But the third fish disagreed. He laughed at the two fishes, and said to the fishes assembled, "See how cowardly these two act! This pond belonged to our forefathers, and it is our home now. For so long, no harm has ever come to the fishes of this pond."
He continued, "Just because some fishermen were discussing their plans, is no reason for us to panic and leave our home. Those who agree with me, I advise them to stay where we belong and not go to some unknown place."
He further said, "O Friends, the scriptures state that when the time for one's death arrives, one is not spared. If death has to come, let us rather die bravely in our home!"
Thus, the fishes of the pond got divided into two groups. The group that wanted to stay laughed at the other group. However, within the very evening, the families of the first two fishes started their journey to a different pond through a small outlet. They were followed by many who believed them.
The next morning the fishermen arrived as they had planned, and trapped all the fishes that remained in the pond by casting net all over the pond.
Not a single fish was spared, and the fishermen were overjoyed with the big haul of fishes that they had caught.
The wise indeed say:
