Once there lived a lion. He was very mighty and ruled the jungle. The animals feared him and had no rights to say anything against his will.
One day, when the lion went to the pond to drink water, he saw a maiden resting near the pondside. She was very charming and beautiful.
The lion was caught in her sight. He had never seen such a mesmerising beauty. He went and sat near her constantly gazing. He was thirsty but forgot to drink water. The lion said to himself, 'I love this beautiful girl and I shall marry her'. He roared loudly in excitement and happiness. Hearing the loud roar, the entire jungle trembled with fear. The birds flew away and the monkeys leapt from one branch to another seeking safe hideaway.
Even the girl woke up terrified. When she saw the lion seated next to her, she immediately took on her feet and ran away. The lion knew that the girl was scared and he quietly followed her to her home.
The lion learned the way to her home and went everyday to see the girl quietly. The girl often sat in the garden of her home with her parents.
One day, the lion decided that he would approach the girl's parents and ask them to marry their daughter to him.
So the next day, the lion dressed and groomed well. He went to the girl's house. The girl's parents were terrified to see the lion. The lion said, 'o respected, I am the king lion, I have come to talk to you about your daughter. May I come in and seat myself so that we can talk?'
The old couple was gripped by feared. However, they asked the lion to come in. The lion said, ' Respected people, I am charmed by your beautiful daughter and wish to marry her with your permission'.
The girl's parents were wonderstuck. They looked at each other in surprise and fear. They did not want to marry away their daughter to an outrageous beast like the lion, but feared that a no would enrage him.
After a while, the girl's father summoned courage to say, 'O mighty king lion! We are fortunate to have you here. We are indeed honoured that a creature of your standing has approached us to ask for our daughter's hand. But as you know our daughter is tender and we fear that in the vehemence of your affection you might possibly harm her'.
The lion nodded.
The girl's father continued, 'Your majesty! May we ask you to remive your claws and get you teeth uprooted to ensure that you do not harm our daughter unintentionally'.
The lion agreed with the girl's parents. He went and clipped his claws and got his teeth uprooted. For many days he weapt jn pain due to uprooting of teeth. He could not eat and became very weak. The animals of the jungle learned that the lion was clawless and toothless so they and laughted at him. The lion rose many times to attack them but he could hardly kill them as his claws and teeth were lost. He looked old and weary.
Next day the lion went to the girl's parents again for the final word with them about his marriage with their daughter.
When the lion reached the girl's house, he gound that was getting engaged to another boy. When the girl and the attendees saw the lion, they laughed at him.
The girl's father said, 'O mighty lion! The girl you wanted to marry is engaged. You are toothless and clawless. I wonder how will to hunt to sustain yourself?'
The lion felt insulted and ashamed. He left the place and returned to the jungle. He was unable to hunt and soon died due to hunger.
Moral: Love can tame the wildest.
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