5.3 Panchtantra - The Lion that Sprang to Life

Once there lived four friends in a village. They were well read scholars. One of them was poor in learning, but had goof come sense. The other scholars were apt learners. However, they lacked common sense which is important in practical life.

One day the four scholars decided to use their knowledge and learning to earn money for better living. But one of the scholars was not well learned. So the three scholars decided to leave him and travel ahead.

The less learned scholar was belittled by the ways of his friends. He complained and requested them to take him along with them. After much thinking and debate, the three leaned scholars decided to take him along with them.

Next day, the four scholars began their journey. While they passing through a forest, they saw bones of a lion lying around. Seeing them, the first learned scholar said, ‘Here is a chance to test our knowledge and efficiency with these bones. Lets works around them and bring the lion back to life’.

The three learned scholars agreed. But the less learned scholar contradicted. He argued, ‘If you bring it back to life, you will endanger your own lives’.

But the learned scholars ignored him and started working to infuse life in the bones.   

They collected the bones and the first scholar reunited the bones to erect the lion’s skeleton. The second scholar stowed it with flesh and covered it with skin. Seeing the lifeless lion, the third scholar initiated heavy rituals to put life in it.

The fourth scholar had no learning to apply or test. He had common sense and was alarmed to see what his friends had been doing without thinking of consequences. He cried in panic, ‘This is not the right way to apply or test your knowledge. I insist that you stop before the lion rises to life and kills you all’.

But the scholars were led by pride and confidence. They ridiculed the less learned scholar and said, ‘What good is knowledge if it is not applied? You lack knowledge and envy us. We never wanted you to come with us, but you came. Now step aside and do not interfere in our work’.

The less learned scholar knew the impending danger. After being insulted, he sided from the other scholars and climbed the nearby tree.

Soon the third scholar concluded his rituals and proved his knowledge – when the lion sprang to life. The beast was furious and killed them.

The fourth scholar saw how the lion killed his friends. He pity them and thought, ‘didn’t they knew that lion is a beast that kills?’ He waited for the lion to disappear. He grieved the death of his friends and returned home alone.

Moral: Common sense is important than knowledge.