The King Elephant and the wise Hare

Deep in the jungle, by a pond, there lived a big group of elephants. When the pond started to dry up because of the lack of rain, the elephants went to their King and said, "Your Majesty! We do not have enough water. Some of our little ones are on the verge of dying. We must find a place with abundant water." The elephant King thought a while and said, "I remember a place where there is a very big lake. We will go there." The next morning they started their march and after travelling for five days and five nights, they reached the big lake. Seeing so much water the elephants rejoiced and started jumping in the water. But in the soft earth around the lake there were many holes where a group of hares lived. The sudden dancing and commotion of the elephants caused many hares to be trampled underground. Some died and some were seriously injured. They could do little to stop this misery. When the elephants left in the evening, the hares who had escaped started to return. They assembled in sorrow, "Oh dear! Because of scarcity of water everywhere else, the elephants will come here every day. We must think of something, or more of us will be trampled tomorrow. What can we do against the mighty elephants? We must leave this place to survive." One of the hares disagreed, "Friends! This is our ancestral home. If we can frighten off the elephants, they will not return. I can think of a way. We may be only small hares, but I am sure we can ward off the elephants. A plan was hatched. A hare sat on a hillock, which was on the path of the elephants. After a while the king of the elephants came with the rest of his herd. The hare shouted, "You wick elephant! I prohibit you to enter the lake. This lake belongs to the Moon-God. Go back at once!" The King of the elephants was taken aback. But he did not dare to enrage any God either. The hare said, "I am the messenger of the Moon God. He has sent me to inform you that he forbids you from entering his lake. Yesterday, many hares were trampled due to your visit. The hares live under the protection of the Moon God, and he is very angry with you. If you wish to survive, you should not enter the lake again." The elephant King was silent for a moment and then said, "If that is so, tell me where your Moon-God is and once we have asked for his forgiveness, I will go away with my herd." It was evening, so the hare said, "The Moon God has come down to his lake to console the families of the hares who were killed yesterday. If you want to meet him, come with me!" The clever hare led the King of the elephants to the bank of the lake from where the reflection of the moon could be seen in the water. He said, "He is very aggrieved today, please bow to him silently and leave. You must not disturb his meditation. Otherwise, he will be furious." The King of the elephants was wonder-struck on seeing the moon in the water. He believed the hare, and left trembling after he had bowed respectfully. So the Hares continued to live in their own home and were no longer disturbed by the elephants