The Story of the Lion and the Mouse

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Once upon a time, there was a lion who lived in a forest. He was the king of the jungle, and he was proud and powerful. He had a large and loyal pride, who followed him and obeyed him. He had plenty of food to eat, which he hunted and killed. He had no enemies or rivals, and he feared no one. He was happy and satisfied with his life.

One day, as he was resting under a tree, he felt a tickling sensation on his paw. He opened his eyes, and saw a mouse, who was nibbling his claws. He was angry and annoyed by the mouse. He saw a small and weak creature, who had no respect or fear for him. He felt a surge of hunger and cruelty for the mouse. He thought that he was a tasty and easy snack, and that he deserved no mercy or compassion. He wanted to eat him, and to teach him a lesson. He said:

“Who are you, little mouse? You are so tiny and insignificant. I have never seen anyone like you before. You have nothing to offer me, and I have nothing to learn from you. You are my prey, and I am your predator. You are a creature of the earth, and I am a creature of the sky. You are a follower of karma, and I am a follower of dharma. You are a receiver of fate, and I am a performer of action. You are a subsister of crumbs, and I am a enjoyer of meat. You are a seeker of samsara, and I am a lover of moksha. You are a symbol of fear, and I am a symbol of courage. You are nothing, and I am everything. Prepare to die, little mouse, prepare to die.”

The mouse was scared and surprised by the lion’s words. He had expected a friendly and gentle response, but he received a hostile and violent one. He felt a pang of regret and guilt for the lion. He thought that he had made a mistake, and that he had offended him. He wanted to apologize to him, and to be his friend. He said:

“Please, Mr. Lion, do not be angry with me. I mean no harm or offense to you. I only wanted to clean your claws, and to be your friend. You have so much to teach me, and I have so much to offer you. You are my teacher, and I am your student. You are my opposite, and we can be friends. You are a lion, and I am a mouse. You are a creature of the sky, and I am a creature of the earth. You are a follower of dharma, and I am a follower of karma. You are a performer of action, and I am a receiver of fate. You are a enjoyer of meat, and I am a subsister of crumbs. You are a lover of moksha, and I am a seeker of samsara. You are a symbol of courage, and I am a symbol of fear. You are everything, and I am nothing. But please, spare my life, Mr. Lion, spare my life. You never know, I may be of some use to you someday.”

The lion was amused and scornful by the mouse’s words. He saw a naive and foolish creature, who did not know his place or limit. He felt a surge of mockery and pity for the mouse. He thought that he was a ridiculous and pathetic creature, who deserved no apology or friendship. He wanted to laugh at him, and to show him his superiority. He said:

“Ha, ha, ha, little mouse, ha, ha, ha. You are so stupid and clueless. You do not know anything, and you want to know everything. You are asking me to spare your life, and to be your friend. You are asking me to do the impossible, and the unnecessary. You are asking me to waste my precious time, and to lower my dignity. You are asking me to do something that I will never do, and that you will never understand. But, since you are so curious and persistent, I will tell you one thing, and one thing only. I will tell you a sentence, and a deeper meaning of the sentence, that will summarize everything that you need to know, and everything that you will never know. Listen carefully, little mouse, listen carefully, and remember this sentence, and this deeper meaning, for the rest of your life. Here it is:

‘Whatever action is performed by a great man, common men follow in his footsteps. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.’

This sentence means that whatever a leader does, his followers imitate. And whatever a leader establishes by his actions, the world accepts.

This deeper meaning means that whatever a lion does, the other animals copy. And whatever a lion decides by his deeds, the forest follows.

Do you understand, little mouse, do you understand? This is the sentence, and this is the deeper meaning, that you wanted to know, and that you will never know. This is the sentence, and this is the deeper meaning, that make us opposite and unfriendly. This is the sentence, and this is the deeper meaning, that explain why I want to kill you, and why I refuse to be your friend. This is the sentence, and this is the deeper meaning, that show you your place, and my place, in the forest. This is the sentence, and this is the deeper meaning, that separate you and me, forever.”

The mouse was stunned and speechless by the lion’s words. He heard the sentence, and the deeper meaning, but he did not comprehend their significance. He felt a wave of confusion and bewilderment, as he tried to grasp the meaning of the words. He felt a surge of curiosity and wonder, as he tried to understand the connection between the words. He felt a spark of interest and desire, as he tried to learn more about the words. He said:

“Mr. Lion, thank you for telling me the sentence, and the deeper meaning. They are very interesting and intriguing. But I do not understand them fully. They are too complex and profound for me. I need more time and guidance to comprehend them. Please, do not leave me now. Please, stay with me, and help me. Please, explain to me more, and teach me more. Please, be my friend, and my guru.”

