Once there lived a farmer. The farmer had a vast field and one day he send his son to the fields for ploughing. While the son was working in the fields, a snake appeared. The farmer's son turned around to run, but in haste he happen to step on the snake's tail. The snake recoiled in reaction and hissed loudly. It fagged its tongue and bit the boy. The boy cried in vain. His body turned blue due to the poison. He collapsed and died.
A farmer who was working in nearby field who had heard the boy's cry came running. But to his dismay, the boy was dead. He send a word to boy's family. When the farmer heard about his son's death he lamented. He took his axe in rage and revengefully cut the snake's tail which was hiding in its hole in his field.
However, in reaction the snake grew more outrageous and sting the farmer's cattle. The cattle died and the farmer came at severe losses. Seeing this, the farmer decided to befriend with the snake. So he went to the snake and said, 'O mighty creature, I have brought his milk and honey for you. Let's be friends. Let bygones be bygones. We should forget and forgive each other for mutual benefit. I understand you punished my son for his mistake and take vengeance on my cattle. Now that the damage has been equally done to both of us, we should forget the past and be good friends again. You have been dwelling in this hole in my field since years. You continue to live here peacefully as you did before'. Saying this the farmer warmly bowed before the snake.
But the snake was cautious. He argued, 'O farmer, it is true that I have been living here for years, and nothing went wrong for these many years until yesterday. However, we cannot be friends again, because neither can you forget your son's death and loose of your cattle; nor can I forget the lose of my tail. However for our peace, I will abandon his hole'.
The snake left the hole and went away from the farmer's fields forever.
Moral: Injuries may be forgiven, but not forgotten.
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