The Elephant and the Ants
Once upon a time, in a lush green forest, there lived a mighty elephant named Gajraj. He was the biggest and strongest animal in the jungle. With his long trunk and powerful tusks, he could shake the tallest trees and lift the heaviest logs. But despite his great strength, Gajraj had one flaw—he was very arrogant. He believed that he was superior to all the other animals and often mocked those who were small and weak.
One day, while walking near a river, Gajraj saw a group of ants marching in a line, carrying tiny food crumbs back to their home. He laughed loudly and said, “You tiny creatures are so weak and useless! Look at me—I am the king of this jungle! You are nothing compared to my size and strength.”
The ants felt hurt but remained silent. They knew that the elephant was too proud to understand their worth. However, the wise leader of the ants, Chintu, decided to teach Gajraj a lesson.
The next day, while the elephant was sleeping under a large tree, Chintu gathered his fellow ants and whispered a plan. They silently crawled up Gajraj’s trunk and into his ears. Then, they started biting him all at once.
Gajraj woke up with a loud trumpet. “Ouch! What is happening?” he cried in pain. He shook his head, flapped his ears, and stomped his feet, but the ants kept biting him from inside his ears. He tried to chase them away, but they were too tiny for his giant body to catch.
“Please stop! It hurts!” Gajraj begged, now realizing that even the smallest creatures could be powerful.
Chintu and his ants stopped biting and climbed out of his ears. Gajraj sighed in relief and said, “I am sorry. I now understand that strength is not just about size. Even the smallest beings have their power and importance.”
The ants forgave him, and from that day on, Gajraj never insulted anyone because of their size. He became kind and respectful to all creatures in the forest, big or small.
Moral of the Story: Never underestimate others based on their size or appearance. Everyone has their strength and values.
Glossary:
- Arrogant – Having too much pride and thinking you are better than others.
- Lush – Full of greenery and rich plant life.
- Mighty – Very strong and powerful.
- Mocked – Made fun of someone in a mean way.
- Crumbs – Small pieces of food.
- Superior – Feeling higher or better than others.
- Trumpet – A loud sound made by an elephant.
- Stomped – Walked heavily, making a loud noise.
- Relief – A feeling of comfort after pain or stress.
- Forgave – Stopped being angry at someone for their mistake.
