Here’s another great story from Hitopadesha Tales. Once there lived a big and strong bull in a forest. He had made his home in a cave near a pond. There was no dearth of lush green grass near his cave and he was merrily passing his days.
One day, a lion happened to visit that side of the forest. He saw the healthy bull resting outside his cave and was instantly tempted to eat him. By that time, the bull had also seen the lion and had sensed the impending danger to his life. He thought of a clever plan to save his life.
When the lion came close to the bull, the clever bull turned his neck towards his cave and called out loudly, “Darling wife, do not cook anything for dinner. I have just spotted a lion. As soon as he will come near, I will rip him apart with my newly sharpened horns.” The lion was scared on hearing such words from the bull and took to his heels.
A jackal saw the lion running breathlessly. He asked the lion, “O great lion, I fail to understand that why a mighty animal like you would run like that?” The lion told him all that had happened in front of the bull’s cave. “The bull has made a fool out of you,” said the jackal. He further added, “Let us go there again and then both of us will feast on his delicious meat.”
The lion was not ready to go back to the bull’s cave. The jackal suggested, “There is nothing to fear! If you do not believe me, then tie your tail with mine. I will lead you to the bull’s cave and attack him first. If the bull retaliates, then I will be the one who will be killed first. And if this happens, you will have enough time to save your life.” The lion agreed to this plan of action prepared by the jackal. Both of them tied their tails together and set off to the bull’s cave.
When the bull saw the lion coming with the jackal, he understood that the sly jackal had poked into his plan. But without panicking, the bull addressed the jackal in a firm tone, “Useless jackal! I had asked you to bring me two lions and you appear with only one skinny one. Do you want me to keep my children hungry?”
Even this time, the lion did not realize that the bull was again fooling him. He was petrified and ran as fast as he could, dragging the jackal with him over stones and thorns. The clever bull thus outwitted his enemies and lived a peaceful and happy life thereafter.
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