FABLES FROM INDIA: THE CAVE THAT SPOKEBY: SHARANDHASS

Once upon a time, in a certain part of a forest, there lived a lion named Claw. One day, Claw wandered all over the forest looking for food in vain. Not even a little rabbit ran into his path.

In the evening, he came to a large cave in the mountains. By then Claw was feeling very tired and hungry. When he saw the cave, he suddenly had an idea. “I’m sure some animal will come into this cave to rest for the night. I will hide and wait for it. Then I can pounce on it and eat it.”

Now, this cave was the home of a jackal named Smart. When the Sun had set, Smart returned home. When he reached the entrance of the cave, he noticed footprints of a lion on the ground. Sensing danger, he did not immediately enter. Instead, he stood outside and began to sing.

“Cave ahoy! Aho-o-oy, Cave!” Smart sang out loudly and clearly. Claw, who was hiding inside the cave, heard the jackal’s voice and licked his lips happily in anticipation of a meal.

After being silent for a moment, Smart continues in the same loud voice, “Hello, Cave! Have you forgotten our agreement? We decided that when I come back from my wanderings in the forest, I am to sing out to you and you are to answer me. But why won’t you speak to me today? Something must be wrong. I’ll spend the night in another cave, which will return my greeting.”

When Claw heard this, he thought, “Oh, this cave is supposed to call out in return. But today, it’s too frightened of me to say anything. The jackal already suspects something is wrong. I’d better call out a greeting myself, so that he’ll come in. And then I can have my dinner.”

Claw licked his lips again and puffed up his cheeks. Then he called out a greeting that was loud and clear. But the cave picked up his roar and magnified it to such an extent that the sound filled the whole cave. The loud roar reached to the ends of the forest and terrified all the other creatures living there.

Now, what do you think Smart did when he heard the roar? He at once ran off as fast as he could, laughing and saying to himself, “The only way to survive in the forest is to know when to expect danger. I’ve lived in this forest for a long time but I have never in my life heard a cave that speaks!”

MORAL: YOU CAN OUTWIT YOUR ENEMIES BY WILY MEANS.