The Lion and the Rabbit (सिंह र खरायो /sinha ra kharayo/) is a famous tale in the South Asian Region. It tells of how a rabbit managed to fool a lion.
This story is a Grade 2 story.
Before I proceed with the story, सिंह which means ‘Lion’ is spelt as ‘see-huh’ with a nasalization on the ’si’. There isn’t a hard ’n’ sound…just si nasalized a bit.
Link to the story’s audio here. (Select the file and click download)
STORY
सिंह र खरायो
कुनै ठाउँमा एउटा ठूलो वन थियो । वनमा बाघ, सिंह, भालु, हात्ती, गैंडा, खरायो, जरायो, बाँदर आदि थिए । सिंहचाहिँ वनको राजा थियो । सिंहले मनपरी ढङ्गले वनका जनावर मारेर खान्थ्यो ।
एकदिन सबै जनावर एकै ठाउँमा भेला भए । सिंहको आहारा हुन पालैपालो जाने सल्लाह भयो । यो कुरो जनावरहरुले सिंहलाई पनि भने । सिंह पनि दिनदिनै सिकारको खोजीमा जानुनपर्दा खुसी भयो ।
जनावरहरु आ-आफ्ना पालामा सिंहको आहारा हुन जान थाले । एकदिन एउटा खरायोको पालो आयो । “मर्नका लागि किन छिटो जाने ?” भनेर खरायो सिंहकहाँ ढिलो गयो ।
अबेरसम्म केही खान नपाउँदा सिंहलाई खुब भोक लागेको थियो । उसलाई जनावरदेखि निकै रिस उठेको थियो । उसले खरायोलाई देख्नासाथ गर्जेर सोध्यो, “किन यति ढिलो आइस् ?”
खरायोले नरम भएर भन्यो, “महाराज! मलाई हजुरजस्तै सिंहले बाटामा समायो । उसले मलाई खान लागेको थियो । मैले ऊसँग हजुरकहाँ भेट गरेर आउने बाचा गरेँ । अनि मात्र म यहाँ आउन सकेँ ।”
सिंहले अझै गर्जेर भन्यो, “मेरो राज्यमा अर्को सिंह कसरी आयो ? त्यो कहाँ छ, मलाई देखाइहाल् । म त्यसलाई जिउँदो छोड्दिनँ ।”
खरायोले “जो हुकुम महाराज” भनेर सिंहलाई आफू आएको बाटो लिएर गयो । खरायोले सिंहलाई एउटा इनार देखायो । उसले सिंहलाई भन्यो, “महाराज! त्यो यही इनारमा लुकेको छ ।”
सिंहले इनारभित्र हेर्यो । उसले इनारमा अर्को सिंह देख्यो । उसलाई त्यो सिंह देखेर रिस उठ्यो । सिंह त्यसलाई मार्न इनारमा हाम फाल्यो । मुर्ख सिंहले आफ्नै छाया पनि चिनेन । ऊ इनारमा डुब्यो ।
जनावरहरुलाई अब सिंहको डर भएन । उनीहरु रमाएर बाँच्न पाउने भए । सबैले खरायोलाई स्याबासी दिए ।TRANSLATION
| कुनै ठाउँमा एउटा ठूलो वन थियो । (kunai thau`ma euta thulo ban thiyo) | In some place there was a big forest. |
| वनमा बाघ, सिंह, भालु, हात्ती, गैंडा, खरायो, जरायो, बाँदर आदि थिए। (ban`ma bagh, siha, bhalu, hatti, gaida, kharayo, jarayo, baadar aadi thie) | In the forest (there) were tiger(s), lion(s), bear(s), elephant(s), rhino(s), rabbit(s), deer, monkey(s) etc. |
| सिंहचाहिँ वनको राजा थियो । (siha`chahi ban`ko raja thiyo) | The lion was the forest’s king. |
| सिंहले मनपरी ढङ्गले वनका जनावर मारेर खान्थ्यो । (siha`le manpari dhanga`le ban`ka janaawar maarera khaanthyo) | The Lion on (his own) will used to kill the forest’s animal and eat (them). |
| एकदिन सबै जनावर एकै ठाउँमा भेला भए । (ekdin sabai janaawar ekai thau`ma bhela bhae) | One day all animal(s) gathered on one place. |
| सिंहको आहारा हुन पालैपालो जाने सल्लाह भयो । (siha`ko aahara huna paalaipalo jaane sallah bhayo) | They counseled on being the lion’s food turn by turn. |
| यो कुरो जनावरहरुले सिंहलाई पनि भने । (yo kuro janawar`haru`le siha`lai pani bhane) | The lion was also told of this thing by the animals. |
