In a forest where there were innumerable big, shady trees, lived a strong lion. With his golden mane and majestic stride, he was imposing. He was as wise as he was strong and equally just. So all his subjects, from the timid rabbit to the mischievous monkey, from the big bear to the graceful deer, respected him. But there was a small gnat who had an ego that was quite disproportionate to his size. He thought no end of himself and made no secret of it. The other animals in the forest were fed up with him and avoided him.
Settling scores
One day, the gnat had the gall to challenge the lion.
“You may be the king of the jungle. You may lord it over us with your power and might but I am not one of those who quivers at the sight of you. You are in no way superior to me. I am your equal in every way,” he boasted.
He buzzed round the lion, irritating him further. But the lion just ignored him.
“You know, I think I am actually stronger than you are,” bragged the gnat. The lion ignored him.
“Don’t look so smug. I’ll prove to you that I am stronger.” Acting on his words, he started biting the lion all over his face. It wasn’t a pleasant feeling at all. The lion shook his head with great force, roared ferociously and scratched his face with his paws. He tried every royal trick in his repertoire but could not get rid of the troublesome creature.
After a long and uncomfortable battle, the disgusted lion said, “Just get lost, will you? You are a nuisance, if ever there was one!”
“If you want me to go away, admit that you have lost,” demanded the cheeky gnat. “You are welcome to your idea. Just scram!” growled the lion.
The gnat flew up into the air, declaring, “I am stronger than the lord of the jungle. I have vanquished him!”
The silly creature was so blinded by what he considered his power that he didn’t look ahead. He headed straight into a web that a spider had spun, right in his way. He got enmeshed in it, and struggle as he would, he couldn’t free himself. He fell prey to the spider.
“I thought I had got the better of the lion but was trapped by an insignificant spider!” he wailed. Realisation came a bit too late.
