On a big Jamun tree, near a river lived a monkey. The tree was always laden with juicy jamuns. The monkey ate the jamuns and also gave them to his friends.
One day a crocodile came out of the river and stopped under the tree.
"Won't you have some jamuns?" called the monkey. "They are delicious."
He threw some down to the crocodile.
The crocodile liked them. "They're very sweet," he said. "They're the best I've ever had."
The two became close friends. The crocodile would come every day to meet the monkey. And the monkey would give him sweet jamuns. The crocodile would eat some and take the rest home for his wife. She too found them delicious.
"Where do you find these delicious jamuns?" she asked him one day. "I've never eaten such sweet fruit before!"
"I've made a new friend, my dear. A monkey," the crocodile replied. "He's a monkey who lives on a jamun tree. He very kindly shares the fruit with me."
His wife thought, 'A monkey who eats such sweet jamuns must be very delicious himself. I wish I could get to eat him!'
She said, "Husband dear, I'd love to meet your friend. Why don't you bring him home one day?'
But the crocodile knew the monkey could not swim and would not be able to come. So he did not ask him.
Each day his wife's longing increased. Finally she though of a way to make the crocodile bring his friend home. She pretended to be very sick. She even shed some tears-crocodile tears, of course!
"What's the matter, dear?" the worried crocodile asked. "Can I get you some medicine?"
"A-ah!" his wife groaned. "The doctor said only a monkey's heart can cure me."
"What! A monkey's heart?" the crocodile asked.
"Yes. You will have to get your friend's heart if you want me to get well."
"But he's my best friend. I can't kill him!" the crocodile said.
"That shows you care more for him than you do for me," the wife said. "You don't care if I die!"
"Now, now, dear," said the crocodile, "let me see what I can do."
But the crocodile did not know what to do. He did not want to kill his friend. And he did not want his wife to die either.
'I can't let my wife die,' the crocodile thought and decided to bring her the monkey's heart. Now, how was he going to do that? It would not be easy. His friend was not stupid.
He went to the jamun tree where the monkey had been waiting for him.
"What's the matter, friend?" asked the monkey, "Why are you so late? You look sad. Is something wrong?"
"My wife is very angry with me," the wily crocodile replied. "She says that I always feast on your jamuns, but I never invite you home. She has invited you for dinner today. Will you come? Your home is in the water and I can't swim."
"Oh, don't worry about that," the crocodile said. "We live on a sand bank near the river. I could carry you there on my back."
"Is that so?" asked the monkey. "Then I'd love to come." He jumped onto his friend's back happily. The crocodile swam out of the river. Halfway through, he started to dive into the water. The monkey was very scared.
"Stop, stop!" he cried. "I will drown if you do that."
"I am sorry my friend," the crocodile said. "But I have to kill you. My wife is very ill. The doctor says only a monkey's heart can cure her."
The monkey knew he had to save his life somehow.
"Is that all?" he asked in a friendly voice. "I wish you had told me earlier, dear friend. You see, I keep my heart hidden away safely in a hole in the jamun tree. I would have brought it with me if I had known that your wife needed it."
"Really?" the crocodile said. "Then let's go back and get it." He was relieved that he would not have to kill his friend after all.
The crocodile swam right back to the jamun tree. The monkey jumped off as soon as they reached the riverbank and climbed up the tree.
When he was safe on the highest branch he said, "You are the biggest fool I've ever known. Do you really believe I keep heart in the tree? Go back to your greedy wife and never come here again."
And that was the end of their friendship.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------THE  UNGRATEFUL  MAN
In a small village, lived a poor Brahman. He never had enough food to eat. One day, he said to himself, "I must go in search of work
So he set off in the morning. After a while, feeling thirsty, he stopped at a well. He was surprised at what he saw in it. For inside the well were a tiger, a monkey, a snake and a man. The Brahman got frightened and was about to go when the tiger called out, "Kind man, please help me out of here."
The Brahman replied, "But you will kill me if I take you out." "I promise, I won't," said the tiger. The Brahman thought, 'It is good to help others.' And he helped the tiger out of the well.
The tiger was very grateful. "Thank you for saving my life. I live in those mountains. Come to me if you ever need my help."
Then the monkey said, "I want to come out too."
'A monkey is harmless,' thought the Brahman and helped him out as well.
Before leaving, the monkey said, "I live in this jungle. If you ever need food, come to me." Waving good-bye, he skipped away.
Next, it was the snake's turn. It called to the Brahman, "You have helped the tiger and the monkey. I beg you to help me too."
Now the Brahman was scared. "No. You will bite me and I'll die." "I will not harm you. Do not be afraid of me," said the snake.
Being a good man, the Brahman believed the snake and helped it out of the well.
"You have been very kind to me. I'll tell you my secret. I can appear by magic if you call me. I advise you not to help the man inside. He is ungrateful. He will harm you even if you help him.Saying this, the snake slithered away.
Then the man called out, "Kind Sir, now it my turn."
The Brahman thought, 'I have helped dangerous animals. What harm can this man do to me?' So he pulled him out.
The man was very grateful. "I am a poor goldsmith. I live in the town nearby. If you every need me I'll gladly help you out."
The Brahman went on his way. He tried to find work, but he could not get any. He was walking through the jungle wondering what to do, when he remembered the three animals and the man. All of them had promised to help him.
He went to the monkey first. The monkey gave him lots of fruit. Next he went to the tiger, who gave him gold ornaments.
Then he went to the goldsmith to sell the ornaments. "Can you sell these for me?" he asked. "I need the money."
The goldsmith ran to the king's palace. He bowed before the king and said, "Your Majesty, here are the royal jewels that were stolen. I got them from a Brahman. I have left him at my house."
The king ordered his soldiers to arrest the Brahman.
"Who will help me now?" the Brahman cried. Then he remembered the snake. He called for him and the snake appeared.
After hearing the Brahman's story, he said, "I have an idea. I'll bite the king's daughter and she will become unconscious. The poison will remain in her body until you put your hand on her forehead."
The snake bit the princess. No one could bring her back to life.
"I can cure her," said the Brahman. When the king heard this, he sent for the Brahman. As soon as the Brahman touched her forehead, the princess woke up. Everyone was very happy.
