Story: The Lion And The Rabbit

The Lion and the Rabbit (सिंह र खरायो /sinha ra kharayo/) is a famous tale in the South Asian Region. It tells of how a rabbit managed to fool a lion.

This story is a Grade 2 story.

Before I proceed with the story, सिंह which means ‘Lion’ is spelt as ‘see-huh’ with a nasalization on the ’si’. There isn’t a hard ’n’ sound…just si nasalized a bit.

Link to the story’s audio here. (Select the file and click download)

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STORY

कुनै ठाउँमा एउटा ठूलो वन थियो । वनमा बाघ, सिंह, भालु, हात्ती, गैंडा, खरायो, जरायो, बाँदर आदि थिए । सिंहचाहिँ वनको राजा थियो । सिंहले मनपरी ढङ्गले वनका जनावर मारेर खान्थ्यो ।

एकदिन सबै जनावर एकै ठाउँमा भेला भए । सिंहको आहारा हुन पालैपालो जाने सल्लाह भयो । यो कुरो जनावरहरुले सिंहलाई पनि भने । सिंह पनि दिनदिनै सिकारको खोजीमा जानुनपर्दा खुसी भयो ।

जनावरहरु आ-आफ्ना पालामा सिंहको आहारा हुन जान थाले । एकदिन एउटा खरायोको पालो आयो । “मर्नका लागि किन छिटो जाने ?” भनेर खरायो सिंहकहाँ ढिलो गयो ।

अबेरसम्म केही खान नपाउँदा सिंहलाई खुब भोक लागेको थियो । उसलाई जनावरदेखि निकै रिस उठेको थियो । उसले खरायोलाई देख्नासाथ गर्जेर सोध्यो, “किन यति ढिलो आइस् ?”

खरायोले नरम भएर भन्यो, “महाराज! मलाई हजुरजस्तै सिंहले बाटामा समायो । उसले मलाई खान लागेको थियो । मैले ऊसँग हजुरकहाँ भेट गरेर आउने बाचा गरेँ । अनि मात्र म यहाँ आउन सकेँ ।”

सिंहले अझै गर्जेर भन्यो, “मेरो राज्यमा अर्को सिंह कसरी आयो ? त्यो कहाँ छ, मलाई देखाइहाल् । म त्यसलाई जिउँदो छोड्दिनँ ।”

खरायोले “जो हुकुम महाराज” भनेर सिंहलाई आफू आएको बाटो लिएर गयो । खरायोले सिंहलाई एउटा इनार देखायो । उसले सिंहलाई भन्यो, “महाराज! त्यो यही इनारमा लुकेको छ ।”

सिंहले इनारभित्र हेर्‍यो । उसले इनारमा अर्को सिंह देख्यो । उसलाई त्यो सिंह देखेर रिस उठ्यो । सिंह त्यसलाई मार्न इनारमा हाम फाल्यो । मुर्ख सिंहले आफ्नै छाया पनि चिनेन । ऊ इनारमा डुब्यो ।

जनावरहरुलाई अब सिंहको डर भएन । उनीहरु रमाएर बाँच्न पाउने भए । सबैले खरायोलाई स्याबासी दिए ।

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TRANSLATION

कुनै ठाउँमा एउटा ठूलो वन थियो । (kunai thau`ma euta thulo ban thiyo)

= In some place there was a big forest.

वनमा बाघ, सिंह, भालु, हात्ती, गैंडा, खरायो, जरायो, बाँदर आदि थिए । (ban`ma bagh, siha, bhalu, hatti, gaida, kharayo, jarayo, baadar aadi thie)

= In the forest (there) were tiger(s), lion(s), bear(s), elephant(s), rhino(s), rabbit(s), deer, monkey(s) etc.

सिंहचाहिँ वनको राजा थियो । (siha`chahi ban`ko raja thiyo)

= The lion was the forest’s king.

सिंहले मनपरी ढङ्गले वनका जनावर मारेर खान्थ्यो । (siha`le manpari dhanga`le ban`ka janaawar maarera khaanthyo)

= The Lion on (his own) will used to kill the forest’s animal and eat (them).

