The Golden Gazelle and the Wise Fox – A Jataka Parable About Cleverness and Calmness

Description: This Jataka parable tells the story of a golden gazelle who, with the cleverness and help of a wise fox, escaped from a hunter. The story demonstrates the importance of staying calm, using cleverness, and the value of loyalty and friendship.

Long ago, in a dense forest full of the sounds of nature and birdsong, lived a beautiful golden gazelle named Sundara. Her fur shimmered in the sun, and her movements were graceful and swift. The animals admired her beauty and agility. However, among them was a wise fox who always said, "External beauty means nothing without intelligence and cleverness."

The gazelle was kind and modest but somewhat careless. She did not always heed the fox's advice. "My speed will save me," she often thought, convinced that her agility would protect her from any danger.

One day, a hunter came into the forest. He had heard of the golden gazelle and decided to catch her. "If I catch this gazelle, I will become rich and famous," he thought. He set a net near a pond, knowing that the gazelle would come there to quench her thirst.

The gazelle, unaware of the danger, came to the water. She took a few steps and got caught in the net. She struggled desperately to free herself, but with every movement, the net tightened further. Sundara realized that she could not escape on her own and began calling for help.

The wise fox heard the cries and rushed to the gazelle. Seeing her, the fox said, "Don't panic. If you continue to struggle, you will only worsen your situation. Calmness is your greatest weapon."

"But how can I escape?" the gazelle asked, trying to calm herself.

The fox looked around and noticed the hunter approaching. "Listen to me," she said. "You must pretend to be dead. Do not move and hold your breath. I will take care of the rest."

The gazelle trusted the fox and froze. As the hunter approached, he saw the motionless gazelle. "What luck!" he exclaimed. "She is no longer struggling. This will make my task easier."

The hunter began to loosen the net to pull the gazelle out. As soon as the net was sufficiently loosened, the gazelle suddenly sprang up, kicked the hunter off his feet, and quickly ran into the forest.

The fox ran to the gazelle, who had hidden in the bushes. "Thank you, wise fox!" the gazelle said. "You saved me. I will never again ignore your advice."

The fox smiled and replied, "Remember, speed and strength are important, but without intelligence and calmness, they mean nothing."

From that day on, the gazelle always listened to the fox's advice, and their friendship grew stronger. The story of how the golden gazelle was saved by the wisdom of the fox spread throughout the forest, reminding everyone of the importance of cleverness and calmness.

Moral: Calmness and cleverness can save you in the most difficult situations. Never ignore the advice of wise friends.

Questions for Kids:

• Why did the gazelle fall into the hunter's trap?
• How did the fox help the gazelle escape?
• What lesson does this parable teach us?