Jain Lesson II

Author(s): JAINA Education Committee
Publisher: Diwakar Prakashan

Page 52

Lesson 16 THE LION AND THE HERD OF GOATS
Once upon a time, a shepherd found a newly born lion's cub. He took it home, fed it with goat's milk, and bred it with his herd of goats. Consequently, though it was a lion, it always moved, ate and drank like a goat. The cub thought he was a goat.
One day, the cub went to the forest with the goats. In the forest, a new lion appeared who roared as usual. All the goats got scared and began to run away. The cub also began to run. The lion of the forest saw the cub and said, “Hello brother, goats flee when I roar, but why do you run away? You are like me, a lion." The cub who was brought up with the goats said, “You are lying. I am not a lion. I am a goat. I am afraid of you and I want to run away."
The lion realized that the cub had stayed with the goats and thought he was a goat. The lion said, "Friend, am I wrong? If my gigantic body makes you think that way, then you are mistaken. Your face is also round like mine. It is not long like a goat's. Your waist is as slender as my waist, and your feet have paws not hoofs like those of a goat. Look at your beautiful tail! The goat has a very tiny, ugly tail. You possess a mane on your neck. The goat does not.The goat and the lion are two entirely different animals. Cast aside your false impression and roar like me. Then you will be sure that you are a lion and not a goat."
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