កម្លាំងនៃចង្កឹះមួយបាច់

Once upon a time, in a village near the river, lived an old farmer named Ta Leak and his three sons. The three sons were strong but loved to quarrel fiercely, almost all the time.

Every day, they argued about their work: Who plowed more land? Who caught more fish? The sound of their endless arguments gave Ta Leak a headache, and even the villagers grew tired of them.

Ta Leak was deeply worried. “If they remain divided, they will never be able to protect the family’s wealth,” he thought. He had to find a way to teach them a lesson before it was too late.

One day, he called all three sons to sit together under a large mango tree. “Sons, I have a request.” “Go and find a bundle of thin wooden chopsticks for me.”

The eldest son, Veasna, brought a large bundle of sticks. Ta Leak separated one stick and handed it to Veasna. “Son, can you break this single stick with just one hand’s strength?”

Veasna laughed. “Of course, father! This is easier than pulling weeds!” He broke it instantly with a loud ‘snap!’ The other sons thought their father was simply playing a trick.

Then, Ta Leak handed the entire bundle of chopsticks, tightly bound together, to the middle son, Sovann. “Now, use all your strength to break this entire bundle of sticks in half.”

Sovann tried with all his might. He gasped, his face turned red, but the bundle remained strong and unbreakable. Veasna and Dara also tried, but all three failed.

Ta Leak smiled calmly. “Sons, a single stick is very easy to break. But when it is bound into a bundle, its strength is enormous. It is the same with siblings. If you are divided, you are easily destroyed.”

The three sons finally understood this valuable lesson. They apologized to each other, and from that day forward, they worked together with unity and love. Ta Leak’s family lived happily ever after.