The Monkey and the Wedge is a Panchatantra story about the danger of interfering in things that do not concern you. One of the most well known animal fables from ancient India — a cautionary tale about curiosity and its consequences.
There was once a large temple being built at the edge of a town.
The workers came every morning and left every afternoon. They were building slowly — carving wood, laying stone, fitting beams. It was careful work.
One afternoon the head carpenter was working on a large log. He needed to split it down the middle. He hammered a wooden wedge deep into the crack to hold it open while he went to get his tools from across the site.
He left the log — wedge in the middle, crack held open.
A group of monkeys had been watching from the trees all morning.
When the workers left for their afternoon meal the monkeys came down to explore. They touched the tools. Knocked over a water pot. Pulled at ropes.
One monkey found the log.
He sat on top of it. Looked at the wedge. Looked at the crack.
He grabbed the wedge with both hands.
Every older monkey in the forest knew — never touch a wedge in a split log. But this monkey was young. And curious. And nobody had told him.
He pulled the wedge out.
The log snapped shut — both halves coming together hard and fast.
The monkey's legs were caught between them.
The workers heard the noise and came running. But there was nothing to be done.
The monkey had no one to blame. The log had done exactly what logs do when the wedge is removed. He had simply put himself in the way of it.
Before you touch something — ask what it is for.
The monkey didn't ask.
That was the mistake.