The lion was surprised and disgusted by the mouse’s words. He saw a greedy and foolish creature, who did not appreciate or respect his generosity and wisdom. He felt a wave of anger and resentment, as he realized that he had wasted his time and energy on the mouse. He felt a surge of disgust and contempt, as he realized that the mouse was not worthy of his explanation or help. He wanted to get rid of him, and to be left alone. He said:

“Enough, little mouse, enough. You are wasting your time and mine. You have nothing to learn from me, and I have nothing to offer you. You are asking me to explain to you the secrets of the forest, and the mysteries of life. You are asking me to teach you the meaning of dharma, karma, action, fate, meat, crumbs, moksha, samsara, courage, and fear. You are asking me to do the impossible, and the unnecessary. You are asking me to waste my precious time, and to lower my dignity. You are asking me to do something that I will never do, and that you will never understand. Now, it is time for me to end this conversation, and to end your life. Goodbye, little mouse, goodbye.”

Saying this, the lion opened his mouth, and prepared to bite the mouse. The mouse was terrified and helpless, as he saw the lion’s teeth and claws. He had no hope or escape, and he resigned to his fate. He closed his eyes, and waited for his death.

But, just then, something unexpected happened. The lion felt a sharp pain in his neck, and he let out a loud roar. He looked up, and saw a hunter, who had shot an arrow at him. The hunter had been hiding behind a bush, and he had been waiting for the right moment to attack the lion. He had seen the lion and the mouse, and he had heard their conversation. He had decided to kill the lion, and to spare the mouse. He had aimed his arrow at the lion’s neck, and he had released it. The arrow had pierced the lion’s skin, and had wounded him. The lion was shocked and furious, as he saw the hunter. He saw a human and an enemy, who had no right or reason to harm him. He felt a surge of pain and rage, as he realized that he had been attacked and injured. He wanted to fight back, and to kill the hunter. He said:

“Who are you, human? You are so cruel and wicked. I have never seen anyone like you before. You have nothing to gain from me, and I have nothing to lose from you. You are my enemy, and I am your prey. You are a creature of the city, and I am a creature of the forest. You are a follower of adharma, and I am a follower of dharma. You are a performer of violence, and I am a receiver of justice. You are a enjoyer of blood, and I am a subsister of meat. You are a lover of samsara, and I am a seeker of moksha. You are a symbol of evil, and I am a symbol of good. You are nothing, and I am everything. Prepare to die, human, prepare to die.”

Saying this, the lion jumped up, and ran towards the hunter. The hunter was ready and confident, as he saw the lion. He saw a beast and a trophy, who had no value or dignity for him. He felt a surge of greed and thrill, as he realized that he had a chance to kill the lion. He wanted to shoot him, and to take his skin and head. He said:

“Who are you, beast? You are so wild and savage. I have seen many like you before. You have nothing to teach me, and I have nothing to learn from you. You are my trophy, and I am your hunter. You are a creature of the forest, and I am a creature of the city. You are a follower of dharma, and I am a follower of adharma. You are a receiver of justice, and I am a performer of violence. You are a subsister of meat, and I am a enjoyer of blood. You are a seeker of moksha, and I am a lover of samsara. You are a symbol of good, and I am a symbol of evil. You are nothing, and I am everything. Goodbye, beast, goodbye.”

Saying this, the hunter took another arrow, and aimed at the lion’s heart. The lion was furious and fearless, as he saw the hunter’s arrow. He had no doubt or hesitation, and he charged at the hunter. He closed his eyes, and waited for his death.

But, just then, something unexpected happened. The hunter felt a gentle tug on his leg, and he looked down. He saw the mouse, who had bitten his ankle. The mouse had escaped from the lion’s mouth, and he had followed the lion and the hunter. He had seen the hunter’s arrow, and he had decided to save the lion. He had bitten the hunter’s ankle, and he had distracted him. The hunter’s aim was disturbed, and his arrow missed the lion’s heart. The lion was surprised and relieved, as he saw the mouse. He saw a friend and a savior, who had risked his life for him. He felt a surge of gratitude and admiration for the mouse. He thought that he was a brave and noble creature, who deserved his respect and friendship. He wanted to thank him, and to be his friend. He said:

“Who are you, little mouse? You are so courageous and generous. I have never seen anyone like you before. You have so much to offer me, and I have so much to learn from you. You are my friend, and I am your friend. You are my savior, and I am your student. You are a mouse, and I am a lion. You are a creature of the earth, and I am a creature of the sky. You are a follower of karma, and I am a follower of dharma. You are a receiver of fate, and I am a performer of action. You are a subsister of crumbs, and I am a enjoyer of meat. You are a seeker of samsara, and I am a lover of moksha. You are a symbol of fear, and I am a symbol of courage. You are everything, and I am nothing. Thank you, little mouse, thank you.”

