The Rat and the Lion

We know that comparing to a needle a hammer is quite strong and solid. But still what the needle can do, the hammer can’t. An elephant is a powerful animal. It can pull trees from their roots. But if sugar is mixed up with sand, the elephant cannot segregate it. But a small ant can easily do it. God has created different species with different sizes and potentialities. One should never boast of one’s size and strength. Rather should learn to respect and love others, whether large of small, strong or weak. A strong one may at times need the help of a weak one. The story of rat and the lion is an example of it.

Once during a hot summer day, a mighty lion was comfortably relaxing under the shade of a tree. Per chance a small tiny rat came out of a hole nearby and started playing. During his play, unintentionally he jumped over the lion. He was aware of the fact, that he was disturbing the mighty king of the forest. The lion woke up. Seeing he rat playing on its body it once caught hold of it and questioned. How dare you disturb my sleep? I feel like to kill you. The tiny rat got scared and pleaded sorry for his act. ‘Please forgive me, I shall never commit such a mistake again. If you will pardon me today, I may be of some help to you at some time. The lion laughed, ‘Oh you tiny creature, what help can you ever render to me?’ But since the lion was not in a very bad mood, he took pity on the rat and freed it, with a warning to be careful in future.

After a few days, a hunter had spread a wide net to catch the deer etc. Per chance the same lion happened to pass that way and got trapped in the net laid for the deer. The net was quite strong and flexible type. Despite its physical strength, the lion could not free himself. Suddenly the same rat saw that the lion was trapped in the net. He recognized him and also remembered that once the lion had taken pity on him and spared his life. He thought of doing something for the lion. He called his mates and they together started cutting the net with their sharp teeth. Soon the lion was free. He loving glanced at the team of the rats and heartily thanked the tiny creature.

He had got a lesson of his life that none is small or inferior. All have their own qualities and potentialities.