Once upon a time, in northern India, there was a herd of village deer. They were used to being near villages, where they were born and raised. They knew they had to be very careful around people, especially at harvest time when farmers trapped and killed any deer that came near.
During harvest, the village deer stayed in the forest all day, venturing near the village only under the cover of night. Among them was a beautiful young doe with soft reddish-brown fur, a fluffy white tail, and large, bright eyes.
That season, a young mountain buck had strayed into the same low forest. One day, he saw the beautiful doe and was immediately infatuated. He knew nothing about her but imagined himself deeply in love, captivated by her appearance. He even dreamed of her, though she was unaware of his existence.
After a few days, the buck decided to introduce himself. As he walked into the clearing where she grazed, he was entranced and could not look away. He began, "Oh, my sweet beauty, as lovely as the stars and as bright as the moon, I confess I am deeply—" Just then, his hoof caught on a root. He tripped, fell, and splashed face-first into a mud puddle! The doe was flattered and smiled, but inwardly thought him rather silly.
Unbeknownst to the deer, a clan of tree fairies lived in that part of the forest. They had been watching the buck secretly admire the doe. When he walked out, began his speech, and fell into the mud, the fairies laughed uproariously. "What fools these animals are!" they cried. But one wise fairy did not laugh. "Perhaps this is a warning of danger for this young fool," he said.
The buck was slightly embarrassed but saw no warning. From then on, he followed the doe everywhere, constantly praising her beauty and declaring his love. She paid little attention.
When night fell, it was time for the doe to go down to the village. People along the path knew deer passed by at night and set traps. That night, a hunter waited, hidden behind a bush.
The doe set out carefully. The mountain buck, still singing her praises, went right along with her. She stopped and said, "My dear buck, you are not experienced around villages. You don't know how dangerous humans are. The village and the path to it can mean death for a deer, even at night. Since you are young and inexperienced"—she thought to herself, "and foolish"—"you should not come with me. Stay in the safety of the forest."
At this, the tree fairies applauded, though the deer could not hear them.
The young buck ignored her warning. "Your eyes look so lovely in the moonlight!" he said, continuing to walk with her. "If you won't listen, at least be quiet!" she replied. So infatuated was he that he could not control his thoughts, but he finally fell silent.
Soon, they approached where the hunter hid. The fairies saw him and became agitated and frightened for the deer's safety. They fluttered nervously among the branches but could only watch.
The doe smelled the hidden man and feared a trap. Thinking to save herself, she let the buck go first, following a little way behind.
When the hunter saw the unsuspecting mountain buck, he shot his arrow, killing him instantly. The terrified doe turned and fled back to the forest clearing as fast as she could.
The hunter claimed his kill. He lit a fire, skinned the deer, cooked some venison, and ate his fill. Then he threw the carcass over his shoulder and carried it home to feed his family.
Seeing this, some fairies cried. As they watched the hunter cut up the once-noble buck, some felt sick. Others blamed the careful doe for leading him to slaughter.
But the wise fairy who had given the first warning said, "It was the excitement of infatuation that killed this foolish deer. Such blind desire brings false happiness at first but ends in pain and suffering."
The moral is: Infatuation leads to destruction.