| सिंह पनि दिनदिनै सिकारको खोजीमा जानुनपर्दा खुसी भयो । (siha pani dindinai sikar`ko khoji`ma jaanunaparda khusi bhayo) | (On the prospect of) not going in search of a hunt everyday, The lion also became happy. |
| जनावरहरु आ-आफ्ना पालामा सिंहको आहारा हुन जान थाले । (janawar`har aa-aafna pala`ma siha`ko aahara huna jaana thaale) | The animals started to go to become the lion’s food on their own turns. |
| एकदिन एउटा खरायोको पालो आयो । (ekdin euta kharayo`ko paalo aayo) | One day, a rabbit’s turn came. |
| “मर्नका लागि किन छिटो जाने ?” भनेर खरायो सिंहकहाँ ढिलो गयो । (“marna`ka lagi kina chito jaane?” bhanera kharayo siha`kaha dhilo gayo) | “Why should I rush for (my) death?” the rabbit said and went to the Lion late. |
| अबेरसम्म केही खान नपाउँदा सिंहलाई खुब भोक लागेको थियो । (aber`samma kehi khaana napaauda siha`lai khub bhok laageko thiyo) | The lion was very hungry because he hadn’t eaten anything till late. |
| उसलाई जनावरदेखि निकै रिस उठेको थियो । (us`lai janawar`dekhi nikkai ris utheko thiyo) | He was pretty angry with the animal(s). |
| उसले खरायोलाई देख्नासाथ गर्जेर सोध्यो, “किन यति ढिलो आइस् ?” (us`le kharayo`lai dekhnasath garjera sodhyo, “kina yati dilo aais?”) | As soon as he saw the Rabbit, he asked roaringly, “Why did you come this late?” |
| खरायोले नरम भएर भन्यो, “महाराज! मलाई हजुरजस्तै सिंहले बाटामा समायो । (kharayo`le naram bhaera bhanyo, “maharaj! ma`lai hajur`jastai siha`le bata`ma samayo) | The Rabbit said softly, “Your Highness! A lion like you grabbed me on the way” |
| उसले मलाई खान लागेको थियो । (us`le ma`lai khaana laageko thiyo) | He was about to eat me. |
| मैले ऊसँग हजुरकहाँ भेट गरेर आउने बाचा गरेँ । (maile u`sanga hakur`kaha bhet garera aaune bacha gare) | I made a promise to meet you and come (back). |
| अनि मात्र म यहाँ आउन सकेँ ।” (ani matra ma yaha aauna sake”) | And only (then) I could come here. |
| सिंहले अझै गर्जेर भन्यो, “मेरो राज्यमा अर्को सिंह कसरी आयो ? (siha`le ajhai garjera bhanyo, “mero raajya`ma arko siha kasari aayo?) | The lion said roaring even more, “How did another lion come to my kingdom?” |
| त्यो कहाँ छ, मलाई देखाइहाल् । (tyo kaha cha, ma`lai dekhaihaal) | Where is that, show me. |
| म त्यसलाई जिउँदो छोड्दिनँ ।” (ma tyas`lai jiudo choddina) | I will not leave that (lion) alive. |
| खरायोले “जो हुकुम महाराज” भनेर सिंहलाई आफू आएको बाटो लिएर गयो । (kharayo`le “jo hukum maharaj” bhanera siha`lai aafu aayeko baato liera gayo) | The rabbit, saying “As per your command, Your Highness” took the lion to the road (he used) to arrive here. |
| खरायोले सिंहलाई एउटा इनार देखायो । (kharayo`le siha`lai euta inaar dekhayo) | The rabbit showed the Lion a well. |
| उसले सिंहलाई भन्यो, “महाराज! त्यो यही इनारमा लुकेको छ ।” (us`le siha`lai bhanyo, “maharaj! tyo yahi inaar`ma lukeko cha) | He told the Lion, “Highness! That (lion) has hidden (himself) in this well.” |
