The Students and the Lion

Four Brahmin students were great friends. Three were scholars and highly intelligent, and the fourth was less bright but a pragmatist. "If we were to go to a king's court," said one of the scholars, "we could earn great fame and glory owing to our intelligence." The other students immediately agreed, and they set out on a journey. On the way, they found the skin and skeleton of a dead lion. 

"We need to test our learning," said the first scholar. "Let us resurrect this animal. I can reorganize the skeleton of the lion."

"I can fill the skeleton with flesh and blood", boasted the second scholar. 

"I can bring the dead body back to life. It will become a living animal again", said the third scholar.

The pragmatist did not say anything but listened to the other three. "Okay, you three may do as you please," he said. "But let me first climb this tree. You will bring this dead lion back to life; nevertheless, I doubt you will be able to alter the behavior of this lion. A lion does not eat grass anymore than a lamb eats flesh." 

"You are a coward," one of the scholars laughed and said. "You are afraid of forfeiting your life. Shame on you; you trust our learning but don't know that the animal we resurrect will obey our every command. Why would the animal we give life to start attacking us? Fine, you may hide and then witness the miracle."

The pragmatist climbed the tree. All his friends watched, laughed, and then began resurrecting the lion. When the third scholar gave the lion life, it rose and started roaring. It then pounced on the three scholars and ate them. The pragmatist on the tree thanked God for his common sense.