Human Nature
A Divine Intervention
At the beginning of Creation, a sage by the name of Aranyaka thought that the world should consist solely of human beings, with no other creature inhabiting the earth. He prayed fervently to Lord Brahma, the Creator, and was granted a boon that enabled him to change all lesser creatures into human beings.
A Transformation Occurs
One day, Aranyaka witnessed a scene of a tiger chasing a deer. Instantaneously, he transformed the deer into a lovely maiden and the tiger into a handsome young man. The young man fell in love with the maiden and desired to marry her; she reciprocated his feelings. Aranyaka, believing his plan to be a success, celebrated their wedding. The newlyweds built a cottage in the heart of the forest and lived there harmoniously.
Clash of Preferences
The young man took to hunting every day, bringing back the carcasses of animals he had slain. His wife, however, remained content with eating only the fruits and vegetables that grew wild in the forest, despising the idea of consuming flesh. A gap began to form between them, as the husband, fond of meat, couldn’t comprehend her vegetarian habits. Quietus turned into querulousness over meal preferences. Over time, they had several children, some of whom inherited their father’s tendencies while some reflected their mother’s traits.
The Nature Resurfaces
As days turned into years, the man’s demeanor grew progressively more violent. Following a particularly fierce quarrel, he flew into a fit of uncontrollable rage. He grabbed his bow, notching an arrow to slay his wife. Frightened, she fled from the cottage as fast as her legs permitted, with her enraged husband hot on her heels. Eventually, she sought refuge in Aranyaka’s hermitage.
The Final Resort
In an attempt to quell the conflict, Sage Aranyaka asked them, ‘How can you live together in peace if you continue to fight this way? Do you wish to live in harmony or part ways?’ Both husband and wife expressed their desire to live apart. Aranyaka, in response, gave each of them a leaf, stating, ‘When this leaf dries, you will both regain your original forms.’
The Retrospect
As time passed, the leaves dried, and the man and woman returned to their former animal selves –- he, a predatory tiger, and she, a graceful deer. The chase between them began anew. However, their progeny, who remained human, retained all the animal-like qualities of their parents, echoing an eternal testament to their feral ancestry.