Big Red and Little Red, two ox brothers, worked tirelessly on a farm, eating humble grass and straw. Little Red envied the Pig’s luxurious diet, but Big Red warned him it was “the food of death,” as the Pig was being fattened for a wedding feast. When the Pig met his fate, Little Red learned the value of contentment and a simple, enduring life.
Source:
Jataka Tales
by Ellen C. Babbit
The Century Co., New York, 1912
► Themes of the story
Moral Lessons: The narrative teaches the value of being content with one’s circumstances and warns against envying others without understanding their situation.
Cunning and Deception: The pig’s seemingly favorable treatment is deceptive, as it leads to its demise, highlighting how appearances can be misleading.
Transformation through Love: The ox brothers’ bond and Big Red’s guidance help Little Red transform his perspective, leading to personal growth and understanding.
► From the same Region or People
Once upon a time there was an Ox named Big Red. He had a younger brother named Little Red. These two brothers did all the carting on a large farm.
Now the farmer had an only daughter and she was soon to be married. Her mother gave orders that the Pig should be fattened for the wedding feast.
Little Red noticed that the Pig was fed on choice food.
► Continue reading…
He said to his brother, “How is it, Big Red, that you and I are given only straw and grass to eat, while we do all the hard work on the farm? That lazy Pig does nothing but eat the choice food the farmer gives him.”
Said his brother, “My dear Little Red, envy him not. That little Pig is eating the food of death! He is being fattened for the wedding feast. Eat your straw and grass and be content and live long.”
Not long afterwards the fattened Pig was killed and cooked for the wedding feast.
Then Big Red said, “Did you see, Little Red, what became of the Pig after all his fine feeding?”
“Yes,” said the little brother, “we can go on eating plain food for years, but the poor little Pig ate the food of death and now he is dead. His feed was good while it lasted, but it did not last long.”
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