Be Dedka

Here is a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Be Dedka" (Two Frogs) from the JAINA Education Committee:

Book Title: Be Dedka (Two Frogs) Author(s): JAINA Education Committee Publisher: JAINA Education Committee

Story Summary:

The story, "Be Dedka" (Two Frogs), from the JAINA Education Committee's collection, narrates a fable about two frogs who fall into a pot full of milk. Their fellow frogs gather around the pot, lamenting their predicament. They tell the trapped frogs that the pot is too deep and escape is impossible, advising them to accept their fate as death is near.

One of the trapped frogs, upon hearing the discouraging words of its companions, loses hope and stops trying. It resigns itself to its fate and eventually drowns in the milk.

The other frog, however, despite the discouraging cries from outside, continues to gather all its strength and jump relentlessly. Its constant struggle churns the milk, eventually turning it into butter. The frog then finds itself on top of the butter, with a renewed hope of escape. With a final, powerful leap, it manages to jump out of the pot to freedom.

The other frogs are astonished by its escape and ask how it managed to succeed when they had told it that escape was impossible. The frog reveals that it was deaf and had not heard their discouraging words. Instead, it interpreted their frantic movements and sounds as encouragement and cheering, which motivated it to jump with even greater effort.

Moral/Lesson:

The story imparts a profound lesson about the power of perseverance, positive attitude, and the impact of our words. The key takeaways are:

• Perseverance and Determination: Even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds and discouraging advice, unwavering determination and continuous effort can lead to success.
• The Power of Positive Thinking: The frog's deafness, which shielded it from negative influences, allowed it to maintain a positive mindset and focus on its goal. This highlights how external negativity can hinder progress.
• The Impact of Words: The text strongly emphasizes the responsibility of using words wisely. Encouraging and inspiring words can lift others and foster success, while harsh, discouraging, or careless words can inflict deep pain, create enemies, and ruin lives.
• Mindful Communication: The story advises readers to speak thoughtfully and with encouragement. It encourages expressing generosity, admiration, and inspirational words to others, urging readers to listen to their inner conscience and act accordingly.

In essence, "Be Dedka" is a powerful Jain parable illustrating that one's mindset, the effort put forth, and the nature of the words spoken can dramatically influence outcomes, often in ways that are not immediately apparent.