Long ago, on a lush green farm, a donkey and a rooster lived together in peace. They spent their days wandering through the fields, searching for food, and chatting with one another. The donkey was known for his strength and hard work, while the rooster was admired for his sharp mind and watchful nature.
One day, a hungry lion began roaming near the farm. He quietly observed his surroundings, and soon his eyes fell on the well-fed donkey walking through the fields. “What a perfect meal,” the lion thought. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen such a plump prey.” Hiding silently, he followed the donkey, waiting for the right moment to attack.
Just as the lion was about to leap, the rooster sensed danger. Alarmed, he let out a loud, piercing crow. The sound filled the lion with sudden terror. It turned out that the lion was terribly afraid of a rooster’s crow! Panic-stricken, he backed away and fled deep into the forest.
The donkey, who witnessed all this, was astonished. “If such a mighty lion runs away from the sound of a tiny rooster,” he thought, “imagine how frightened he would be of my large body and powerful voice!” Filled with misplaced confidence, the donkey assumed it was his own presence that had scared the lion away.
Brimming with courage, the donkey chased after the lion. He ran as fast as he could, braying loudly and believing he was driving the lion away. After a while, the lion realized the donkey was following him. At first, he kept going, but then he stopped and thought, “Does this foolish animal really think it can challenge me?”
After taking a few more steps, the lion suddenly turned around. The donkey, exhausted but feeling victorious, had nearly caught up. In an instant, the lion roared fiercely, raised his massive paws, and with a single blow knocked the donkey to the ground.
Moral: Mistaking others’ strengths for your own can lead to great danger.