The Tale of Gauranga

In a peaceful village, there lived a kind-hearted bull named Gauranga. His muscular physique and long, curved crescent horns were a sight to behold, making him stand out among all creatures. Though he lived a lonely life, Gauranga never hesitated to use his powerful body to help anyone in need. Some animals knew of his humility, but most were intimidated by his imposing form—especially his sharp, pointed horns. This filled Gauranga with a quiet guilt.

Gauranga took great pride in raking the land with his horns, feeling it was an essential part of his being. But as the creatures of the village started avoiding him out of fear, he decided that the only thing he could do was to get rid of his beloved horns. One evening, as Gauranga made his way to the town barber with firm resolve, he encountered a silent old monk walking quietly along the trail.

“Namo Bhikṣave,” Gauranga greeted the monk inwardly with a respectful bow of his head, stepping aside so as not to obstruct his path.

“Where are you headed with such resolve on this evening, my child?” the monk asked softly, gently caressing Gauranga’s muzzle.

Gauranga lowered his eyes and said, “My curved horns frighten the village animals. I feel guilty about it, so I’m going to have them removed at the barber’s.”

The monk smiled and asked, “Do you love your horns?”

“Yes, revered monk,” Gauranga replied softly. “They are my pride and joy, a gift from my lineage.”

The monk took a deep breath and spoke wisely, “The only consideration in life is not to harm others. It’s true that a leopard cannot change its spots, but what’s more important is that it doesn’t need to. Similarly, you need not alter your appearance. Nature is wondrous because it contains both flowers and thorns. It is not your horns that are the problem—it is the fear in the hearts of those who cannot see beyond them.”

He paused, his eyes lifted in reflection. “Be mindful, yes, but do not carry the burden of their misunderstanding. You are gentle and beautiful just as you are.”

With those words, the monk continued on his journey. Gauranga, feeling a newfound sense of peace, turned around and made his way home, a small smile forming on his face. As he walked, the animals seemed less afraid of him, sensing the change in his heart.

Gauranga fully embraced his true nature, no longer burdened by doubt and misunderstanding, yet offering a comforting presence whenever someone timid passed by. Although some animals always maintained distance from him, he now understood it might be part of their nature to do so.

In time, he became known as the Gentle Giant, always ready to help and protect. Whenever uncertainty crept into his mind, he recalled the monk’s words: "The key is to live true to yourself but harm none."

And so, Gauranga lived a peaceful life, protecting the village in need, knowing that gentleness is not in the absence of pointy horns, but in the heart of the one who wields them.