The Brahman told the king how he had been falsely accused. The king rewarded him with a house and thousand pieces of gold. Then, he asked his soldiers to throw the goldsmith into jail.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------THE  CLEVER  TORTOISERabbit could generally get the better of any animal in racing, but old Tortoise was just as cunning as he was. One day he made Rabbit look very foolish. This was how it happened.
Rabbit was saying to old Tortoise, "How slowly you crawl! If we had a race, I would have run the course eight times before you reach the mark."
"I could beat you if you ran on land and I swam in the water," replied Tortoise.
"I don't believe you," said Rabbit, "You are just as slow in the water as on land."
"Very well, let's do it," answered Tortoise.
Rabbit looked scornful, but he agreed to the idea. "I will run five miles along the river bank," said he, "and you shall swim five miles down the river."
"We'll have the race tomorrow," said Tortoise.
The two animals measured five miles along the riverbank, and put up a post at every mile.
Now old Tortoise had a wife and four children, all so like him that you couldn't tell one from the other. All tortoises are very much alike. That night old Tortoise called up his family, and told them exactly what to do to help him, "If you do as I say," said he, "I shall be able to win the race."
Early next morning, old Tortoise put his wife at the starting post, and one of his children at each of the mile posts, while he himself sat down besides the winning post and waited.
Presently along came the Rabbit, laughing to himself to think how easily he was going to beat the old Tortoise. He saw Mrs. Tortoise in the water and, thinking it was old tortoise, cried out, "Are you ready? Go!"
Off went the Rabbit along the bank, while Mrs. Tortoise quietly slipped into the water and swam back home. At the first mile post the Rabbit found the eldest little tortoise popping his head out of the water.
"Goodness me!" said the Rabbit. "Old Tortoise swims faster than I thought."
When he found the next little tortoise at the next milepost, he was still more surprised. When he found a tortoise at the third post, he gasped. When he found one at the fourth, he began to feel faint.
"I must put on more speed," he thought.
He laid back his long ears and flashed along the last mile like a streak of lightning. As he reached the winning post, puffing and panting, up, popped the head of old Tortoise as cool as you please.
"Why, Rabbit," said he, "I thought you were never coming! Did you stop for a rest on the way?"
The Rabbit had no breath left to answer. He went sadly home, feeling ashamed of himself. Old Tortoise went home chuckling. He and his wife and his four children had a good laugh over the trick they had played.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------" THE  STORY  OF  THE  THIEF  AND  THE BRAHMINS"
"In a certain town, there lived a very learned Brahmin who, as a result of his actions in his previous life, had become a thief.
"One day, four other Brahmins, from a distant part of the country, came to that same town and started selling their wares.
"When the Brahmin-thief saw them selling these things, he said to himself, 'How can I rob these people?
"When he had thought about it, he approached them and started quoting from the shastras.
As they say:
'A harlot pretends to be shy,
Salty water is always colder,
A hypocrite always asserts his straightforwardness,
And a crook is a charming talker.'
"In this way, the Brahmin-thief won their confidence and became their servant.
"Whilst he was in service with them, the Brahmins sold all their possession and purchased costly jewels. In his very presence, they cut open their thighs, put all the jewels inside and then rubbed in ointment to heal the wounds. Afterwards, they began to make preparations to return to their own place.
"When the Brahmin-thief saw this, he got very worried and thought to himself, 'Oh dear, I haven't been able to rob them yet, so what I'll do is travel with them, poison them on the way and collect all the jewels.'
"With this in his mind, he went to the Brahmins, weeping pitifully. -'Friends,' he implored them, 'you will soon be going away and leaving me here all alone. My heart has become so attached to yours with bonds of love, that the mere thought of separation from you, throws me into despair. Please take pity on me and let me come with you.'
"The Brahmins felt moved by his entreaties and took him with them. "On the way, the five of them came to a town called Palipura*, belonging to the Kirata* tribe. As soon as they rushed upon the five Brahmins, beat them up with cudgels, searching them, and removing their clothes. But they found nothing. Then they said, "Travlers. Never have the crows proved to be wrong! You have got the treasure somewhere! Give it to us or we'll kill you, take off your skins and search every part of your body, until we find the treasure!'
"When the Brahmin-thief heard this, he thought to himself, 'If the Kirata hunters kill the Brahmins, search their bodies and take out the jewels, they will naturally kill me too. I am going to die either way, so what I'll do is offer them my body first, let them kill me and see that there are no jewels hidden in my body and save the lives of these four Brahmins, and their jewels too. As they say:
"My child! Why are you afraid of Yama?
He won't spare you because you are frightened!
Perhaps today, perhaps after a thousand years,
Death will certainly catch up with you." '
"And so, having made this firm resolution, the Brahmin-thief said to the Kirata hunters, 'All right then, kill me first and search me!'
"Accordingly, the Kirata hunters killed him and searched his body, but they found nothing and the four Brahmins were allowed to continue their journey.
-"And so," continued Karataka, "that's why I said:
'A shrwed enemy is far preferable
To a foolish benefactor;
A foolish monkey killed the king
But a shrwed thif saved the lives of the Brahmins.' "
Whilst Damanaka and Karataka were talking, Pingalaka and Sanjivaka started fighting. Sanjivaka's body was torn to pieces by Pinalaka's strong claws and he fell to the ground, dead.
When Pingalaka saw him dead, he thought of his good qualities and he was heart-broken. He repented killing the bullock and said to himself, "I have committed a great sin in killing Sanjivaka. For, there is no greater in than treachery. As they say:
'He who betrays a trusting friend,
Shall remain in Naraka*
For as long as the sun and moon
Continue to shine.' "
Whilst Pingalaka was thus bewailing Sanjivaka's death, Damanaka approached him in jubilant mood, and said,Master, you have killed a treacherous grass-eater, and now you are crying! Such behaviour is not proper for a king-only weakling behave like that. They say:
'The wise
Do not dwell on the dead
Or the living.' "
In this way, Pingalaka was pacified by Damanaka. He appointed Damanaka as minister and ruled over his kingdom.

