The Lion and the Clever Rabbit – A Panchatantra Story for Kids

It’s time for a wonderful Panchatantra story! Let’s read it.

Long, long ago, deep inside a thick jungle, there lived a huge, ferocious lion named Bhasuraka. He was the king of that jungle. With big sharp claws, a thick golden mane, and a roar so loud that every single animal in the forest would stop dead! He not only looked terrifying, but he was also very cruel and merciless. He enjoyed hunting and killing animals. Though he needed only one animal a day for his food, Bhasuraka used to kill many animals everyday.

Every single morning he would go out hunting. Deer, rabbits, buffaloes, goats, boars any of the animals he would chase it down and kill it. The animals were so scared that they avoided to step outside their burrows. Some thought about running away to another forest, but where would they go? This was their home.

One day, all the animals gathered. The elephant, the deer, the rabbits, the jackals, the monkeys everyone came. Together, they marched to Bhasuraka’s cave.

They bowed before the lion and said in the softest tone possible, “Your Majesty, we are your humble subjects. You kill many of us in a day. If this continues, there will be no food left for you. We request you to accept this new arrangement. What if we send you one animal every day, right to your cave? You will receive fresh meal at your door, without running, without chasing! We promise that we will send one animal to you everyday.”

Bhasuraka thought for a while. ‘A meal delivered every day? No effort at all?’ He liked this proposal.

“Fine!” he growled. “But if my meal is late even once…” he let out a thundering roar and declared “…I will eat every creature in this jungle.”

GRRRRRRRRRR!

The poor animals trembled, but they agreed. Every morning, one animal would walk to the lion’s den and it would never walk back. It was the new law of the jungle now. This arrangement worked. Bhasuraka was also happy because he got variety of tasty food everyday without making any efforts.

One day, it was the turn of a rabbit. Although the rabbit was tiny in size, he was very, very clever.

When the rabbit was told that it was his turn, he didn’t cry, he didn’t panic.

All the animals came to send him off with a heavy heart. “I will go,” the rabbit said calmly. “But I will go my way. I don’t want all of you to accompany me to the cave.”

He started towards the cave walking as slowly as possible. On his way, he stopped to sniff every flower. He sat under a tree and counted the clouds. On the trail to the cave, he spotted a well. The curious rabbit peeked over the edge of the well. He could see his own reflection in the water. Suddenly an idea struck him! He instantly made a plan to get rid of Bhasuraka forever.

And just as you’ve imagined, Bhasuraka was FURIOUS! He was so hungry that his stomach was playing the drums. GRUMBLE GRUMBLE GRUMBLE! He was pacing back and forth in his cave, roaring and smashing his paws on the ground.

Then, little rabbit appeared at the entrance of the cave. Bhasuraka looked down and what he saw? Just a tiny, trembling rabbit!?

“YOUUUUU!?” he roared. “.. all they have sent is YOU… you miserable rabbit! Also, you are so late. This is an INSULT! Today, after eating you, I will tear this entire jungle apart!”

The rabbit started acting scared. He shivered and spoke in a shaky little voice. “Y-Y-Your Majesty! Please forgive us. It’s neither my fault nor of the other animals! Knowing that I’m too small to satisfy your hunger, the animals sent four more rabbits with me. A total of five rabbits were sent to you this morning, FIVE! But on the way, a terrible thing happened. Another lion came out of another cave. He claimed that he is bigger and stronger than you. He said from now, only he gets to eat all the food. He grabbed four of my brothers and gobbled them up just like that! He only let me go to carry a message to you.”

“Another Lion??” “In MY jungle?” Bhasuraka’s eyes went wide.

“What message did he send?”

The rabbit lowered his head. “He said… tell your craven king that this jungle belongs to me now.”

On hearing this, Bhasuraka exploded with rage. His mane stood straight up, his claws dug into the ground, and his eyes turned blood-red!

“Where is this stupid lion? Show me! I will crush him right now!”, Bhasuraka roared fiercely.

“Your Majesty! I have seen him, he is very big and horrifying. I must warn you that his den is like a stronghold. Also he is a mighty lion so, to attack and kill him in his own place would be a difficult thing to do.” said the little rabbit.

Bhasuraka gave the rabbit a mean look.

The rabbit led the angry lion through the jungle towards that old, deep well.

Pointing his tiny paw at the well, the rabbit told Bhasuraka in a frightened voice, “There! He’s hiding in that fortress down there. Please be careful while you peer inside!”

Bhasuraka with an arrogant smile, stomped to the edge and peered down into the well. And there appeared a massive, fearsome lion staring right back at him! Big golden mane, sharp claws, angry blood-red eyes, glancing at him wrathfully!

(You already guessed it, didn’t you? It was his own reflection! But Bhasuraka? He had no idea!)

“HOW DARE YOU!” Bhasuraka roared into the well.

And what came back?

His own voice, echoing off the walls of the well; just as loud, just as angry! It sounded EXACTLY like another lion roaring back at him.

Bhasuraka believed that there was another lion in that well. He completely lost his mind. With a mighty leap, he jumped straight into the well!

SPLASHHHHH!

The water was deep. The walls were smooth and slippery. There was no way out. The cruel, terrible lion sank to the bottom, and that was the end of Bhasuraka. Little rabbit hopped back to the jungle. All the animals were surprised to see him alive, eyes wide, hearts pounding.

“Bhasuraka is gone,” the tiny rabbit announced gladly. “Nobody needs to be afraid any more.”

At first, nobody believed him. A rabbit defeated a lion? But when they all rushed to the well and peeked inside, they saw the truth. The jungle erupted in cheers! They lifted the clever rabbit onto the old elephant’s back and paraded him through the entire forest!

From that day on, the elders in the jungle would say, “Don’t ever forget, the smallest rabbit defeated the mightiest lion, not with strength, but with brains!”

The End.

The moral

Size and strength are not everything. A calm mind and a clever plan can defeat even the mightiest bully. And those who are blinded by anger and pride, they always end up destroying themselves.

How about reading more Panchatantra stories for kids?