A Herd of Elephants and the cleverness of a Rabbit
In a forest lived a huge elephant named Gajraj. He was the leader of his group of elephants. Due to years of drought, all the lakes, ponds and pools dried up and the trees withered. All the elephants together told their king Gajraj that our children have died of hunger and thirst, and those who are left are about to die. Therefore, a big pond should be found soon.
Short Story
After thinking for a long time, Gajraj said---- "I remember a pond. It is always filled with water from the netherworld. Come, let's go there." After a long journey of five nights, all the elephants reached there. There was water in the pond. After playing in the water the whole day, the group of elephants came out in the evening.
There were innumerable rabbit burrows around the pond. The ground had become soft due to those burrows. All those burrows were broken by the elephants' feet. Many rabbits were also crushed by the elephants' feet. Some had their necks broken, some had their legs broken. Many died.
After the elephants went back, the wounded and bleeding rabbits living in those burrows held a meeting. They expressed their grief in the memory of the dead rabbits and thought of a solution for the future crisis. They thought---since there is no water anywhere else nearby, these elephants will now come to this pond every day and trample their burrows with their feet. In this way, all the rabbits will be destroyed in two to four days.
Short Story
The touch of an elephant is as dangerous as the sniff of a snake and the laughter of a king.
While thinking of a way to save themselves from this danger, one of them suggested---"We should now leave this place and go to another country. This renunciation is the best policy. One should abandon oneself for the family, the family for the village, the village for the city and the entire earth for our own safety even if it has to be done."
But, the other rabbits said----"We will not leave the land of our ancestors."
Some suggested that a clever messenger should be sent on behalf of the rabbits to the owner of the elephants. He should tell him that the rabbit who lives in the moon has forbidden the elephants from coming to this pond. It is possible that he may accept the words of the rabbit situated in the moon."
Short Story
After much deliberation, a rabbit named Lambkarna was sent as a messenger to the elephants. Lambkarna also sat on a high mound on the way to the pond; and when the herd of elephants came there, he said----"This pond is the moon's own pond. Do not come here."
Elephant King----"Who are you?"
Lambakarna----"I am a rabbit living in the moon. Lord Chandra has sent me to you to tell you not to come to this pond."
Short Story
Elephant King said----"Where is Lord Chandra whose message you have brought at this time?"
Lambakarna---"He is also in this pond at this time. Yesterday you had destroyed the rabbits' burrows. Today he has come here after listening to the rabbits' request. He has sent me to you."
Gajraj----"If it is so, then let me see him. I will bow to him and go back."
Short Story
Lambakarna took Gajraj alone to the bank of the pond. The shadow of the moon was falling on the pond. Gajraj considered it to be the moon and bowed to it and returned. After that day, the group of elephants never came to the bank of the pond.
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