Once upon a time, in a vast and verdant forest, there lived a mighty lion named Shersingh. He was known as the king of the jungle, feared by every creature for his power and ferocity. Shersingh was a ruthless ruler, and every day, he would go on a hunt, terrorizing the animals. The smaller creatures, deer, rabbits, and monkeys, trembled with fear, knowing that at any moment, they could become his next meal.
“But how?” asked a timid rabbit. “He is too strong. None of us can defeat him.”
An owl, perched on a nearby branch, hooted in agreement. “We cannot fight him, but perhaps we can outsmart him.”
After much discussion, the animals came up with a plan. They decided that instead of letting Shersingh hunt freely, they would offer him one animal every day as a sacrifice. This way, the lion would not need to hunt, and the rest of the animals would be spared. The sacrifice would be chosen by drawing lots, and each day, a different animal would go to the lion.
With their plan in mind, the animals approached Shersingh with a proposal. “Oh mighty king,” the old deer began, “we come to you with a solution that will benefit both you and us. Instead of you wasting your strength and time hunting every day, we will send one animal to your den as an offering. In this way, you will have food without having to exert yourself, and we will not live in constant fear.”
The lion, who was growing tired of the chase, considered their offer. “Very well,” he said, “but if you fail to send me an offering on any given day, I will hunt down all of you and show no mercy.”
The animals agreed to his terms, relieved that they had at least bought themselves some time.
For several days, the plan worked. Each day, one animal would go to Shersingh’s den, and the lion would feast without having to hunt. However, as fate would have it, one day it was a clever hare’s turn to be sacrificed. The hare was small but very intelligent, and he was determined not to end his life in the jaws of the lion.
“I must find a way to save myself and the other animals from this tyranny,” the hare thought to himself as he made his way to the lion’s den.
The hare wandered through the forest slowly, deliberately wasting time. He knew that the lion would grow impatient if the offering didn’t arrive on time, and he planned to use this to his advantage. When the hare finally arrived at Shersingh’s den, it was already late in the afternoon.
Shersingh, who had been waiting hungrily, roared in anger when he saw the small hare approach him alone. “You are late!” the lion growled, his eyes blazing with fury. “And what is this? They send me a measly hare to satisfy my hunger? How dare they insult me like this!”
The hare, trembling but clever, bowed low before the lion. “Oh mighty king, please forgive me for my tardiness,” he said humbly. “But I have a very good reason for being late. You see, I was not the only animal sent to you today.”
The lion’s anger turned to curiosity. “What do you mean?” he asked.
The hare, sensing that his plan was working, continued, “The animals had sent two of us, but on our way here, we were ambushed by another lion who claimed that he was the true king of the jungle. He said that you are weak and unworthy of your title. He challenged your authority and claimed the other hare for himself, declaring that he would soon defeat you and take over your kingdom.”
Shersingh’s pride was wounded. Another lion? In his jungle? Claiming to be king? He could not tolerate such an insult. “Where is this impudent lion?” Shersingh roared. “Take me to him at once, and I will show him who the real king is!”
The hare bowed again. “Of course, mighty king. Follow me, and I will lead you to him.”
With that, the hare led Shersingh deep into the forest, towards an old well that was hidden among the trees. The hare had often passed by the well and knew exactly what to do. When they arrived, the hare stopped and pointed to the well. “The other lion is hiding in there,” he said, “boasting about how he will soon take over your kingdom.”
Shersingh, already fuming with rage, stormed up to the well and peered inside. Sure enough, when he looked down, he saw the reflection of a lion in the water. Mistaking his own reflection for the rival lion, Shersingh let out a ferocious roar. The roar echoed back from the well, making it seem as though the other lion was roaring back at him.
Enraged, Shersingh growled, “How dare you challenge me, coward! I will destroy you!” With that, the lion leaped into the well, ready to fight his invisible rival. But, of course, there was no other lion—only water. The mighty lion plunged into the deep well and, unable to climb out, drowned.
The hare, who had been watching from a safe distance, breathed a sigh of relief. “The jungle is finally free from Shersingh’s tyranny,” he thought, and he hopped away to deliver the good news to the other animals.
When the hare returned to the forest, the animals gathered around him, eager to hear what had happened. The hare told them the whole story, and the animals cheered in celebration. The lion was gone, and they were free at last.
From that day on, the hare was hailed as a hero. The animals no longer had to live in fear, and the forest returned to its peaceful, happy ways. The clever hare had outwitted the mighty lion, proving that intelligence and cunning can overcome even the greatest of foes.
MORAL: Wit and intelligence are often more powerful than brute strength.
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