The Clever Rabbit and the Elephant King

Deep in the heart of an ancient forest, there stood a magnificent lake known as Chandra Sarovar, the Moon Lake. Its crystal-clear waters reflected the sky so perfectly that it seemed as if the moon itself lived within its depths. Around this lake grew the most beautiful lotus flowers, and its banks were covered with soft, green grass that provided the perfect home for countless small creatures.

For generations, a large community of rabbits had made their warren in the gentle hills surrounding the Moon Lake. They had dug an intricate network of burrows and tunnels that provided safety, comfort, and easy access to the sweet water and tender grass. The rabbit families lived in harmony, raising their young and enjoying the peaceful life that the lake provided.

Among these rabbits lived one particularly small but exceptionally clever rabbit named Lambakarna. He was not the strongest or the fastest of the rabbits, but he was known throughout the warren for his quick thinking and his ability to solve problems that seemed impossible to everyone else.

“When others see obstacles, Lambakarna sees opportunities,” the elder rabbits would say. “His mind is sharper than his teeth, and his courage is larger than his body.”

One terrible summer, a great drought struck the distant lands beyond the forest. Rivers dried up, water holes disappeared, and animals everywhere began a desperate search for water sources that could sustain them through the harsh season.

Word of the beautiful Moon Lake began to spread among the suffering animals. Before long, a magnificent herd of elephants, led by their mighty king Gajendra, decided to make the journey to the lake to establish it as their new watering place.

Gajendra was a massive bull elephant with tusks that gleamed like polished ivory and a presence that commanded respect from every creature in the forest. He was not a cruel leader, but he was used to taking what his herd needed without much consideration for smaller animals who might be affected.

“My family,” Gajendra announced to his herd as they approached the forest, “ahead lies our salvation. The Moon Lake will provide us with all the water we need to survive this drought.”

When the elephant herd arrived at the lake, the very ground shook beneath their massive feet. The rabbits, who had been peacefully going about their daily activities, suddenly found their world turned upside down.

THUD! THUD! THUD!

The giant feet came crashing down everywhere, crushing burrow entrances, collapsing tunnels, and turning the carefully maintained rabbit village into chaos. The elephants, being so large, simply didn’t notice the tiny creatures scurrying frantically beneath them.

“Run for your lives!” cried the rabbit mothers, gathering their babies and racing for the few tunnels that hadn’t been damaged.

“Our homes are being destroyed!” wailed the elders, watching generations of careful construction being trampled in minutes.

Many rabbits were injured in the stampede, and several of the most important burrows were completely collapsed. The peaceful community that had taken years to build was being destroyed in a matter of hours.

From a small hill overlooking the devastation, Lambakarna watched with growing determination. He saw elderly rabbits who could barely move being forced to flee their comfortable homes. He saw baby rabbits separated from their mothers in the confusion. He saw the despair in every rabbit’s eyes as their safe haven was destroyed.

“This cannot continue,” he said to himself firmly. “If something is not done immediately, our entire community will be wiped out.”

The other rabbits gathered around Lambakarna, hoping their cleverest member might have a solution to their desperate situation.

“What can we do?” asked one of the elders. “How can tiny creatures like us stand against such massive beasts? They could crush our entire warren without even noticing.”

“We cannot fight them with strength,” agreed another rabbit. “They are too powerful, and we are too small.”

Lambakarna listened thoughtfully to their concerns, his mind racing through various possibilities. Then, suddenly, his eyes lit up with inspiration.

“My friends,” he said with growing excitement, “we cannot match their strength, but we have something they do not possess – intelligence, creativity, and the knowledge of this land that they lack. I have a plan, but it will require great courage and perfect timing.”

The rabbits gathered closer, eager to hear any hope of salvation.

“What we need,” explained Lambakarna, “is to convince the elephant king that this lake is protected by a power greater than his own – a power that he will respect and fear.”

“But what power could be greater than the elephants?” asked a young rabbit.

“The moon itself,” replied Lambakarna with a mysterious smile. “Everyone knows that elephants are deeply religious creatures who respect the gods and celestial beings. If we can convince Gajendra that the Moon God is angry about the destruction of his sacred lake, the elephants will leave immediately.”

The plan seemed impossible to the other rabbits. How could a tiny rabbit convince the mighty elephant king of such a thing?

“Trust me,” said Lambakarna confidently. “But I will need all of you to help create the right conditions for this plan to work.”

That evening, as the elephants settled down around the lake for the night, Lambakarna put his plan into action. He instructed all the rabbits to remain hidden in their deepest, safest burrows while he approached the elephant king alone.

The little rabbit waited until the moon was high and bright, casting its silver light across the water of the lake. Then, choosing a large rock that stood in the shallow water near the shore, Lambakarna climbed to its top and called out in his loudest, most authoritative voice:

“Great King Gajendra! I am the messenger of the Moon God, sent to speak with you about the terrible destruction you have brought to this sacred place!”

The elephant king, who had been drinking peacefully at the water’s edge, looked up in surprise. He could see a small figure silhouetted against the bright moon, but the light was so dazzling that he could not make out exactly what kind of creature was speaking.

