This Lithuanian sakmė, or etiological folk tale, provides a mythological explanation for why lightning strikes trees, particularly tall ones. Such narratives represent humanity's enduring attempt to understand natural phenomena through storytelling before scientific explanations were available.

According to the tale, Perkūnas, the powerful thunder god of Baltic mythology, possessed a pile of stones. When a devil stole one to use in his shed's foundation, Perkūnas became enraged and began striking everywhere in pursuit of the thief. This cosmic conflict manifested in the natural world as lightning strikes.

The devil, attempting to escape Perkūnas' wrath, would hide on stones, in trees, or while swimming. To evade detection, he would climb higher onto stones or ascend taller trees to better spot Perkūnas approaching. This behaviour explains the observation that lightning often strikes the tallest trees in a landscape—the devil's preferred hiding places attracts Perkūnas' vengeful bolts.

This narrative reflects the pre-scientific understanding that tall objects are indeed more likely to be struck by lightning, though explained through mythological rather than physical principles. The tale served both explanatory and cautionary functions, warning people against standing under high trees during storms while providing a comprehensible framework for understanding frightening natural occurrences.

The story exemplifies how mythological narratives often contain accurate observational knowledge embedded within supernatural explanations. Compiled by folklorist Norbertas Vėlius in How the Earth Came to Be: Lithuanian Etiological Legends, this tale represents part of Lithuania's rich heritage of nature mythology that connected human experience to cosmic patterns and natural phenomena.