The Cave That Talked Back
Hitopadesha Stories · 1 min read
A lion, growing too old and lazy to chase his prey through the forest, moved into a cave near a busy animal path and began calling out politely to anyone who passed. "Dear friend," he would say, "won't you visit an old lion who means you no harm?" Those curious enough to step inside were never seen again.
A clever jackal, invited in the same way, paused at the entrance and studied the ground carefully. He noticed many tracks leading into the cave — but not a single one leading back out.
"Great sir," the jackal called from a safe distance, "I always greet an elder from outside first, out of respect. Please call back to me from within, so I may know you welcome my visit properly." The lion, hungry and impatient, roared his invitation loudly from inside the cave — and the jackal, having confirmed exactly what he suspected, thanked him politely and trotted away to warn every other animal in the forest.
Moral of the story
A careful eye for small details can save you from a trap that has already caught others.