---
title: The Merchant and the Donkey, Also in Hindi | Bachpan Diaries
description: A donkey discovers his salt load dissolves in the river and starts sitting down on purpose, until his merchant swaps the load for something that teaches him otherwise. Also in Hindi.
image: https://bachpandiaries.com/hubfs/bachpan-diaries-theme/blog/featured%20images/PNGs/River%20Crossing%20%E2%80%94%20Dry%20Cotton%20and%20Wet%20Cotton.png
---
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# The Merchant and the Donkey
By Manoj Rajput • May 5, 2026
Now Playing The Merchant and the Donkey
0:00 / —
1×
A merchant once owned a donkey who carried salt from the town to the market every day.
The route passed over a shallow river. The donkey knew the crossing well - the smooth stones, the current, the depth at different points. He had made the journey so many times he could have done it half asleep.
One morning, crossing the river, he slipped.
He went down sideways into the water and sat there for a moment before the merchant pulled him up. When he stood, something felt different. The load on his back was lighter. The salt had dissolved in the water.
The donkey noticed this very carefully.
The next morning he slipped again. Same spot, same sideways fall, same result. The merchant was annoyed but said nothing. Accidents happen.
The morning after that, the donkey slipped again.
The merchant stood on the bank watching his donkey sit contentedly in the river while a season's worth of salt disappeared downstream. He understood what was happening.
The next day he loaded the donkey not with salt but with cotton - two enormous bales of it, light as anything.
The donkey walked to the river, found his usual spot, and sat down deliberately.
The cotton soaked up the water. By the time the donkey stood up, the bales weighed more than anything he had ever carried. He staggered to the bank and stood there dripping, legs shaking.
He never sat down in the river again.
The merchant said nothing about it. There was no need.
Some lessons cannot be taught. They can only be learned the hard way - with wet cotton on your back and a long walk home.
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Manoj Rajput
I'm the founder of Bachpan Diaries. I started this project chasing down the small, ordinary memories of growing up in India that never seem to get written down anywhere, madaari shows, school bells, dabbas from home. I still read every story myself before it goes up.
FROM THE ARCHIVE
## Continue the Journey
### [ Ages 7–12 हिं There was once a great and prosperous city, and in it lived a wealthy merchant named Hariswami. He had a daughter, Somprabha, beautiful and clever, skilled in dance, music, and the scriptures, a woman who had mastered nearly every art worth learning. Read story → Padhna Seekho · 4 min read Three Suitors and Somprabha Wisdom There was once a great and prosperous city, and in it lived a wealthy merchant named Hariswami. He had a daughter, Somprabha, beautiful and clever, skilled in dance, music, and the scriptures, a woman who had mastered nearly every art worth learning. Manoj Rajput Oct 3](https://bachpandiaries.com/stories/three-suitors-and-somprabha)
### [ Ages 7–12 हिं There was a dense forest, and a narrow trail cut through it, the shortest way to the village on the other side. Two friends were walking that trail one evening. One was called Ramu, the other Shyamu. Read story → Padhna Seekho · 3 min read Two Friends and the Bear Friendship There was a dense forest, and a narrow trail cut through it, the shortest way to the village on the other side. Two friends were walking that trail one evening. One was called Ramu, the other Shyamu. Manoj Rajput Sep 27](https://bachpandiaries.com/stories/two-friends-and-the-bear)
### [ Ages 7–12 हिं One day a magician arrived at the court of King Krishnadevaraya. Read story → Padhna Seekho · 2 min read Tenali Raman and the Magician Wisdom One day a magician arrived at the court of King Krishnadevaraya. Manoj Rajput Jul 4](https://bachpandiaries.com/stories/tenali-raman-and-the-magician)
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## Comments
MORE LIKE THIS
### More on this theme
[](https://bachpandiaries.com/stories/three-suitors-and-somprabha) [Three Suitors and Somprabha](https://bachpandiaries.com/stories/three-suitors-and-somprabha)
There was once a great and prosperous city, and in it lived a wealthy merchant named Hariswami. He had a daughter, Somprabha, beautiful and clever, skilled in dance, music, and the scriptures, a woman who had mastered nearly every art worth learning.
[Read story →](https://bachpandiaries.com/stories/three-suitors-and-somprabha)
[](https://bachpandiaries.com/stories/the-turtle-who-talked-too-much) [The Turtle Who Talked Too Much](https://bachpandiaries.com/stories/the-turtle-who-talked-too-much)
There was a pond, and in that pond lived a turtle. His name was Golu.
[Read story →](https://bachpandiaries.com/stories/the-turtle-who-talked-too-much)
[](https://bachpandiaries.com/stories/two-friends-and-the-bear) [Two Friends and the Bear](https://bachpandiaries.com/stories/two-friends-and-the-bear)
There was a dense forest, and a narrow trail cut through it, the shortest way to the village on the other side. Two friends were walking that trail one evening. One was called Ramu, the other Shyamu.
[Read story →](https://bachpandiaries.com/stories/two-friends-and-the-bear)
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