រឿង គុណធម៌ របស់ សត្វទន្សាយ

Long, long ago, in the sacred Himmapan forest resting upon the majestic Phnom Kulen, there lived a small creature named Bunthea, a rabbit whose fur was as pure white as the clouds of Indra.

Bunthea was no ordinary rabbit; her amber eyes, like polished resin, perpetually gazed upon the world with a rare tranquility and profound understanding.

The creatures of the forest depended entirely upon the holy waters of Preah Teuk, a crystal-clear stream that flowed from the very heart of the mountain, granting life and coolness to all beings.

But one fateful day, dread crept into the hearts of all forest dwellers, for the mighty stream, once roaring with life, receded to a mere trickle, losing its vital, whispering voice.

The great tiger, Khamhaeng, the strongest creature in the domain, proclaimed: ‘We must use brute force! We shall shatter the rocks and earth to compel the waters to return!’

Khamhaeng the Tiger and the hefty Bear began tearing at the muddy ground, employing their sharp claws and raw muscle, yet they only succeeded in hardening the earth and the water remained stubbornly absent.

Bunthea observed their strenuous efforts from a quiet distance, remaining silent, for she understood that no true problem could be solved solely by anger or sheer might.

She noticed keenly that this was not merely a drought, but a deep entanglement of ancient roots and dense silt, clogging an underground passage that detained the precious flow.

When the great tiger finally collapsed, weary and defeated, Bunthea hopped gently from the bushes and spoke, her voice as soft as the chime of a silver bell.

“Oh, Elder Tiger, you have attempted to move mountains with massive might, yet water cannot be forced unless we first understand and respect its natural path,” she advised gracefully.

Khamhaeng the Tiger scoffed dismissively, finding it difficult to accept counsel from the smallest creature, yet despair had softened his pride enough to reluctantly concede.

Bunthea explained that the solution required gentle work and collaboration with the hidden dwellers of the earth, such as the moles and the earthworms, rather than violent destruction of the soil.

She requested the Bear cease his rough digging, instead asking the small, agile field mice and earthworms to gently clear the obstructing silt in the hidden dark passages.

Using her wisdom and the delicate touch of her tiny paws, Bunthea guided the small creatures to burrow miniature tunnels, creeping carefully into the deep blockage.

The task demanded immense patience, like a quiet prayer offered to the Water Deity, but slowly, meticulously, they dislodged the interwoven roots without causing further damage to the earth’s delicate structure.

Suddenly, with a joyous gurgling sound, the water burst forth from the ground like a cool gift from the heavens, and the sacred stream of Preah Teuk roared back to vibrant life.

Khamhaeng the Tiger humbly bowed his mighty head to the small rabbit, who had proven that the strength of virtue and wisdom far surpassed the power of mere muscle.

Let all children remember this truth: that in this world, true bravery resides in using one’s mind to aid others, and kindness remains the strongest bridge connecting all lives.