In the heart of the forest, the lion ruled with unmatched power, and every creature feared its presence. Despite being the king of the jungle, the lion was lonely, wandering the forest without a true friend to share its happiness or sorrow. Determined to change this, the lion decided to find companions among the strongest and fiercest animals, including elephants, tigers, bears, wild boars, buffaloes, and bison. The lion believed that by befriending powerful animals, it would always be safe and well-fed, expecting that strong friends would share prey and help in times of danger.
One day, a small termite approached, hoping to befriend the lion. The lion immediately dismissed the tiny insect, mocking it for its size and weakness. “I am the king of the jungle. Why would I be friends with a creature as small and powerless as you? Your food is nothing I would eat, and you cannot help me in danger. If I were friends with you, everyone would laugh at me. Go away!” Hurt but undeterred, the termite quietly left, waiting for another opportunity to help.
A few days later, the lion woke from sleep in unbearable pain. Its ear itched and throbbed, growing worse by the hour. The lion could not even stand, suffering all day without food. Its powerful friends came to help, but each failed. The elephant said, “I see nothing. My tusks are long, but I cannot reach your ear.” The tiger admitted, “I cannot help either. My claws are sharp, but they cannot fit inside your ear.” The bears, wild boars, buffaloes, and bison all tried and failed, eventually leaving to search for food, leaving the lion alone in agony.
Hearing of the lion’s suffering, the termite rushed to help, forgetting the lion’s earlier insults. Carefully, it crawled into the lion’s ear and discovered a swollen leech feeding inside. The termite bit the leech to numb it, then pulled it out. The lion felt instant relief and realized how wrong it had been to dismiss such a small creature. Overwhelmed with gratitude, the lion apologized to the termite and vowed to be its friend for life.
This story teaches an important lesson: true help and loyalty are not determined by size or strength, and even the smallest and seemingly weakest beings can offer the greatest assistance in times of need.