The Rabbits and the Elephants: A Story About Thinking Smart. Fables from the Indian Hitopadesha

The Rabbits and the Elephants

The Rabbit and the Elephant - Fables from the Indian Hitopadesha

In a peaceful forest, there was a group of Elephants who had been suffering from a long dry season. The rains had not come, and the rivers and streams had dried up. The Elephants, large and mighty, were desperate for water. They wandered far and wide in search of a water source, but to their dismay, they found nothing. The Elephants were parched and growing more frantic by the hour.

In the same forest, there lived a group of Rabbits who had made their homes in a network of burrows deep underground. These burrows had always been safe and comfortable for the Rabbits, but now, the Elephants had discovered the very burrow where the last remaining source of water was located. The Elephants, in their desperation for a drink, began to stampede towards the water, unaware of the small creatures living there.

Unfortunately for the Rabbits, the Elephants were so large and heavy that, as they trampled through the area, they began to crush the delicate Rabbit homes. The Rabbits tried to escape, but the Elephants were so enormous that their movements were causing devastation to the Rabbits' living spaces. The Rabbits were terrified, unable to stop the massive creatures from destroying everything in their path.

Amidst the chaos, one Rabbit named Vijaya remained calm. Vijaya was clever, and unlike the other Rabbits, who were too afraid to act, he saw an opportunity to outsmart the Elephants. Vijaya knew that he could never defeat the Elephants with strength—after all, they were huge and powerful—but he was certain that his wit could find a way to save his fellow Rabbits.

Vijaya quickly devised a plan. He decided to use his intelligence to convince the Elephants that they were doing something terribly wrong, something that would anger the gods. He knew that the Elephants, like many creatures, feared the wrath of the gods, and he hoped this fear would be the key to saving the Rabbits.

With confidence and determination, Vijaya approached the leader of the Elephants, who was much larger than the others. "Oh, mighty Elephant," Vijaya said, bowing low, "I am a special messenger sent by the Moon God himself. The Moon God is very displeased with your actions!"

The Elephant leader, confused but intrigued, lowered his great head and asked, "What do you mean, little Rabbit? We are simply thirsty, and these burrows are the only place with water. Why is the Moon God angry with us?"

Vijaya quickly explained, "The Rabbits are the Moon God's sacred guards, and by trampling on our homes, you are angering the Moon God. He will be very upset with you for treating his guards so poorly."

The Elephant leader, now frightened, looked around nervously, worried that he might incur the Moon God's wrath. He had heard of the power of the gods and did not want to anger them. "But we are just thirsty! We did not mean to cause harm," the Elephant leader protested, genuinely afraid of what might happen.

Vijaya saw that his plan was working. He continued, "You must show respect to the Moon God and his guards, or there will be dire consequences. The Moon God will not allow you to drink from this water unless you prove your humility and respect for his creatures."

The Elephant leader, feeling guilty and scared, thought for a moment. Vijaya seized the opportunity. He pointed to the reflection of the Elephants in the water and said, "The Moon God is watching you now. To show your respect, you must bow to him and promise to leave the Rabbits unharmed."

The Elephant leader, now completely convinced, stared at his reflection in the water and believed that it was the Moon God's image. He slowly knelt down, bowing deeply to the water. One by one, the other Elephants followed his lead, each bowing to their reflection, thinking they were honoring the Moon God.

Vijaya watched the Elephants, his heart swelling with satisfaction. He had tricked them into believing they were offending the gods, and now, under the illusion of respect, the Elephants promised never to harm the Rabbits again. With their heads still lowered in reverence, the Elephants slowly backed away from the burrows, allowing the Rabbits to live in peace.

The story of The Rabbits and the Elephants emphasizes the power of wit and clever thinking in overcoming seemingly impossible challenges. The Elephants were much larger and stronger than the Rabbits, but it was the Rabbit's intelligence that saved the day. Vijaya knew that the Elephants feared the gods, and he used that fear to his advantage, convincing them that they were making a grave mistake.

The story teaches us that even the smallest and weakest creatures can be powerful when they use their brains. Sometimes, intelligence and clever thinking are far more effective than brute strength. It shows us that when we face difficult situations, it's not always about how strong we are, but how we can use our intelligence to navigate the challenges before us.

The moral of the story is simple: Being smart and thinking ahead can often be more powerful than being big and strong. This lesson encourages us to think creatively and strategically when we face obstacles, rather than relying solely on force.