The end of the first Tantra
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------THE  STORY  OF  THE  IRON  BALANCE  AND  THE  MERCHANT'S  SON
"In a certain down, there lived a merchant's son by the name of Jveernadhana. Because he had lost all his money, he made up his mind to leave that part of the country and go somewhere else, for:
'A man who has formerly lived in great style
But now lives in great misery,
Is looked down upon by all.'
"Now in his house the merchant's son had a very heavy iron balance, that he had inherit from his forefathers. He deposited this with another merchant and then left for a different part of the country.
"When he had traveled all over the country to his heart's content, Jveernadhana returned to his own town, went to the merchant's house and said, 'Ho! Merchant! Please return the balance that I deposited with you.'
-'But brother,' said the merchant, 'I no longer have it. The rats ate it!'
-'Merchant,' said Jveernadhana, 'if that's the case, then it is not you fault. Life is like that, nothing lasts forever. Anyway, I am going to the river for a bath. Please let your son Dhanadeva come with me to carry the things and look after them.'
"Now the merchant was afraid that the bath thing might be stolen, so he said to his son, 'My son! Here is your uncle. He is going to the river for a bath. Go along with him and carry the things that he need.' It's true what they say:
"One man is kind to another,
Not only out of affection
But out of fear, greed and other reasons.
If, for no reason at all,
One man is over-attentive to another,
It's very doubtful that the situation will end well."
"And so, the merchant's son gladly accompanied Jveenadhana to the river and carried his bath things. When he had taken his bath, Jveernadhana caught hold of the merchant's son and threw him into a cave near the riverbank. He then closed the entrance with a big rock and returned quickly to the merchant's house.
"When the merchant saw him coming back alone, he cried, 'Where is my son who went with you to the river?'
-'I am very sorry,' said Jveernadhana, 'but as he was standing on the bank of the river, a flamingo sweeps down, picked him up and flew off with him.'
-'You liar!' said the merchant. 'How could a flamingo fly off with a child! Return my son to me immediately or I shall complain against you in the royal court.'
-'Speaker of truth yourself,' retorted Jeevnadhana, 'just as a flamingo cannot fly off with a child, so too rats can't eat away a heavy iron balance. Give me back my balance and I'll return your son.'
"Quarrelling like this, they went to the royal court. The merchant began to shout, 'It's disgraceful. This thief has disappeared my son!'
-'Return the merchant's son to him,' the judges said to Jveernadhana.
-'What can I do?' he replied. 'While the child was standing on the river bank, a flamingo swept down, picked him up and flew off with him.'
-'You are not telling the truth!' said the judges. 'How could a flamingo ever fly off with a child?'
-'Please listen!' said Jveernadhana. 'Where rats can eat away a heavy iron balance, undoubtedly a flamingo can fly off with a child!'
-'What do you mean?' asked the judges.
And then Jveernadhana told them the whole story from beginning to end, and the judges burst out laughing.
"In due course they were reconciled, Jveernadhana and the merchant. Jveernadhana got back his balance and the merchant his son. The judges were content.
-"And so," continued Karataka, "that's why I said:
'Where rats can eat away a heavy iron balance,
Undoubtedly, a flamingo can also fly off with a child.'
-"Now, you Damanaka are a fool. You could not bear to see Sanjivaka favored by the king. That's why you arranged this quarrel. As they say:
'Fools sneer at the wise,
The poor hate the rich,
The wicked run down the righteous,
And harlots discredit the names of virtuous women.'
-"In your foolishness, whilst trying to do good for us, you have in fact, done harm. That's why they say:
'A shrewd enemy is far preferable
To a foolish benefactor;
But a shrewd thief saved the lives of the Brahmins."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------THE  STORY  OF  THE  LION,  THE  CAMEL,  THE J ACKAL  AND  THE  CROW
"In a certain part of the jungle, there lived a lion king, by the name of Madotkata. His retinue comprised of a jackal, a crow and other animals. One day as they were wandering through the jungle, they saw a camel, which had been separated from its caravan. -"This seems to be an extraordinary animal, said the lion, 'go and ask him where he comes from.'
"The crow spoke up and said, 'Master, this animal is a camel and lives in a village. He is good to eat, so kill him.'
'I won't kill a guest,' replied the lion. 'Assure him that his life will be spared and bring him to me. Then I can ask him why he is here.'