.

एकदिन सबै जनावर एकै ठाउँमा भेला भए । (ekdin sabai janaawar ekai thau`ma bhela bhae)

= One day all animal(s) gathered on one place.

सिंहको आहारा हुन पालैपालो जाने सल्लाह भयो । (siha`ko aahara huna paalaipalo jaane sallah bhayo)

= They counseled on being the lion’s food turn by turn.

यो कुरो जनावरहरुले सिंहलाई पनि भने । (yo kuro janawar`haru`le siha`lai pani bhane)

= The lion was also told of this thing by the animals.

सिंह पनि दिनदिनै सिकारको खोजीमा जानुनपर्दा खुसी भयो । (siha pani dindinai sikar`ko khoji`ma jaanunaparda khusi bhayo)

= (On the prospect of) not going in search of a hunt everyday, The lion also became happy.

जनावरहरु आ-आफ्ना पालामा सिंहको आहारा हुन जान थाले । (janawar`har aa-aafna pala`ma siha`ko aahara huna jaana thaale)

= The animals started to go to become the lion’s food on their own turns.

एकदिन एउटा खरायोको पालो आयो । (ekdin euta kharayo`ko paalo aayo)

= One day, a rabbit’s turn came.

“मर्नका लागि किन छिटो जाने ?” भनेर खरायो सिंहकहाँ ढिलो गयो । (“marna`ka lagi kina chito jaane?” bhanera kharayo siha`kaha dhilo gayo)

= “Why should I rush for (my) death?” the rabbit said and went to the Lion late.

अबेरसम्म केही खान नपाउँदा सिंहलाई खुब भोक लागेको थियो । (aber`samma kehi khaana napaauda siha`lai khub bhok laageko thiyo)

= The lion was very hungry because he hadn’t eaten anything till late.

उसलाई जनावरदेखि निकै रिस उठेको थियो । (us`lai janawar`dekhi nikkai ris utheko thiyo)

= He was pretty angry with the animal(s).

उसले खरायोलाई देख्नासाथ गर्जेर सोध्यो, “किन यति ढिलो आइस् ?” (us`le kharayo`lai dekhnasath garjera sodhyo, “kina yati dilo aais?”)

= As soon as he saw the Rabbit, he asked roaringly, “Why did you come this late?”

खरायोले नरम भएर भन्यो, “महाराज! मलाई हजुरजस्तै सिंहले बाटामा समायो । (kharayo`le naram bhaera bhanyo, “maharaj! ma`lai hajur`jastai siha`le bata`ma samayo)

= The Rabbit said softly, “Your Highness! A lion like you grabbed me on the way”

उसले मलाई खान लागेको थियो । (us`le ma`lai khaana laageko thiyo)

= He was about to eat me.

मैले ऊसँग हजुरकहाँ भेट गरेर आउने बाचा गरेँ । (maile u`sanga hakur`kaha bhet garera aaune bacha gare)

= I made a promise to meet you and come (back).

अनि मात्र म यहाँ आउन सकेँ ।” (ani matra ma yaha aauna sake”)

= And only (then) I could come here.

सिंहले अझै गर्जेर भन्यो, “मेरो राज्यमा अर्को सिंह कसरी आयो ? (siha`le ajhai garjera bhanyo, “mero raajya`ma arko siha kasari aayo?)

= The lion said roaring even more, “How did another lion come to my kingdom?”

त्यो कहाँ छ, मलाई देखाइहाल् । (tyo kaha cha, ma`lai dekhaihaal)

= Where is that, show me.

म त्यसलाई जिउँदो छोड्दिनँ ।” (ma tyas`lai jiudo choddina)

= I will not leave that (lion) alive.

खरायोले “जो हुकुम महाराज” भनेर सिंहलाई आफू आएको बाटो लिएर गयो । (kharayo`le “jo hukum maharaj” bhanera siha`lai aafu aayeko baato liera gayo)

= The rabbit, saying “As per your command, Your Highness” took the lion to the road (he used) to arrive here.

