The Lion and the Crane
by Unknown · from Indian Fairy Tales
Adapted Version
In a big jungle lived a strong lion. He ate much meat. A big bone was stuck in his throat. The lion was in much pain. He could not eat. He felt very bad. He roared sadly.
A kind Crane flew by. He looked for food. He saw the big lion below. The lion looked very sad. The Crane asked, "What is wrong?"
The Lion said, "Bone is in my throat. I cannot eat. It hurts much. Crane thought, 'I can help.' But he is a big lion. Will he eat me?"
The Lion said, "Please help me, kind Crane. I promise I will not eat you. Just save my life. I need your help."
The Crane was very smart. He made the lion lie down. He found a small, strong stick. He put the stick in the lion's mouth. The lion could not close his mouth now.
The Crane put his head inside. He saw the big bone. He used his long, strong beak. He pushed the bone hard. The bone fell out. The Crane quickly pulled out his head. He knocked the stick out. He flew to a branch. He was very fast.
The Lion felt better. He ate his food again. The Crane flew near him. He sat on a branch above. The Crane said, "I helped you, Lion. Will you give me something? What is my reward for helping?"
The Lion looked at the Crane. He said, "I eat many animals. You were in my big mouth. My reward for you is this. You are still alive today."
The Crane heard the Lion speak. He saw the Lion was not kind. The Lion did not say thank you. It was not good to help him again.
The Crane flew away. He was very smart. He did not feel angry at the Lion. He did not want to stay with him. He left the ungrateful Lion.
It is good to help others. But some people do not say thank you. They are not kind. It is wise to walk away from them.
Original Story
The Lion and the Crane
he Bodhisatta was at one time born in the region of Himavanta as a white crane; now Brahmadatta was at that time reigning in Benares. Now it chanced that as a lion was eating meat a bone stuck in his throat. The throat became swollen, he could not take food, his suffering was terrible. The crane seeing him, as he was perched on a tree looking for food, asked, "What ails thee, friend?" He told him why. "I could free thee from that bone, friend, but dare not enter thy mouth for fear thou mightest eat me." "Don't be afraid, friend, I'll not eat thee; only save my life." "Very well," says he, and caused him to lie down on his left side. But thinking to himself, "Who knows what this fellow will do," he placed a small stick upright between his two jaws that he could not close his mouth, and inserting his head inside his mouth struck one end of the bone with his beak. Whereupon the bone dropped and fell out. As soon as he had caused the bone to fall, he got out of the lion's mouth, striking the stick with his beak so that it fell out, and then settled on a branch. The lion gets well, and one day was eating a buffalo he had killed. The crane thinking "I will sound him," settled on a branch just over him, and in conversation spoke this first verse:
"A service have we done thee
To the best of our ability,
King of the Beasts! Your Majesty!
What return shall we get from thee?"
In reply the Lion spoke the second verse:
"As I feed on blood,
And always hunt for prey,
'Tis much that thou art still alive
Having once been between my teeth."
Then in reply the crane said the two other verses:
"Ungrateful, doing no good,
Not doing as he would be done by,
In him there is no gratitude,
To serve him is useless.
"His friendship is not won
By the clearest good deed.
Better softly withdraw from him,
Neither envying nor abusing."
And having thus spoken the crane flew away.
And when the great Teacher, Gautama the Buddha, told this tale, he used to add: "Now at that time the lion was Devadatta the Traitor, but the white crane was I myself."
THE LION AND THE CRANE
Story DNA
Moral
Do not expect gratitude from those who are inherently ungrateful or dangerous, and know when to withdraw from such relationships.
Plot Summary
A lion suffers terribly with a bone stuck in his throat. A wise crane, the Bodhisatta, cautiously agrees to remove it, using a stick to keep the lion's jaws open. After successfully saving the lion, the crane later asks for a reward. The ungrateful lion replies that the crane's reward is simply being alive, having been spared. Recognizing the lion's true nature, the crane wisely concludes that serving such a being is futile and flies away.
Themes
Emotional Arc
hope to disillusionment
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Jataka tales are a significant part of Buddhist literature, often used to teach moral lessons and illustrate the principles of karma and dharma.
Plot Beats (10)
- A lion in Himavanta gets a bone stuck in his throat while eating meat, causing him terrible suffering.
- A white crane, the Bodhisatta, sees the distressed lion and asks what is wrong.
- The lion explains his predicament, and the crane offers to help but fears being eaten.
- The lion promises not to eat the crane if he saves his life.
- The cautious crane places a stick between the lion's jaws to prevent him from closing his mouth.
- The crane inserts his head into the lion's mouth, dislodges the bone with his beak, and quickly removes the stick and himself.
- The lion recovers, and later, the crane approaches him as he eats a killed buffalo, asking for a reward for his service.
- The lion replies that the crane's reward is simply being alive, having once been between his teeth.
- The crane, recognizing the lion's ingratitude, concludes that serving such a being is futile.
- The crane wisely flies away, neither envying nor abusing the lion.
Characters
The White Crane (Bodhisatta)
A tall, slender bird with long, graceful legs and a long, elegant neck. Its body is covered in pristine white feathers, contrasting with dark primary wing feathers visible when in flight or at rest. Its build is delicate but strong, typical of a wading bird.
Attire: None, as it is a bird. Its natural plumage serves as its 'attire'.
Wants: Initially, to help the suffering lion out of compassion. Later, to understand the lion's true nature and to teach a lesson about gratitude and self-preservation.
Flaw: Its compassion could potentially put it in danger.
Starts as a compassionate helper, then becomes a teacher, learning a valuable lesson about the nature of ingratitude and the importance of withdrawing from harmful relationships.
Intelligent, cautious, compassionate, wise, discerning, self-preserving.
The Lion (Devadatta the Traitor)
A large, powerful male lion with a muscular, robust build. Its fur is a golden-brown, indicative of a healthy predator. Its paws are massive, and its claws are sharp. It has a formidable presence.
Attire: None, as it is an animal. Its natural fur and mane are its 'attire'.
Wants: Survival and satisfying its predatory instincts. It wants to be free from pain and then to continue its life as a hunter.
Flaw: Its inherent predatory nature and lack of gratitude make it untrustworthy and incapable of true friendship.
The Lion does not change. It remains true to its predatory and ungrateful nature, serving as a static character that highlights the Crane's wisdom.
Powerful, ungrateful, self-serving, dangerous, predatory, opportunistic.
Locations
Himavanta Forest Edge
The edge of the Himavanta region, likely a dense forest clearing or riverbank where a lion might hunt and a crane might perch. The ground would be natural earth, possibly with some rocks or fallen leaves. Large, ancient trees form a canopy.
Mood: Initially peaceful and natural, then tense due to the lion's distress, finally returning to a natural, somewhat indifferent state.
The crane first encounters the suffering lion and later confronts him after his recovery.