The Banyan Deer
Traditional | India
Two deer kings make a deal with a human king to send one deer a day for hunting, but one deer sacrifices himself and changes the king's heart.
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Once upon a time, in a thick and lush forest, there lived two herds of deer. Each herd had five hundred deer, and both were led by a magnificent king. One of them was known as the King Banyan Deer because of his beautiful golden fur, which was as lustrous as the bark of a banyan tree. The other was known as the King Branch Deer because his antlers branched out like a beautiful tree.
The two kings were not only wise and fair, but they were also great friends.
Nearby, there was a royal city where the human king loved to hunt. He and his hunters would often come to the forest, chasing and terrifying the animals. The Banyan Deer and Branch Deer, seeing their herds scared and in disarray, decided to talk to the human king.
They went to the king's palace and explained their problem, "Oh, great king! We understand your love for hunting, but our herds are living in constant fear. It causes chaos and harm. Could we find a way to make it easier for everyone?"
Moved by their wise words, the human king agreed to a plan. "Each day," he said, "send one deer from your herds to my palace. This way, you won't be scared, and I can continue my hunting."
Both the deer kings agreed, and so it was arranged. Each day, one deer would go to the palace to be hunted, alternating between the two herds.
One day, it was a turn from the Banyan Deer's herd. A mother deer, who had a newborn fawn, was chosen. Tearfully, she approached the Banyan Deer. "Please," she pleaded, "let me live until my baby is old enough to survive without me. After that, I will go."
The Banyan Deer, full of compassion, decided to go to the palace in place of the mother deer. He walked to the palace and laid down, ready to be hunted.
When the human king saw the majestic Banyan Deer offering himself, he was astonished. He realized the value of self-sacrifice and compassion. He said, "Oh, noble Banyan Deer, your act of bravery and love has touched my heart. I won't hunt you. Go back to your forest."
The Banyan Deer, however, asked the king to promise not to hunt any deer from now on. Seeing the wisdom in this, the king agreed and even extended his promise to all the animals in the forest.
And so, the forest became a safe haven for all animals, thanks to the wise and compassionate Banyan Deer. And they all lived in peace and harmony, learning the value of sacrifice, compassion, and kindness.
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