English Original
Before this story, people in Asia believed elephants and dogs could never be friends. Elephants disliked dogs, and dogs feared them. When frightened by larger creatures, dogs often bark loudly. This barking annoyed elephants, who would then chase them. Elephants had no patience for dogs; even a quiet dog might be attacked. Thus, they were considered 'natural enemies'.
Once, a well-cared-for royal bull elephant lived in a shed. Nearby roamed a scrawny, underfed stray dog. Lured by the smell of the rich sweet rice fed to the elephant, the dog began sneaking into the shed to eat the scraps that fell. He grew so fond of the food that he ate nowhere else. The mighty elephant, engrossed in his meal, didn't notice the shy dog.
Eating this nutritious food, the once-malnourished dog grew bigger, stronger, and handsome. The good-natured elephant began to notice him. Having lost his fear, the dog didn't bark. Unannoyed, the elephant gradually grew accustomed to his presence.
They became friendlier. Soon, they refused to eat without each other and enjoyed each other's company. They played together, with the dog grabbing the elephant's trunk and the elephant swinging him joyfully. They became inseparable best friends.
One day, a villager visiting the city saw the now frisky, beautiful dog. He bought it from the mahout (elephant keeper) and took it to his remote village.
The royal elephant was heartbroken. He missed his friend so much that he refused to eat, drink, or bathe. The mahout reported this to the king, omitting the sale.
The king had a wise minister known for understanding animals. He sent him to investigate.
The minister saw the elephant's profound sadness. He deduced, "This elephant is not sick but grief-stricken, likely from losing a dear friend." He asked the guards and attendants, who revealed the close friendship with the stray dog and its mysterious disappearance.
The minister reported to the king: "Your majesty, your elephant is healthy but sad. He befriended a stray dog, and since the dog was taken, he is in mourning."
The king valued friendship and asked how to restore his elephant's happiness. The minister suggested an official announcement: anyone found with the dog from the royal elephant shed would be fined.
Upon hearing this, the villager released the dog. Overjoyed, the dog raced back to his friend. The elephant lifted him onto his head with his trunk. The dog wagged his tail furiously, and the elephant's eyes sparkled with delight. They lived happily ever after.
The king, pleased with his elephant's recovery and amazed by his minister's insight, rewarded him appropriately.
The moral is: Even 'natural enemies' can become 'best friends'.
中文翻译
在这个故事发生之前，亚洲的人们认为大象和狗永远不可能成为朋友。大象不喜欢狗，而狗害怕大象。当狗被更大的动物吓到时，它们常常会大声吠叫。这种吠叫惹恼了大象，大象便会追赶它们。大象对狗毫无耐心；即使是一只安静的狗也可能遭到攻击。因此，它们被认为是“天敌”。
从前，有一头备受照料、皇家公牛般的大象住在象舍里。附近徘徊着一只骨瘦如柴、营养不良的流浪狗。狗被喂给大象的香甜米饭气味所吸引，开始溜进象舍吃掉落下来的饭粒。它变得非常喜欢这种食物，以至于再也不去别处觅食。这头威武的大象专注于进食，没有注意到这只害羞的狗。
吃着这营养丰富的食物，这只曾经营养不良的狗逐渐长得更大、更强壮，也变得英俊了。性情温和的大象开始注意到它。狗已经不再害怕，所以不对大象吠叫。大象没有被这只友好的狗惹恼，也逐渐习惯了它的存在。
它们变得越来越友好。很快，它们拒绝在没有对方陪伴的情况下进食，并享受彼此的陪伴。它们一起玩耍，狗会抓住大象的鼻子，大象则欢快地摇晃着它。它们成了形影不离的挚友。
一天，一个进城拜访的村民看到了这只如今活泼又漂亮的狗。他从管象人那里买下了它，并把它带回了自己偏远的村庄。
皇家大象心碎了。它如此思念朋友，以至于拒绝进食、饮水或洗澡。管象人向国王报告了此事，但隐瞒了卖狗的事。
国王有一位以理解动物而闻名的聪明大臣。他派大臣去调查。
大臣看到了大象深深的悲伤。他推断：“这头大象没有生病，而是悲痛欲绝，很可能是因为失去了一位亲爱的朋友。”他询问了守卫和侍从，他们透露了大象与流浪狗的亲密友谊以及狗神秘失踪的情况。
大臣向国王报告：“陛下，您的大象很健康，但很悲伤。它和一只流浪狗成了朋友，自从狗被带走后，它一直处于哀悼之中。”
国王珍视友谊，询问如何让大象重获快乐。大臣建议发布官方公告：任何被发现拥有皇家象舍那只狗的人都将被罚款。
听到这个消息，村民放走了狗。狗欣喜若狂，全速跑回朋友身边。大象用鼻子把狗举到头顶。狗拼命摇着尾巴，大象的眼睛闪烁着喜悦的光芒。从此它们幸福地生活在一起。
国王对大象的康复感到高兴，并对大臣的洞察力感到惊讶，于是恰当地奖赏了他。
寓意是： 即使是“天敌”也能成为“挚友”。