月亮湖

Once a large herd of elephants lived in a jungle. Their king was a giant tusker. He looked after all the members of the herd with utmost love and care.

Once， a severe drought hit the area. All the birds and the animals started dying out of thirst. The elephant king knew that he had to find water as quickly as possible. He asked the members of the herd to go in different directions to look for water. One of them found a large lake full of water in the woods far away. The king was very happy and ordered all the elephants to make their way to the lake.

The elephants started clearing up the way to the lake for all the members of the herd. There was a colony of rabbits also on the way to the jungle. In their excitement of reaching the lake as soon as possible， the elephants trampled many rabbits under their feet. All the elephants were very happy to reach the lake. They had fun and frolicked in the water the entire day in the lake and once they were thoroughly satisfied， they left.

The rabbits were in a state of panic as they knew that the elephants would return soon. Their king called a meeting. He said， “A herd of wild elephants has homed in on the lake near our colony. They have already killed or injured thousands of us. I am sure， they will come back soon. So， we must think of a way to stop them and prevent more deaths.” One little rabbit stood up and said， “I do have a plan to drive away the elephants from this forest. I will go to meet the king of the elephants when he will come again this side.”

The next day when the rabbit saw the herd of elephants coming towards their side again， he climbed up a huge rock and shouted at the top of his voice， “Oh king of the elephants， hear me， please.” The king heard his voice and turned towards him. “Well， who are you？” he asked. “I am a messenger of the moon，” replied the rabbit. He further added in a firm tone， “I have come here to tell you that the moon is very upset with you as you have soiled his lake. He is thinking of punishing you strictly for your deed.” Upon hearing this， the elephant king got frightened. He said， “Please take me to God Moon. I will seek his forgiveness.” The clever rabbit said， “All right！ Meet me alone tonight at the lake.”

That night， the king elephant as told by the rabbit， reached the lake alone. The rabbit and the elephant both stood near the edge of the lake. It was a moonlit night and a mild breeze was blowing. The rabbit asked the elephant to look carefully into the water of the lake.

When the king elephant looked into the water， he saw the reflection of the moon. Just then a mild breeze blew and created ripples in the water of the lake. With the ripples， the reflection of the moon in the water also became wavy and disturbed. Pointing to the disturbed reflection of the moon， the little rabbit said， “Look for yourself， how annoyed God Moon is with you！He may even curse you to death， if you do not ask for his forgiveness.”

The king elephant became extremely frightened and promised that he or any member of his herd would never visit the Moons lake again.

The clever trick of the little rabbit worked and all the rabbits lived happily， thereafter. The story tells us that intelligence is superior to might.

從前，有一大群大象住在叢林里。他們的國王是一頭巨大的長牙象。他以極大的愛和關懷照顧著象群的所有成員。

一次，這個地區遭受了一場嚴重的干旱。所有的鳥和動物都開始陸續渴死。象王知道他必須盡快找到水。他讓象群的成員去不同的方向尋找水源。其中的一個在遠處的樹林里發現了一個滿是水的大湖。象王非常高興，命令所有的大象都向那個湖進發。

大象開始為象群中的所有成員清理通往湖邊的道路。在去叢林的路上還有一群兔子。懷著盡快到達湖邊的激動之情，大象們的腳下踩到了許多兔子。所有的大象都很高興到達了湖邊。他們在湖里玩了一整天，在水里嬉戲，一旦完全盡興了，他們就離開了。

兔子們驚慌失措，因為他們知道大象們很快就會回來。他們的國王召開了一個會議。他說：“一群野蠻的象已經在我們領地附近的湖邊安家了。他們已經殺死或弄傷了我們數千國民。我相信，他們很快就會回來的。因此，我們必須想個辦法阻止他們以避免更多的傷亡。”一只小兔子站起來說：“我有一個計劃，可以把大象趕出這片森林。等象王再來這邊的時候，我要去見他。”

第二天，當這只兔子看到大象群再次向他們這邊走來時，他爬上一塊巨大的巖石，大聲喊道：“大象之王，請聽我說。”象王聽到了他的聲音，轉過身來。“你是誰？”他問道。“我是月亮的使者。”兔子回答說。他又用堅定的語氣補充道：“我來這里是要告訴你，月亮對你很生氣，因為你弄臟了他的湖水。他正在考慮嚴厲懲罰你的行為。”象王聽到這話，嚇了一跳。他說：“請帶我去月亮神那里吧。我想尋求他的寬恕。”這只聰明的兔子說：“好吧！今晚獨自在湖邊和我見面。”

那天晚上，象王按照兔子說的獨自來到了湖邊。兔子和大象都站在湖邊。那是一個月光明亮的夜晚，微風習習。兔子讓大象仔細觀察湖水。

當象王往水里看時，他看到了月亮的倒影。就在這時，一陣微風吹來，湖水泛起漣漪。隨著漣漪，月亮在水中的倒影也變得起伏動蕩。指著晃蕩的月亮倒影，小兔子說：“你自己看看，月亮神對你多惱火啊！如果你不請求他的寬恕，他甚至可能會詛咒你死。”

象王變得極其害怕，并承諾他或他的象群中的任何一個成員再也不會造訪月亮湖了。

小兔子的聰明伎倆奏效了，從此以后所有的兔子都過著幸福的生活。這個故事告訴我們，智勝于力。