"They all went to the camel and won his confidence, after assuring him that his life would be safe, brought him to Madotkata.
"The camel bowed and stood before the lion. Madotkata asked him for his story and he told the lion how he had come to be separated from his caravan. When he had finished, the lion said, 'Krathanaka! Don't return to the village. Stay with me. You can live in this jungle without any anxiety and feast on the emerald-coloured grass.' The camel agreed and began to live happily amongst them.
"One day, Madotkata had a fight with a mad elephant and he was wounded by the elephant's sharp tusks, but despite his injuries, he did not die. However, his body became so weak, that he could not take so much as a few steps, and as a result, the crow and all the other animals, dependent on him for food, began to starve.
"Then the lion said, 'Go and find some animal that I can kill even in this condition, so that I can provide food for you.'
"All the animals wandered around everywhere, but could not find such an animal. Then the crow and the jackal put their heads together.
-'Crow' said to jackal. 'What's the point of wandering about when this camel could easily be killed to provide us with food?'
-'You're right,' replied the crow, 'but the master has assured him that his life will be spared, so perhaps he won't agree to kill him.'
"Said the jackal, 'I'll influence the master in such a way, that he will agree to kill the camel. Now it's better if you wait here until I come back!'
"With this, the jackal went to the lion and said, 'Master! We have wandered all over the jungle, but have not been unable to find any animal at all. What are we to do? We're so starved that we can't even walk properly. But if you were to kill this camel here, his flesh would satisfy all our hunger.'
"When the lion heard his wicked words, he cried out furiously, 'Shame on you, you rascal! Say that again and I will kill you on the spot! How can I kill him, when I've assured him that his life will be safe!'
'Master!' said the jackal. 'It is certainly a sin to kill him after giving him this guarantee, but if he offers himself to you, of his own free will, then it is no sin to kill him. Otherwise, kill one of us, for you are desperately in need of food to stay alive. What is the good of our lives, if we cannot use them in our master's service. As they say:
"The head of the family
Must be protected in every way possible,
For if he dies, the whole family will come to grief."
-'In any case, if something unfortunate should happen to you, we must all go into the fire and burn ourselves to death.'
"When the lion heard this, he said, 'Then do what you think best.'
"So, the jackal returned to the other animals and said, 'our master is very sick and who will protect us, if something happens to him? Now nothing is to be gained by wandering around, looking for food, so let us go and offer him our own bodies. In this way, we shall repay our debt to the master.'
"Then they all went and stood before the lion with tears in their eyes and bowed before him.
"When the lion saw them, he asked, 'Well, have you found any animal?' One of them, the crow, said, 'Master, we have wandered everywhere but unfortunately we have not found any such animal. So eat me so that you can stay alive, and for this sacrifice, I shall go to heaven.'
"When the jackal heard this, he said to the crow, 'your body is too small. Even if the master eats you, it won't keep him alive. Still, you have shown your devotion to him and freed yourself from your debts. You will be praised here on earth and also in heaven. Now I too shall offer myself.'
"Then the jackal stood humbly before the lion and said, 'Master, eat me so that you can stay alive, and for this sacrifice, I shall go to heaven.' But the lion shook his head sadly.
"When the camel saw all this, he thought to himself, 'These two have spoken beautifully, but the master has eaten neither of them, so I too shall take my turn.'
"So the camel said to the jackal and to the crow, 'you have both spoken well, but you are both carnivorous animals and belong to the same caste as the lion, so how can he eat you? Stand aside, I too shall offer myself to him!'
"When the camel had said this, he went and stood before the lion. He bowed low and said, 'Master, you should not kill either of these animals, instead eat me, so that you can stay alive, and for this sacrifice, I shall go to heaven.'
"As soon as the camel had finished speaking, the lion fell on him and tore him apart. He was eaten by hungry animals.
Wicked people, although they may be insignificant, are mean-minded and live deceptively.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The  Peacock  and  the  Crane
A peacock was very vain. He always boasted about his beautiful looks. Everyday he would go to the bank of a river. He would stand there and admire his own reflection in the water.

