Long ago, when the coral reefs of Palau shone like jeweled crowns beneath the waves, there lived a fisherman named Rubak. He was skilled and proud, known across the islands for his abundant catches. Each morning, his canoe glided through the clear waters, and by sunset, its hull was heavy with fish. The villagers admired him, but his heart slowly grew proud. He began to believe that his strength alone commanded the sea.
One morning, as dawn spread its golden light over the lagoon, Rubak rowed farther than ever before. He wanted to prove that no fisherman in Palau could rival his courage or skill. The wind was soft, and the ocean was still. He dropped his line near a cluster of strange, smooth stones that gleamed beneath the surface. They looked unlike any coral he had seen round and gray like sleeping turtles.
As he waited, he felt a tug on his line. With a grin, he pulled hard, expecting a great fish. But when the hook surfaced, it was caught on a stone. The stone was oddly warm, and faint ripples surrounded it as though it breathed. Curious, Rubak lifted it into the canoe. To his astonishment, the stone shuddered and turned to flesh. Its surface rippled, scales appeared, and a pair of shining eyes opened.
It was a fish born from the heart of stone. The fish gazed at Rubak, its eyes filled with calm wisdom, and it spoke softly, “Return me to the water, fisherman. I am not meant for your net.”
Rubak froze, his heart pounding. Never had he heard a fish speak. But pride whispered in his ear. “A talking fish will make me famous,” he said. “I will bring you to the village and show them my power.”
He reached for his club to strike the creature, but before the blow could fall, the sky darkened. The sea stirred and heaved as if alive. Waves rose, slapping against his canoe. The fish spoke again, its voice trembling with sorrow. “You have not listened. You take without respect. The sea gives, but it can also take away.”
Then the fish leapt from the canoe and vanished beneath the churning waves. Rubak tried to steady himself, but his canoe drifted helplessly. His nets tore, and his hooks snapped. By the time he reached shore, his canoe was empty. From that day on, no matter how hard he fished, he caught nothing.
Days turned to weeks, and hunger gnawed at him. The villagers whispered that he had lost the favor of the sea spirits. Rubak’s pride withered into shame. One evening, he walked along the rocky shore, his feet heavy with regret. The tide was low, and in the distance, he saw a familiar shimmer, the same stones from before, resting quietly in the shallows.
Kneeling by the water, Rubak spoke into the waves. “Spirits of the sea, forgive my foolishness. I took what was not mine and forgot the life within all things. I wish to make peace.”
The sea was silent at first. Then, as the moon rose, the water began to glow faintly. From the depths, the Stone Fish emerged once more. It was larger now, its scales reflecting silver light. Rubak bowed his head.
The fish circled him three times before speaking. “You have remembered humility, and that is the first step toward harmony. The sea feeds only those who respect its spirit. Take this lesson to your people so they may not forget.”
With that, the fish disappeared beneath the waves. Rubak watched the ripples fade and felt peace return to the air. The next morning, when he cast his net again, it filled with fish, bright and plentiful as before. But this time, he whispered a prayer of thanks for each one he caught.
Years later, when Rubak was an old man, he would tell the children of the island about the day he met the Stone Fish. He told them how every rock, shell, and current held a living spirit, and that arrogance toward nature was the beginning of loss. The children listened wide-eyed, vowing never to harm the sea without reason.
Even now, the elders of Palau tell this story when they teach the young to fish. They say that in quiet lagoons, if you watch closely, you may still see the shadow of the Stone Fish moving beneath the coral. It reminds all who see it that the sea listens and remembers, rewarding respect and punishing greed.
Moral Lesson
The Stone Fish teaches that nature is alive with spirit and power. Those who take from the world must do so with gratitude and care, for disrespect brings loss, while humility restores balance and harmony.
Knowledge Check
1. Who was Rubak in the story?
He was a skilled fisherman whose pride led him to disrespect the sea.
2. What strange object did Rubak catch while fishing?
He caught a warm, smooth stone that transformed into a living fish.
3. Why did the sea grow angry at Rubak?
Because he tried to harm the sacred Stone Fish and showed no respect for nature.
4. What lesson did the Stone Fish teach Rubak?
That every part of nature holds a spirit deserving respect and gratitude.
5. How did Rubak regain the favor of the sea?
He repented, asked forgiveness, and promised to honor the balance of life.
6. What is the lasting message of The Stone Fish?
That humility toward nature ensures abundance, while arrogance brings emptiness.
Source: Adapted from Palauan Folktales and Myths from the Pacific Collection by the Palau Historic Preservation Office (2011).
Cultural Origin: Palauan (Palau, Micronesia)
