The Three Fish and the Fishermen

In a large pond, there lived three fish who were the best of friends. Despite their friendship, they had very different outlooks on life. The first fish was named 'Anagatavidhata' (The Forethoughtful). He was wise and always planned for the future. The second fish was 'Pratyutpannamati' (The Quick-Witted). He believed in using his intelligence to solve problems as they arose. The third fish was 'Yadbhavishya' (The Fatalist). He was lazy and believed entirely in fate, often saying, 'Whatever is meant to happen will happen.'

One evening, a group of fishermen passed by the pond. Seeing the abundance of fish, they said to each other, 'This pond is full of fish! Let's come back tomorrow morning with our nets and catch them all.' Anagatavidhata overheard their conversation. He immediately called his friends and said, 'Friends, the fishermen are coming tomorrow. We must leave this pond right now and move to a safer place through the connecting canal.'

Pratyutpannamati replied, 'I am smart enough to find a way out when the danger actually arrives. I don't see the need to leave just yet.' Yadbhavishya laughed and said, 'If it is in my destiny to die, I will die no matter where I go. Why should I worry?' Seeing that his friends would not listen, Anagatavidhata left the pond that very night with his family.

The next morning, the fishermen arrived and cast their large nets. Both Pratyutpannamati and Yadbhavishya were caught. Pratyutpannamati immediately used his presence of mind. He pretended to be dead, keeping his body stiff. Thinking he was a dead fish, the fisherman picked him up and tossed him back toward the edge of the water. Seizing the moment, he jumped back into the deep water and escaped. However, Yadbhavishya, who relied only on fate, kept struggling aimlessly in the net and was eventually killed by the fishermen.