He would say, "Just look at my tail! Look at the colors in my feathers! Look at me! I must be the most beautiful bird in the world."

One day the peacock saw a crane on the bank. He looked at it and turned his face away. Then he rudely said to the crane, "What a colorless bird you are! Your feathers look so plain and dull."

The crane said, "Your feathers are surely beautiful and mine are not. But so what? With your feathers you cannot fly very high, while my feathers can carry me high up in the sky."

Usefulness is better than mere beautyThe  Crooked  TreeIn a forest there was a crooked tree. Its trunk and branches were odd-shaped. All the other trees around were straight and shapely. The crooked tree looked at them and said, "How fine and straight they are!" Then it added in a sad voice, "How unlucky I am! Why should I alone be crooked and ugly?"

One day a woodcutter came to the forest. He looked at the crooked tree and said, "This tree is absolutely useless for me." He selected all the fine and straight trees and cut them down.

Thereafter the crooked tree never felt sad for its ugliness. In fact, its ugliness had saved it from the axe of the woodcutter.

Be happy with what you are
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Story Of Vajradaunstra The Lion And Chaturaka The Jackal
"In a jungle, there lived a lion by the name of Vajradaunstra*. A jackal called Chaturaka and a wolf called Kravyamukha* were his attendants.

"One day, an expectant female camel, which was in labor pains, was left behind by a caravan. In the deep jungle, she fell a prey to the lion. When he had torn off her womb, a little baby camel came out. The lion and the other animal fed themselves on the female camel's flesh and were all very content. But the lion spared the young camel and brought him home alive. He said to him, 'Little camel, you have nothing to fear, either from me or from anyone else, so run about fearlessly in the jungle, just as you please. We'll call you Shankukarana, because your ears are like wedges.'

