The Grateful Beasts

A poor man, wandering through the forest, comes upon three animals in distress: a fox caught in a trap, a hare surrounded by hunters, and a fish stranded in a shallow pool. The man, moved by compassion, frees the fox, rescues the hare, and carries the fish to a deep stream, releasing it. Each animal, grateful for his kindness, declares: "Call upon me if ever you are in danger, and I shall come to your aid." Months later, the man, now a servant to a king, is unjustly accused of theft and sentenced to death. In desperation, he calls upon the three animals. The fox arrives and digs a tunnel allowing him to escape. The hare carries him swiftly away from pursuers. The fish transports him across a vast river to safety in a distant land. There, the man builds a new life, unaware that the king's daughter has been searching for him, convinced of his innocence. Years pass. The princess, traveling in the distant land, encounters him. She recognizes him by a token and brings him before her father. Confronted with his daughter's testimony, the king confesses the injustice and begs forgiveness. He restores the man's honor and grants him great wealth. The man, remembering the animals' loyalty, ensures they are protected throughout the kingdom and cared for in their old age. Gratitude—both the man's compassion that deserved repayment and his remembrance of the animals' debt—creates a circle of blessing. Those who show mercy and remember kindness are themselves lifted up.