The Grateful Elephant
The Beginning of an Unexpected Friendship
Once upon a time, in the kingdom of Bodhisatta, there was a village where 500 carpenters lived. They would go into the jungle near their village to gather wood. They brought it back to the village to make cabinets for their homes, furniture, and other things.
One day, while working in the jungle, they heard a loud limping sound.
— What could be wrong, friend? — It's coming from that direction.
The carpenters ran in the direction of the sound. From behind the trees emerged a huge and majestic elephant. But tears were streaming from its eyes. The villagers noticed that the elephant was limping.
Hesitantly, they moved towards it. The elephant turned one foot, so the carpenters saw that it had a large swelling. They looked closer.
— It has a big splinter in its foot. I think it hurts very much. — We must take it out.
An Act of Kindness
Carefully, the villagers removed the splinter. They cleaned the wound with warm water and bandaged it gently so it would heal nicely. In a few days, the carpenters decided the wound was healed.
The Elephant's Gratitude
The elephant was very grateful.
— These kind people saved my life. I must serve them to show my gratitude. What can I do for them? Oh, yes!
The elephant saw two carpenters struggling to carry a heavy log to their cart. It quickly went to help them.
— Hey, thank you, friend!
That same day, the elephant began to help the carpenters. It carried heavy logs, brought them their tools, and helped them move full carts. The elephant made the carpenters' work much easier. In return, the carpenters fed the elephant.
Each day, everyone brought a portion of fruit for their tusky friend. So the elephant had 500 portions of food.
A New Generation of Helpers
Soon, a calf appeared in the elephant's life. The elephant helped the people with logs, and its son helped them plant more trees.
— Yes, thanks, friend! Planting trees is much more important than cutting them down. If we didn't do that, we would waste all the wood in the forest. We would destroy the weather and climate of this world. — I'm done here. Go and rest, then play. Run!
A Difficult Decision
— Friend, your son is adorable. Our children adore him. You both are a blessing in our lives.
In time, the elephant grew old.
— Father, it's the fifth night this week you've suffered so much. Why do you lift such heavy logs if your back hurts? — Because these people are my friends. A long time ago, they saved my life, and all these years you've seen how good they've been and how they've taken care of us. I must help them, son. It's my duty. — Father, from now on, I will do it. I love our human friends too, but I won't let you destroy your body for them. I've decided. From now on, I will help the people in your place. — But, son! — I am young and strong. From now on, I will take your place. The discussion is over.
A New Home and a New Mission
So, the next day, the elephant's son began to help the carpenters. One day, the king of the land, King Brahmadatta, passed through the forest. From a distance, he saw the young and strong elephant working with the carpenters, as if they were a team.
The king fell in love with the beast. He approached the carpenters.
— Good day, man! — Your Highness, what an honor, Your Majesty! Please, come!
The king was seated on a special stone, and the elephant was sent to bring fresh water from the river. While the people stood respectfully before the king, the elephant also came, raising its trunk before the king.
The king went to the elephant and caressed it lovingly. The elephant also caressed the king, as if he were an old friend.
— What a beautiful and majestic creature! Is it your friend? — He and his father are like family. They have been helping us together for years. — Such a strong and loyal creature would be of great use in the army. — Your Highness, if he needs to serve the country, so be it. — But if he is part of your family, wouldn't it hurt you to part with him? — Honestly, of course it would hurt us, Your Highness. Over the years, we have come to love and respect the elephants, and they us. But if the country needs him, we would be happy to help our country in any way.
Loyalty Put to the Test
— Go, son! The greatest loyalty is to the country. Go with the king and be his friend and helper. Be by his side and his family's in times of need. — What about you, father? — Oh, the people will take care of me. Go, son! — I assure you that your son will be very, very well cared for. — Thank you very much.
So, though with great sadness, the carpenters and the elephant let their friend and son go. The elephant also had tears in its eyes, for it left its father and friends to go with the king.
For King Brahmadatta, the elephant was not just another creature in the army, but rather a brother, a friend. The king taught it to fight. He had huge jewels made for the elephant, a room built for it right next to the royal chambers, and he made sure the elephant always had a variety of fruits in its room.
The king visited the elephant two or three times a day and fed it. And the elephant adored its master, like a friend and king. Two years passed. One day, the king had to go far away. He came to the elephant with his servants.
— Hey, friend, what are you doing? Why are you ready to leave? And why am I not accompanying you? — I have to go somewhere far away. No, friend, I cannot take you with me. I will be gone for a long time, and I want you to stay here and take care of my kingdom and my family while I am away. Will you do that? — I will do everything in my power to defend my country. But please, return quickly.
Sadness and Despair
The nearby courtiers heard the king.
— An elephant to take care of the kingdom? — Love and loyalty are extraordinarily powerful, my friend. And no human can be as loving and loyal as an animal. You will see in due time that the bond between the king and the elephant will become invaluable to this kingdom.
Many months passed. Nothing more was heard from King Brahmadatta, and the courtiers began to worry if the king was well. One day, they heard that King Brahmadatta had been seen near a terrible jungle, from which no one had ever emerged alive.
The commander went to the queen and gave her the bad news. The queen was with the elephant at the time.
— Why are you all so sad? — Your Highness, we fear for the king. He was seen entering the terrible Mangalapur jungle, from which no one has ever emerged alive.
When it heard this, the elephant was devastated. It no longer ate, no longer visited the queen or the prince, and sat alone, crying in memory of its beloved king.
The Threat of War
Meanwhile, news of King Brahmadatta's disappearance reached the neighboring kingdom, to King Mandanamishra, and he saw a good opportunity to start a war with Bodhisatta, to conquer it.
— This is a very good chance. In the absence of the king, with a one-year-old prince, our army will defeat them very easily. Prepare it for war!
King Mandanamishra's army surrounded Bodhisatta.
— Your Highness, we are under attack! — Prepare the army! I will lead the battle! — No, Your Highness! Our prince is barely one year old! He needs you here! We will do everything we can to defend our country!
The Call to Courage
In the absence of their beloved king, the soldiers of Bodhisatta could not fight. The army began to lose the battle.
— Your Highness, if we don't do something immediately, we will lose the battle! — We must inform the queen!
The commander told the queen that King Mandanamishra's army was defeating them.
— We have only one hope! Come with me!
The queen went to the elephant, who still hadn't eaten and was sitting in a corner, thinking of its good friend, its brother, King Brahmadatta.
— You cannot stay like this, friend! You cannot! Your beloved king asked you to be the protector of our kingdom! He is your king's son! You decide! Will you stay here and cry while the prince is killed? Or will you be a warrior and defend us as your friend trained you? — I will go to battle!
The Victory of Loyalty
The elephant entered the battle and fought like a true warrior. Its courage brought hope and passion to the army of Bodhisatta. And immediately, Mandanamishra's army was defeated.
— Do not think that the prince of this land is young and that Bodhisatta has no defender. I told you, love and loyalty are extraordinarily powerful. Today, a single elephant did what an entire army could not.
The Reunion and the Moral
Suddenly, someone entered the courtyard. The elephant saw and ran towards that person.
— Ah, my friend! My brother! — Thank you, thank you for defending my kingdom and my family! You are a true friend, a true brother, and a true warrior!
Love and loyalty are indeed powerful. They stand strong in difficult times, for family and friends triumph even in the worst moments. Whether it's people or animals, when we treat our friends and family with love, respect, and loyalty, we can expect the same in return.
