Might is not Right

In a forest there was a continuous tussle between the king of the forest, the Lion and the other animals, because the lion used to prey upon other animals frequently. The animals held a meeting with the lion and suggested that they would regularly provide him with one of them on the condition that the Lion will stop preying upon and will let them live peacefully. When all the animals stongly reconfirmed their promise, the lion somehow agreed. But he insisted that whenever you send the hare, he would need atleast two. The animals agreed and made a commitment to do so.

Afterwards, the animals held a separate meeting to decide who should go turn by turn. Finally they decided it through drawing of the chit and whosoever’s name came, was to go to the lion to become his food. So accordingly this arrangement continued for several days.

One day the turn of the hare came. He cried out! When will this cruelty end ? The other animals replied that they have been keeping their promise and none ever objected. So you don’t try to make excuses and straight away go to the lion. The hare pleaded that he has a very good plan to get rid of this terror once for all. But the animals paid no heed to him and insisted that he should go at-once to the lion.

The hare though moved towards the lion’s den, yet he dilly-dallied and delayed so much that the lion lost his patience and started roaring madly in anger. Afterwards when he saw the hare coming running towards him, he furiously awaited him. Even from a distance, he started scolding and abusing him for his delayed appearance. When the hare came near, he very politely requested, if the honorable king spared my life, I may explain the reasons for delay. ‘Make no excuses. Your offence is unpardonable.’ The lion warned.

The hare said, ‘O King, I am your subject. Please listen to my grievances. Today morning myself and one of my other colleague left to appear before you in your court. On the way another lion stopped us. I pleaded that we are going to the king of the forest, but he did not care about you. He threatened all of us. I pleaded to him and he finally allowed me to come to you just to inform you. My other colleague is still in his grip. My colleague is a more healthy hare than me. The lion has stopped our passage and now onwards none of us will be able to come to you, unless you kill the lion and remove the hindrance. The lion commanded, let us go right now. I will definitely punish him. But if you are telling a lie, then I will punish you.

The hare took the lion to a well. Reaching near the well, the hare said, ‘ I am fearfull, my feet are not moving. The lion lives in this well. It’s a sort fort for him. If you just take me in your lap, then I can see in the well whether he is there or not. I can peep into the well only with you support.

The lion lifted the hare in its lap and then peeped in the well. He saw that there was a lion holding an hare. In fact it was his own reflection in the water. The moment he saw his enemy in the well, he became furious with anger. He kept the hare aside and jumped in the well to teach the enemy, a lesson. But he himself was taught a lesson for all his cruelty on the poor innocent animals.

The hare jumped with happiness and hurried homewards to give the news to all his colleagues that the cruel lion has been ditched in the well and that all were free of his cruelty once for all. All the animals were overjoyed but were astonished how this little hare could ditch such a powerful lion in the well. They wanted to know the whole incident in detail.

The hare humbly replied that it was all God’s grace. Or else how could a tiny hare set right the mightiest Lion.