The Choice of Lifespan: The Story of Man and the Animals

The Choice of Lifespan: The Story of Man and the Animals

When Brahma, the Creator, had finished making all living beings, he decided to assign each creature its proper span of life.

He called the ox first.
“Ox,” said Brahma, “you shall live for thirty years, working for mankind and eating grass.”

The ox bowed his head and replied,
“Lord, thirty years of pulling plows and carts is too long. Please, make it only ten.”
Brahma agreed — and took back twenty years.

Next came the dog.
“Dog,” said Brahma, “you will guard man’s house and be his companion for thirty years.”

The dog wagged his tail sadly:
“Thirty years of barking, guarding, and begging for scraps is too much! Give me only ten.”
Brahma took back twenty more years.

Then came the monkey.
“You will live among the trees, amusing man with your tricks, for thirty years.”

The monkey screeched:
“Thirty years of making faces and swinging from trees? That’s too long! Ten will do.”
So Brahma took back another twenty.

Finally, Man appeared.
Brahma said:
“Man, you shall live for thirty years. You will be strong, wise, and enjoy the earth.”

But Man looked sad.
“Only thirty, Lord? That’s too short for all I wish to learn and do. Could I take the years the others refused?”

Brahma smiled and agreed.

🕉️ The Result

And so it came to be:

• Man’s first 30 years are his own — full of strength, learning, and love.

• The next 20 (the ox’s years) are spent in hard labor and responsibility, working for others and carrying life’s burdens.

• Then come the dog’s 20 years — he stays at home, guarding the house, barking at intruders, and living on what others give him.

• Finally, the monkey’s 20 years — he grows old, loses his teeth, and spends his time amusing the grandchildren with old stories and funny faces.

🪔 Meaning

This story, lighthearted yet profound, reflects the Hindu way of wrapping deep truths in humor and myth.
It teaches that life’s stages each carry the spirit of different creatures — strength, duty, loyalty, and play — and that longevity comes with trade-offs.

It also gently reminds us:
To live long is not the same as to live well.