Sonbhadra Times

In a Forest, there once lived a wicked wolf. Though there was no dearth of food for him in the forest, he would often walk into the nearby village and lift a sheep or a lamp from there. He would then kill it and feast on it for 2-3 days.

In the beginning, the wolf went into the village only in the quite of the night as he was frightened of humans. But, with the passage of time, he become bolder. He would even barge into the village at day time and prey upon the villagers’ herds.

When he incidents of missing animal increased the villagers began to keep hounds for their safety. The fierce dogs were alert and they hated the wolves. They would bark and snarl at the wolf whenever he dared come into the village. Slowly, the wolf’s visits to the village were reduced. If the hounds spotted him anywhere near the village, they would chase him back to the forest. It had become almost impossible for the wolf to prey upon the sheep or goats. Despite this, he was always on the look-out for lamp walking alone, so that he could attack him.

One day, when the wolf was thus looking for a prey in the fields near the forest, a pack of 6 hounds attacked him. Actually, the dogs had been waiting for him for the last few days. Hiding in the fields, they knew that wolf would come there sooner or later. The wolf could not fight the hounds single-handedly. The dogs bruised him badly at several places and when they felt that they had taught the wolf the lesion of his life, they left there.

After the hounds left, the injured wolf remained lying there for some time. Then, with great difficulty, he dragged himself upto a tree the forest. He sat under the and began to lick his wounds. This gave him some relief, but by this time he had begun to feel thirsty and hungry.

A little later, he saw a lamp passing by. He called out to him and said, “My pretty lamp, come here and look at the miserable state I am in. I had fight with some beasts and see what they have done to me. “Have pity on me . I can’t even walk properly. And here I m felling thirsty. I will be eternally grateful to you if you bring me some water.” Hearing him, the lamb who was standing a safe distance away, said, “I do feel sorry for you but more than that I am amused by your request. You are sadly mistaken if you think I will come near you.

“If I bring water for you, you will first kill me for your food. My mother has taught me that if one has to help a wicked being , he should do so, keeping a reasonable distance. Thus, I can help you only by telling you the place from which can get water. And the lamp told the wolf about a pond which was at a little distance away from there. Thereafter the wise lamb went on his way to the village.

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Meanings :

Dearth :n अकाल , दुर्भिछ

Lamb : the young one of the sheep

Heards : पशु

Hounds : शिकारी कुत्ता

Bruised : v आघात करना (ब्रूज)
Bruise : n आघात , चोट

Fierce : adv उग्र , क्रूर , भयंकर

Bark : v कुत्ते या भेडिये की भूंक या भौ भौ

Lick : चाटना

Beast : n पशु

Feast : v पर्याप्त भोजन करना , भोजन से संतुस्ट होना

Feast : n भोज, उत्सव

Amuse : v विनोद करना , बहलाना

Though there was no dearth of food

Quiet of the night.

Quite and Quiet difference ?

Quite : adv – completely, entirely, wholly

Quiet : adj- with little or no sound or motion, शांत

Look-out : Careful watching

Have pity on me.

A little later

Passing by

Called out

My pretty lamp

I will be eternally grateful to you if you bring me some water.

I do feel sorry for you but more than that I am amused by your request.

As he was frightened of humans.

But, with the passage of time, he become bolder.

You are sadly mistaken if you think I will come near to you.

A wolf in lamb skin.

Hear and there :