Deep within a lush forest lived an old lion who was once the mighty king of the woods. As the years passed, his strength faded, and he found it harder and harder to hunt for food. One afternoon, the lion lay resting under the shade of a large banyan tree, feeling very tired and vulnerable.
While he was resting, a large bear wandered by. Seeing that the lion was no longer the fierce predator he used to be, the bear began to poke and prod at him, trying to show off its strength. Soon after, a zebra also arrived. Instead of passing by quietly, the zebra started making loud, mocking noises, trying to disturb the lion's peace.
High above in the branches, a small monkey watched everything. The monkey felt bad for the old king. To distract the bullies, the monkey tossed a fruit down toward the bear. This small act startled the animals just enough.
Suddenly, the lion gathered every ounce of his remaining strength and let out a thunderous roar that echoed through the entire valley. The sudden, powerful sound sent a shock through the forest. Terrified, the bear scrambled into a nearby hollow log to hide, and the zebra bolted into a thicket of bushes. The monkey quickly climbed to the highest safety of the canopy.
The forest became quiet again. The lion had shown that even in old age, his spirit remained unbroken.
Moral
It is a sign of cowardice to pick on those who are vulnerable.
