The story
A strong bull named Sanjivaka had hurt his leg on a long journey, and his master left him by a river to rest. The grass was sweet and the water cool, and soon Sanjivaka was healthy, happy — and very loud. Every morning he bellowed, “Mooo-aaah!” so that the whole forest echoed.
Pingalaka the lion, king of the forest, came to the river to drink. When he heard that great bellow, his mane stood on end. “What terrible creature is that?” he thought, and he hurried back to his den without drinking a drop.
Two jackals, Karataka and Damanaka, noticed that the king was frightened. Damanaka said, “Fear grows in the dark. Let me go and see what this creature really is.”
Damanaka crept through the bushes and found — a big, friendly bull munching grass. He laughed and told the bull, “The king of the forest would like to meet you.” Sanjivaka was a little nervous, but he came along.
When the lion saw the gentle bull, his fear melted away. The two talked for a long time and became good friends. The lion felt silly. “I was afraid of a sound,” he said, “only because I did not go and look.”
Moral of the Story
Many fears disappear when we calmly find out the truth.
More stories on HonestyMore stories on Friendship & TeamworkStories for this age
कहानी — डकार से डरने वाला शेर
संजीवक नाम के एक मज़बूत बैल का पैर लंबी यात्रा में चोटिल हो गया था, और उसका मालिक उसे आराम करने के लिए नदी किनारे छोड़ गया। घास मीठी थी और पानी ठंडा, और जल्दी ही संजीवक स्वस्थ, ख़ुश — और बहुत ज़ोर से डकारने वाला हो गया। हर सुबह वह “म्बाँऽऽ!” करके ऐसे डकारता कि पूरा जंगल गूँज उठता।
जंगल का राजा पिंगलक शेर नदी पर पानी पीने आया। जब उसने वह ज़ोरदार डकार सुनी, तो उसके अयाल के बाल खड़े हो गए। “यह कौन-सा भयानक जीव है?” उसने सोचा, और एक घूँट पानी पिए बिना जल्दी से अपनी गुफा में लौट गया।
करटक और दमनक नाम के दो सियारों ने देखा कि राजा डरा हुआ है। दमनक बोला, “डर अँधेरे में बढ़ता है। मुझे जाकर देखने दो कि यह जीव असल में है क्या।”
दमनक झाड़ियों में दबे पाँव गया और उसे मिला — घास चरता हुआ एक बड़ा, भोला-भाला बैल। वह हँस पड़ा और बैल से बोला, “जंगल के राजा तुमसे मिलना चाहते हैं।” संजीवक थोड़ा घबराया, पर उसके साथ चल पड़ा।
जब शेर ने उस शांत बैल को देखा, तो उसका डर पिघल गया। दोनों ने देर तक बातें कीं और अच्छे दोस्त बन गए। शेर को अपने ऊपर हँसी आई। “मैं एक आवाज़ से डर गया था,” उसने कहा, “सिर्फ़ इसलिए कि मैंने जाकर देखा नहीं।”
कहानी की सीख
बहुत-से डर शांति से सच जान लेने पर ग़ायब हो जाते हैं।
What Children Can Learn
- Facing fears by finding out
- Not judging by a sound or a rumour
- Making new friends
Key Values
- Finding out the truth
- Courage
- Friendship
Emotional & social lesson
Something new or different can seem scary until we get to know it.
Key vocabulary
- bellow
- a very loud, deep sound, like a bull’s
- mane
- the long hair around a lion’s head
- rumour
- a story people pass on that may not be true
Think & Answer
- Why was the lion afraid?
- What did the jackal discover?
- What is something you were scared of until you understood it?
Parent–child activity
Sound guessing game: one person makes a noise behind a door, the other guesses what made it — then opens the door to check!
Parent / Teacher Discussion
This is the opening of Book Two of the Hitopadesha (also told in the Panchatantra). In the full tale a jackal later sets the friends against each other; this retelling ends with the friendship.
Try a Learning Activity
Read the story → answer the questions → practise on the Life Skills island and work towards a 🏅 Gold Medal.
FAQ
What is the moral of “The Lion Who Feared a Bellow”?
Many fears disappear when we calmly find out the truth.
What age is “The Lion Who Feared a Bellow” suitable for?
It suits children of about 5–10 years, read aloud or read together.