“Who dares to interrupt my rest?” rumbled Gajendra in his deep, powerful voice. “And what do you mean by calling this place sacred?”

Lambakarna took a deep breath and continued with his performance, making his voice as commanding as possible:

“O mighty elephant, do you not know that this lake belongs to the Moon God himself? It is called Chandra Sarovar because the moon lives within its waters. For generations, the Moon God has watched over this place and protected all the creatures who live here peacefully.”

Gajendra looked more closely at the small figure on the rock. “You seem very small to be speaking with such authority, little messenger.”

“The Moon God does not choose his messengers by their size, but by their wisdom and courage,” replied Lambakarna boldly. “I have been sent to warn you that the Moon God is extremely angry about the destruction your herd has caused to his sacred lake and to the creatures under his protection.”

To add drama to his words, Lambakarna had positioned himself so that his shadow fell across the surface of the water, appearing to disturb the moon’s perfect reflection. As he moved and gestured, the reflected moon seemed to dance and flicker in the water.

“Look!” cried Lambakarna, pointing down at the water. “See how the Moon God’s image trembles with rage in his own sacred lake! The very water shakes with his anger!”

Gajendra looked down at the water and was indeed amazed to see the moon’s reflection appearing to quiver and move in an agitated manner. Being a devout elephant who deeply respected the gods, he was immediately filled with concern.

“If this is truly the Moon God’s sacred lake,” he said worriedly, “then we have made a grave error. We meant no disrespect to any divine being. We came here only because of the terrible drought in our homeland.”

Lambakarna sensed that his plan was working, but he knew he needed to be both firm and compassionate to achieve the result he wanted.

“The Moon God understands your desperation,” he said in a gentler tone, “and he does not wish for your herd to suffer. However, the destruction of his sacred rabbits’ homes cannot be allowed to continue. These rabbits have been the guardians of his lake for countless generations.”

“What must we do to make amends for this mistake?” asked Gajendra humbly. “We do not wish to anger the gods, but we also cannot survive without water.”

This was the crucial moment of Lambakarna’s plan. He had to offer a solution that would save his people while also addressing the elephants’ genuine need for water.

“The Moon God is merciful,” announced Lambakarna. “He knows of another lake, just two days’ journey to the north, that is even larger and more beautiful than this one. It has no permanent inhabitants, and the Moon God grants you permission to make it your home. In return, you must leave this sacred place immediately and promise never to return.”

Gajendra considered this proposal carefully. The promise of an even better lake, combined with his desire to avoid divine punishment, made the decision easy.

“We accept the Moon God’s generous offer,” he declared solemnly. “We will depart at first light and trouble this sacred place no more.”

“The Moon God is pleased with your wisdom and respect,” replied Lambakarna, barely able to contain his relief and excitement. “Go in peace, great king, and may you find prosperity in your new home.”

As the elephant king moved away to inform his herd of their departure, Lambakarna quickly climbed down from the rock and scurried back to the rabbit warren to share the incredible news.

“It worked!” he whispered excitedly to the gathered rabbits. “The elephants are leaving tomorrow morning!”

The entire rabbit community could hardly believe their ears. Their smallest member had single-handedly convinced the mighty elephant king to abandon his plans and leave their territory.

True to his word, Gajendra led his herd away from the Moon Lake at dawn. The elephants departed peacefully, and many of them even seemed grateful for the divine guidance that had led them to a better home.

As the thunderous footsteps faded into the distance, the rabbits emerged from their burrows to begin the task of rebuilding their community. Though much damage had been done, they were alive and safe, and their beloved lake was once again their own.

“Lambakarna,” said the eldest rabbit with deep admiration, “you have saved us all with your courage and cleverness. How can we ever thank you?”

“The best thanks,” replied Lambakarna modestly, “is for all of us to work together to rebuild our home and to remember this lesson: that intelligence and courage can overcome even the mightiest obstacles, and that sometimes the greatest strength lies not in fighting, but in finding creative solutions that benefit everyone.”

The rabbits spent the following weeks repairing their warren and making it even better than before. They also built a small shrine near the lake to honor the moon, both as a reminder of their salvation and as a genuine expression of gratitude for the beauty and peace of their home.

Word of Lambakarna’s clever victory spread throughout the forest, and animals from far and wide came to hear the story of the tiny rabbit who had outwitted the elephant king through intelligence rather than force.

Meanwhile, Gajendra and his herd did indeed find the northern lake that Lambakarna had described. It was everything the rabbit had promised – large, beautiful, and perfect for their needs. The elephant king often told his own family the story of the wise little messenger who had guided them to their new home, and he always spoke with respect about the importance of listening to wisdom, regardless of where it comes from.

And on bright moonlit nights, when the rabbits of Chandra Sarovar gathered to tell stories to their young ones, they would always include the tale of Lambakarna and the elephant king, teaching their children that courage, intelligence, and quick thinking are the greatest weapons any creature can possess.

The Moon Lake continued to reflect the sky in perfect peace, now protected by both its natural beauty and the legend of the brave rabbit who had proven that even the smallest voice can speak with the authority of wisdom when it stands up for what is right.