The Deer That Trusted a Tiger's Word
Hitopadesha Stories · 1 min read
An old tiger, no longer swift enough to chase down deer as he once could, positioned himself near a watering hole frequented by a herd and called out that he had renounced hunting entirely for a life of peace, offering safe passage to any deer who wished to drink there, so long as they came calmly rather than fleeing in fear that might attract other, hungrier predators.
Most of the herd, cautious by nature, kept their distance despite his claims. But one young, trusting deer, tired of the long detours the herd took to avoid the watering hole, decided the tiger's peaceful words seemed sincere enough and approached to drink directly beside him.
The tiger, patient and cunning, did nothing on this first visit, allowing the deer to drink safely and leave unharmed — deliberately building trust for a second visit. Emboldened, the deer returned days later, now confident and relaxed, drawing closer than before. It was on this second, more careless visit that the tiger, having waited patiently for exactly this moment, struck. The rest of the herd, watching from a cautious distance, understood that a predator's patience is often more dangerous than his hunger.
Moral of the story
A predator's patience, used to build false trust, is often more dangerous than his hunger.