Saying this, the lion embraced the mouse, and licked his fur. The mouse was happy and proud, as he saw the lion. He saw a friend and a teacher, who had learned from him. He felt a surge of joy and love for the lion. He thought that he was a kind and humble creature, who deserved his friendship and loyalty. He wanted to stay with him, and to be his friend. He said:

“Mr. Lion, you are welcome. I am glad that I could help you. You have so much to teach me, and I have so much to offer you. You are my teacher, and I am your friend. You are my friend, and I am your friend. You are a lion, and I am a mouse. You are a creature of the sky, and I am a creature of the earth. You are a follower of dharma, and I am a follower of karma. You are a performer of action, and I am a receiver of fate. You are a enjoyer of meat, and I am a subsister of crumbs. You are a lover of moksha, and I am a seeker of samsara. You are a symbol of courage, and I am a symbol of fear. You are nothing, and I am everything. Let us be friends, Mr. Lion, let us be friends.”

Saying this, the mouse hugged the lion, and smiled. The lion and the mouse became friends, and they lived happily ever after in the forest. They learned from each other, and they helped each other. They respected each other, and they loved each other. They followed their own paths, and they supported each other’s paths. They enjoyed their own lives, and they shared each other’s lives. They sought their own goals, and they celebrated each other’s goals. They were different, and they were the same. They were opposite, and they were complementary. They were everything, and they were nothing.

The hunter, meanwhile, was shocked and ashamed, as he saw the lion and the mouse. He saw a miracle and a lesson, that he had not expected or deserved. He felt a surge of remorse and repentance, as he realized that he had done wrong and evil. He wanted to apologize to them, and to be their friend. He said:

“Please, Mr. Lion and Mr. Mouse, please forgive me. I have done a terrible thing, and I am sorry. I have harmed you, and I have harmed myself. I have violated the law of dharma, and I have followed the law of adharma. I have performed violence, and I have received pain. I have enjoyed blood, and I have lost peace. I have loved samsara, and I have missed moksha. I have been a symbol of evil, and I have ignored the symbols of good. I have been everything, and I have been nothing. Please, teach me, Mr. Lion and Mr. Mouse, please teach me.”

Saying this, the hunter dropped his bow and arrow, and bowed down to the lion and the mouse. The lion and the mouse looked at the hunter, and they felt a surge of compassion and forgiveness for him. They thought that he was a lost and confused creature, who needed their guidance and friendship. They wanted to help him, and to be his friend. They said:

“Rise, human, rise. We forgive you, and we welcome you. You have done a terrible thing, but you have realized your mistake. You have harmed us, but you have apologized to us. You have violated the law of dharma, but you have sought the law of dharma. You have performed violence, but you have received pain. You have enjoyed blood, but you have lost peace. You have loved samsara, but you have missed moksha. You have been a symbol of evil, but you have ignored the symbols of good. You have been everything, and you have been nothing. But now, you can change, human, you can change. You can learn from us, and we can learn from you. You can be our friend, and we can be your friend. You can be a human, and we can be animals. You can be a creature of the city, and we can be creatures of the forest. You can be a follower of dharma, and we can be followers of karma. You can be a performer of action, and we can be receivers of fate. You can be a subsister of grains, and we can be enjoyers of meat. You can be a seeker of moksha, and we can be lovers of samsara. You can be a symbol of good, and we can be symbols of courage and fear. You can be nothing, and we can be everything. Let us be friends, human, let us be friends.”

Saying this, the lion and the mouse invited the hunter to join them, and they smiled. The hunter accepted their invitation, and he smiled. The hunter, the lion, and the mouse became friends, and they lived happily ever after in the forest. They learned from each other, and they helped each other. They respected each other, and they loved each other. They followed their own paths, and they supported each other’s paths. They enjoyed their own lives, and they shared each other’s lives. They sought their own goals, and they celebrated each other’s goals. They were different, and they were the same. They were opposite, and they were complementary. They were everything, and they were nothing.

The End.

Bhagavad Gita : 3.21

yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhas
tat tad evetaro janaḥ
sa yat pramāṇaṁ kurute
lokas tad anuvartate

yat—whatever; yat—and whichever; ācarati—does he act; śreṣṭhaḥ—respectable leader; tat—that; tat—and that alone; eva—certainly; itaraḥ—common; janaḥ—person; saḥ—he; yat—whichever; pramāṇam—evidence; kurute—does perform; lokaḥ—all the world; tat—that; anuvartate—follow in the footsteps.

Whatever action is performed by a great man, common men follow in his footsteps. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.

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