothers started to quarrel. It did not lead to any fruitful decisions.

The mango tree

Birbal, the Wise Man

They could not find a solution that would satisfy both of them. Both the brothers did not want to leave their claims behind. They both decided to take this matter to the royal court. Ramu and Shyamu sought a solution from Birbal, the wittiest of all in the kingdom.

Ramu said, “I am the sole owner of the tree. It is mine and I will take it.” Shyamu said, “No! I am the owner of the tree. The fruits, the leaves, and the wood are mine.”

Two brothers arguing

Birbal knew that solving this problem will not be easy. He had to find the right owner of the mango tree. Birbal thought for a while and said, “Let us not quarrel any more. Even if I give the tree to any of you, the other brother will think it is injustice. It is better to divide the whole tree into two halves.”

The idea was brilliant. Birbal said, “Fetch all the mangoes down and divide them into two halves. Cut all the leaves and branches and divide them into two halves. Cut the trunk and divide it into two equal halves. Apart from this, there is no way I can satisfy both of you.”

Shyamu’s Statement

Listening to the solution, Shyamu started crying. Birbal smiled a little as if he knew it was going to happen. Shyamu said, “My lord, I have been taking care of this beautiful tree for seven years now. Since day one, I have seen how many leaves have grown on it. I nurtured it and it has given me the best mangoes. I cannot see it cut down and divided into two halves. I will gladly give it to my brother Ramu. I don’t want to see it die.”

Birbal’s Verdict

Birbal was satisfied with his answer. He knew the one who has taken care of the tree will not let it cut down. He said, “The tree belongs to Shyamu. Ramu will not even get a leaf from it.” Ramu realised how much his brother had paid attention to the tree. He agreed and left the court. Shyamu was happy to get his mango tree.

Moral of the Story

Ramu and the Mango's Story moral depicts how good deeds are rewarded. It explains how Shyamu got the reward for his good deeds and hard work. Ramu did not get a thing as he was not the one who took care of the tree.

Tips for Parents

Read The Mango Tree Story PDF and explain the story to the children. Make them understand why Shyamu got the tree and Ramu did not. Explain how good deeds are always rewarded and how greed loses everything.