Daily writing prompt

Which animal would you compare yourself to and why?

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For me, the choice is clear—it must be the Lion(ess). Its regal demeanor, as the undisputed ruler of the forest, is nothing short of majestic. In Sanskrit, the lion is hailed as मृगेन्द्रः (mṛgendraḥ)- the lord of all animals, a title that in itself exudes grandeur.

A few years back, we embarked on a safari in Botswana. Although we were thrilled at the sight of elephants, deer, hippos, rhinos, and more, it wasn’t until we encountered lions that our journey felt truly complete. The awe-inspiring moment when we first spotted the lions is an experience beyond words.

There’s a Sanskrit proverb that captures the essence of their inherent majesty: सिंहः शिशुरपि निपतति मदमलिनकपोलभित्तिषु गजेषु। प्रकृतिरियं सत्त्ववतां न खलु वयस्तेजसो हेतुः।(siṃhaḥ śiśurapi nipatati madamalinakapolabhittiṣu gajeṣu। prakṛtiriyaṃ sattvavatāṃ na khalu vayastejaso hetuḥ।) – “Even a cub fearlessly leaps onto the heads of mighty elephants. Such is the nature of the truly powerful; their strength and brilliance are not diminished by age.” This adage beautifully illustrates that if you possess a natural aptitude for something, your potential to excel is not confined by age or experience.