The Monkey and the Crocodile

Haiga says

Let's settle in and begin.

Once upon a time, while Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta came to life at the foot of Himalaya as a Monkey. He grew strong and sturdy, big of frame, well-to-do, and lived by a curve of the river Ganges…

Originally a Sanskrit tale — the Sanskrit edition is on its way. Meanwhile you can enjoy it in English & Telugu.

Theme · Presence of mind defeats brute strength.

Source · Exact chapter extracted from Eastern Stories and Legends (1920) via Project Gutenberg. Public-domain source wording preserved; formatting only.