खरायोले सिंहलाई एउटा इनार देखायो । (kharayo`le siha`lai euta inaar dekhayo)

= The rabbit showed the Lion a well.

उसले सिंहलाई भन्यो, “महाराज! त्यो यही इनारमा लुकेको छ ।” (us`le siha`lai bhanyo, “maharaj! tyo yahi inaar`ma lukeko cha)

= He told the Lion, “Highness! That (lion) has hidden (himself) in this well.”

सिंहले इनारभित्र हेर्‍यो । (siha`le inaar`bhitra heryo)

= The lion looked inside the Well.

उसले इनारमा अर्को सिंह देख्यो । (us`le inaar`ma arko siha dekhyo)

= He saw another Lion in the Well.

उसलाई त्यो सिंह देखेर रिस उठ्यो । (us`lai tyo siha dekhera ris uthyo)

= He grew angry after seeing that lion.

सिंह त्यसलाई मार्न इनारमा हाम फाल्यो । (siha tyas`lai maarna inaar`ma haam phaalyo)

= The Lion jumped into the well to kill that (lion).

मुर्ख सिंहले आफ्नै छाया पनि चिनेन । (murkha siha`le aafnai chaya pani chinena)

= The stupid lion did not recognize his own reflection.

ऊ इनारमा डुब्यो । (u inaar`ma dubyo)

= He drowined in the well.

जनावरहरुलाई अब सिंहको डर भएन । (janawar`haru`lai aba siha`ko dar bhaena)

= Now the animals did not have fear of the Lion.

उनीहरु रमाएर बाँच्न पाउने भए । (uni`haru ramaaera baachna paaune bhae)

= They could now live in peace.*

सबैले खरायोलाई स्याबासी दिए । (sabai`le kharayo`lai syaabaasi die)

= Everyone gave kudos to the Rabbit.

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VOCABULARY

जरायो (jarayo) = A type of deer, Sambar deer (Rusa unicolor) to be specific

मनपरी (manpari) = As the heart wishes; As one likes

ढङ्ग (dhanga) = Method, Style or skill to do something

एकदिन (ekdin) = One Day

भेला (bhela) = Gathering

आहारा (aahara) = Food

पालैपालो (palaipalo) = Turn-by-turn

सल्लाह (sallah) = Discussion; Counsel

दिनदिनै (dindinai) = Daily; Everyday

सिकार (sikaar) = A hunt; the hunted; Victim

खोजी (khoji) = Search

पालो (paalo) = Turn

अबेर (aber) = Late; Untimely

खुब (khub) = Very

निकै (nikai) = Very; Pretty

गर्जेर (garjera) = A form of the verb ‘गर्जनु’ (garjanu) which means ‘To shout/ roar’ (Long definition: To shout with anger)

महाराज (maharaj) = Highness (lit. Great king)

हजुर (hajur) = Honorific ‘You’

बाचा (bacha) = Promise; Guarantee

राज्य (rajya) = Kingdom

जो हुकुम महाराज (jo hukum maharaj) = As per you wish, Your Highness

इनार (inaar) = Well

अर्को (arko) = Another

हाम फाल्यो (haam phaalyo) = A form of the verb ’हाम फाल्नु’ (haam phalnu) which means ‘To jump’

मुर्ख (murkha) = Stupid

छाया (chaya) = Shadow; Reflection

डर (dar) = Fear

स्याबासी (syabasi) = Credit given for doing something good; Kudos; Well Done!

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QUESTIONS

1. There are different types of deer found in Nepal. Find out the English names of these deers: (a) कस्तुरी मृग (kasturi mriga), (b) हरिण (harin) and © चितल (chital)

2. Find out the meanings of: (a) निडर (nidar) and (b) प्रतिबिम्ब (pratibimba)

3. Which animals are featured in the Nepali Banknotes of Denomination (a) 1000 (b) 500 © 100 (d) 50 (e) 20 (f) 10 (g) 5 ?

ANSWERS

1. (a) Musk deer (b) Deer (a general term) (c) Spotted Deer

2. (a) Fearless (b) Reflection