Once upon a time, the moon was pure and smooth, like a silver dish, and there was not a single spot on it. At that time, four friends lived in a dense forest: a hare, a monkey, a jackal and a cat. The hare was the smallest of all, but his friends respected him because he was the most learned and devout of them. The monkey played pranks, the jackal loved to cheat, and the cat often stole. And all three often laughed at the hare’s simplicity.
One day in the fall, when the full moon came, the hare said to his friends:
– Today is the full moon holiday. It is written in learned books that you can save your soul if you fast all day and don’t eat until the moon rises. So I’m going to fast today. Do you want to save your soul with me?
The monkey, cat and jackal agreed and decided not to touch food all day.
The monkey decided to decide, but when he saw ripe fruits on the trees, he could not resist.
“The salvation of the soul can wait,” she thought. “First we’ll pick the fruits, and only then we’ll think about salvation.” First about the belly, then about the spirit! You can fast next year too. After all, there is an autumn full moon every year.”
The monkey reasoned this way and ate his fill.
Jackal decided:
“I’d rather starve and not touch anything.”
But when he was scouring the forest, he saw a half-eaten antelope.
“If I don’t finish it now,” thought the jackal, “then who knows whether it will lie here until the moon rises or not? Who will take care of her for me? And I will be able to fast, if not this year, then in the future.”
And the jackal devoured the remains of the antelope.
The cat, having decided not to eat anything, took a nap on the tree. But soon his stomach growled from hunger, and he woke up. Right in front of him the cat saw a nest and chicks in it. The cat immediately forgot about his decision to fast. He licked his lips, rushed at the chicks and swallowed them in an instant.
Only the hare fasted until nightfall. The sun went down and the magnifying glass began to rise.
When the fast ends, you must first treat the Brahman, and then eat yourself. So the hare began to wait to see if the brahman would pass by him.
And the moon knew that the hare was fasting diligently. She wanted to test him.
And so the moon took the form of a brahman, came to the hare and said to him:
“I haven’t had a crumb in my mouth since the morning.” Who will feed me in the forest? Do you have anything to eat?
“The Almighty sent you to me,” answered the hare. “But I eat grass and roots.” Will you be satisfied with this? Eat better than me. If you do a good deed, you will help me save my soul.
- God forbid! - cried the “Brahman”. - Kill you?! And even on a full moon?! Well, no, my dear. I'd rather stay hungry.
And the “brahmana” was about to leave, but the hare prayed:
“I’ll gather the branches myself, make a fire and fry myself on it.” Then you can eat me, right?
The “brahmana” agreed to this, stepped aside and began to watch the hare’s preparations. He collected brushwood and built a fire. He looked at the full moon, which was shining again in the sky, closed his eyes, said goodbye to her and jumped into the fire. But what kind of miracle? The hare didn't burn! He opened his eyes and saw the moon right in front of him. The hare rushed at her feet. She gently picked him up and placed him on her lap.
- Hare! - said the moon. - I will reward you for your piety. Now you will always be with me.
Since then we have seen a hare on the moon.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru