The intelligent monkey king

Once there lived a monkey king, named ‘Yongningthou’ in the forest of Mahabali near the bank of Imphal River, the present day river of sorrow in Manipur. He was a wise and able monkey king and lived with his subjects. One day, he said, “Folks, let’s go on a trip tomorrow.” Yongningthou and his followers never went out of the forest for  long time in the veil threat of a large python lurking to gulp the small monkey species. The python was always waiting his opportunity for its prey at the Imphal Riverbed located near the forest. Next morning, the monkey folks set off the rare trip. The monkey king said, “Be cautious of what you eat or drink. I’ve heard of strange monsters roaming and queer things happening there. So, be alert.”

On their journey, Yongningthou, “the green covers at the Mahabali are disappearing at an alarming pace due to negligence and lack of initiative to replenish it. Along with the imminent danger on the forest cover, our monkey species taking refuge at the same location are today on the verge of extinction with their numbers decreasing by the day. Reason is not far off. Due to decaying trees whose leaves and fruits also serve as vital food supply, we are facing starvation, forcing the animal population to live in a hapless situation. Scarcity of food not only forces the monkeys to foray into nearby hamlets in search of food for sustenance which result in direct confrontation with the people living nearby.” A few monkeys reached the destination early. Everybody was thirsty after the tiresome journey. One baby monkey said, “I am tired.” Another said, “And I’m thirsty!” They went further and sighted the River. One of the monkeys who felt thirsty suddenly said, “O my god look water in the River.” Though very thirsty, they remembered Yongningthou who told them to be taken extreme care about the menace of the python lurking under the water. The young monkeys were afraid of their lives. Soon the monkey king arrived with the rest of the group.

He asked the young monkeys taking rest in group, “Why didn’t you drink the water in the river?” “We were not sure whether it is safe,” Said another monkey. But the monkey king told them that what they had done was quite right. “First of all, let me check about the matter.” The king went around the river bed and found footprints leading to the river. But there were none coming out of it.  On seeing and observing it, the monkey leader said, “Oh no! The river must be under a spell.” He continued, “You did right thing, folks! I suspect a large python lives in this place of the river.” The monkeys sighed in relief. What the monkey king had said was indeed right. A large python was lurking under the water of the river to take his opportunity. Very long time, the python had been waiting. When he saw that the monkeys were not entering the river into the water, he lost his patience. He rose from the water. Then he asked, “Why aren’t you quenching your thirst?” The monkey king was ready with a question, “Do you want us to end dead in your belly?” “This is the only river here which is shortest distance from the forest where you lived. If you don’t drink here, you’ll die of thirst.” To the surprise of his folks, the monkey king threw a challenge at the python. “No way. You may watch us drink from this river water without entering it.” The python sniggered. “Yes let me see.” The monkey king ordered the monkey folks to pull out the long bamboos on the banks of river. “Now let’s use these to suck water,” he said. The monkeys sat around the river bank sucking water through the hollow bamboos. The outwitted python realized that might is not always right. There is indeed the way of wise and intelligence.