| सिंहले इनारभित्र हेर्यो । (siha`le inaar`bhitra heryo) | The lion looked inside the Well. |
| उसले इनारमा अर्को सिंह देख्यो । (us`le inaar`ma arko siha dekhyo) | He saw another Lion in the Well. |
| उसलाई त्यो सिंह देखेर रिस उठ्यो । (us`lai tyo siha dekhera ris uthyo) | He grew angry after seeing that lion. |
| सिंह त्यसलाई मार्न इनारमा हाम फाल्यो । (siha tyas`lai maarna inaar`ma haam phaalyo) | The Lion jumped into the well to kill that (lion). |
| मुर्ख सिंहले आफ्नै छाया पनि चिनेन । (murkha siha`le aafnai chaya pani chinena) | The stupid lion did not recognize his own reflection. |
| ऊ इनारमा डुब्यो । (u inaar`ma dubyo) | He drowined in the well. |
| जनावरहरुलाई अब सिंहको डर भएन । (janawar`haru`lai aba siha`ko dar bhaena) | Now the animals did not have fear of the Lion. |
| उनीहरु रमाएर बाँच्न पाउने भए । (uni`haru ramaaera baachna paaune bhae) | They could now live in peace.* |
| सबैले खरायोलाई स्याबासी दिए । (sabai`le kharayo`lai syaabaasi die) | Everyone gave kudos to the Rabbit. |
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VOCABULARY
जरायो (jarayo) = A type of deer, Sambar deer (Rusa unicolor) to be specific
मनपरी (manpari) = As the heart wishes; As one likes
ढङ्ग (dhanga) = Method, Style or skill to do something
एकदिन (ekdin) = One Day
भेला (bhela) = Gathering
आहारा (aahara) = Food
पालैपालो (palaipalo) = Turn-by-turn
सल्लाह (sallah) = Discussion; Counsel
दिनदिनै (dindinai) = Daily; Everyday
सिकार (sikaar) = A hunt; the hunted; Victim
खोजी (khoji) = Search
पालो (paalo) = Turn
अबेर (aber) = Late; Untimely
खुब (khub) = Very
निकै (nikai) = Very; Pretty
गर्जेर (garjera) = A form of the verb ‘गर्जनु’ (garjanu) which means ‘To shout/ roar’ (Long definition: To shout with anger)
महाराज (maharaj) = Highness (lit. Great king)
हजुर (hajur) = Honorific ‘You’
बाचा (bacha) = Promise; Guarantee
राज्य (rajya) = Kingdom
जो हुकुम महाराज (jo hukum maharaj) = As per you wish, Your Highness
इनार (inaar) = Well
अर्को (arko) = Another
हाम फाल्यो (haam phaalyo) = A form of the verb ’हाम फाल्नु’ (haam phalnu) which means ‘To jump’
मुर्ख (murkha) = Stupid
छाया (chaya) = Shadow; Reflection
डर (dar) = Fear
स्याबासी (syabasi) = Credit given for doing something good; Kudos; Well Done!
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QUESTIONS
1. There are different types of deer found in Nepal. Find out the English names of these deers: (a) कस्तुरी मृग (kasturi mriga), (b) हरिण (harin) and © चितल (chital)
2. Find out the meanings of: (a) निडर (nidar) and (b) प्रतिबिम्ब (pratibimba)
3. Which animals are featured in the Nepali Banknotes of Denomination (a) 1000 (b) 500 © 100 (d) 50 (e) 20 (f) 10 (g) 5 ?
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ANSWERS
1. (a) Musk deer (b) Deer (a general term) (c) Spotted Deer
2. (a) Fearless (b) Reflection
3. (a) Elephant (b) Tiger © Rhino (d) Tahr (e) Swamp Deer (f) Black Bucks (g) Yak