The Clever Hare and the Foolish Lion

Once upon a time, deep in a dense jungle, there lived a mighty lion named Bhasuraka. He was ruthless, killing animals at will, leaving fear and devastation in his wake. The terrified animals finally decided to approach the lion with a proposal.

They pleaded, "O King of the jungle, we surrender to you. Instead of hunting and killing indiscriminately, allow us to send one animal to you daily as your meal. This way, you will always have food, and we will not live in constant fear."

The lion, after considering the offer, agreed but warned, "If I do not receive my meal on time, I will hunt and kill every creature in the jungle."

From that day on, the animals took turns sending one among them to the lion. The arrangement worked, and the jungle regained some peace.

One day, it was a hare’s turn to be sacrificed. Unlike the others, the little hare was determined to save itself. As it made its way to the lion’s den, it deliberately walked slowly, stopping now and then. On the way, it spotted a deep well and peered inside. Seeing its own reflection in the clear water, a clever plan formed in its mind.

At last, the hare reached the lion’s den, where the impatient and hungry lion roared in anger, "You are late! And so tiny! You cannot satisfy my hunger! I will eat you and then hunt down the rest of the animals for making me wait."

The hare, unshaken, bowed respectfully and said, "O mighty King, I am late for a reason. Please allow me to explain before you decide my fate."

The lion growled, "Speak quickly!"

The hare continued, "Today, I was not alone. Five hares were sent as your meal, but on the way, we encountered another lion. He claimed to be the true ruler of this jungle and stopped us. He declared that from now on, all animals must serve him instead of you. When we protested, he challenged you to a battle. He kept the other hares as hostages and allowed only me to come and deliver his message."

Enraged, the lion roared, "Who dares challenge my authority? Take me to this impostor at once!"

The hare feigned concern and said, "O great King, this lion lives in a stronghold. He is mighty and fearless. Are you sure you wish to face him?"

The lion bellowed, "Enough! Show me where he is!"

The hare led the lion to the well it had discovered earlier. Stopping near the edge, it pointed down and whispered, "O King, he is hiding inside."

The lion peered into the well and saw his own reflection in the water. Thinking it was his rival, he let out a mighty roar. The echo came back from the well, making him believe that the other lion was roaring back at him.

Blinded by rage, the lion leaped into the well, expecting to fight his challenger. Instead, he plunged deep into the water and drowned.

The clever hare laughed with joy and hurried back to the other animals to share the news. The entire jungle rejoiced, hailing the hare as their hero. From that day on, they lived in peace, free from the tyranny of the wicked lion.

Moral of the Story:

Cunning and intelligence can defeat even the strongest enemies.