" 'And so the four of them began to live together very happily. They entertained one another telling stories.

"Shankukarana began to grow up but he would never leave the lion even for a moment.

"One day, the lion had fight with a wild elephant. The elephant wounded the lion so badly with his tusks that Vajradaunstra was unable even to walk. Exhausted with hunger, he said to others, 'Look for some animal that I can kill, even in this condition, so that your hunger and mine can be satisfied.'

"And so the jackal, the wolf, and the camel wandered in the jungle until evening, but they could not find any animal at all. So they returned empty-handed.

"Chaturaka the jackal began to think, 'If the lion would only kill Shankukarana, then we could all feed on him for a couple of days. But our master will not kill him, because he has given him the assurance that his life will be safe. However, with the help of my wits, I shall influence the camel in such a way that he will offer himself, of his own accord, to the lion, for:
"There is nothing in this world
That a clever man can't achieve.
So a wise man
Should make the most of his wits." '

"With this thought Chaturaka approached the camel and said to him, 'Shankukarana! The Master is dying of hunger. If he does die, we too shall be destroyed. So I am going to tell you how you could be useful to him. Please listen carefully.'

-'Do tell me,' said Shankukarana, 'and I shall attend to it quickly. And if I do anything for the master according to our religion, I shall be rewarded a hundred-fold.'

-'Then friend,' said the jackal, 'you should offer your body to the master to save his life, and for this sacrifice the master will guarantee that you will be given a body twice your present size, in your next life.'

-'Very well then,' replied Shankukarana, 'I agree.'

"Then all the animals went to the lion and said, 'Master. The sun has already gone down and we have still not been able to find any animal. But if you will guarantee that Shankukarana will have a body twice his present size in the next life, then he is prepared to offer himself to you as a holy sacrifice.'

-'Indeed, I do promise that it shall be so,' replied the lion.

"Hardly had he uttered these words when the wolf and the jackal fell upon the camel and tore up his body, and that was the end of him.

"Afterwards, the lion said to the jackal, 'Chaturaka Watch this carcass carefully while I go to the river for a bath and worship the gods.' Then the lion went off.

"When he had gone, the jackal thought to himself. 'How can I continue to enjoy this carcass all to myself.

"He thought about it for a little while, then he hit upon a plan.

"He said to the wolf, Ho! Wolf! You're hungry, aren't you? Until the master comes back, have a few mouthful of this camel's flesh. I'll make up a story to tell him, as an excuse, when he returns.'

"But the wolf had hardly begun to eat, when the jackal shouted, 'Look out, Kravyamukha! Here's the master coming back! Leave it alone! Get away from it!' The wolf immediately stopped eating.

When the lion arrived, he saw that the camel's heart had been removed. He frowned and said angrily, 'Who has contaminated my food? Tell me his name and I shall kill him on the spot!'

"The wolf started looking at the jackal, as much as to say, "Well, go on, say something to calm him down.'

"But the jackal only smiled and said to the wolf, 'you ate the heart when I told you not to. Now enjoy the fruit of what you have done.'

"When the wolf heard this, he was afraid for his life and took to his heels.

"At this point, a caravan, heavily loaded, was coming along the same path. The leading camel had a large bell round his neck. When the lion heard the jingling sound in the distance, he said to the jackal, 'Go and see where this terrifying noise is coming from. I've never heard it before.'

"The jackal went a little way off, then returned and said, 'Master! Leave this place as quickly as you can, if you want to stay alive!'

-Friend,' said the lion, 'why are you frightening me? Tell me, what is it?'

-'Master,' said the jackal, 'Yama is very angry with you, because you have killed a camel before the hour appointed for his death. He has come personally and has brought with him the father and grandfather of the dead camel, to have revenge on you, and the noise you hear, comes from the bell that he has tied round the leading camel's neck.'

"When the lion saw the caravan approaching, he left off eating the camel and ran for his life.

"After that, the jackal had the camel's flesh all to himself and it lasted him many, many days.
'A cunning man,
Even at the cost of tormenting others,
Artfully looks after his own interests
And keeps his plans a secret,
As Chaturaka the jackal did
In the jungle,' "

The Saintly Tiger

Once upon a time there lived a very old tiger in a jungle. When he lost the strength and speed of his youth, he thought, "Now I can't hunt any more. I must find out some trick to save myself from starvation."

After thinking for a long time, the tiger hit upon a plan. He proclaimed, "Now I am very old. Therefore, I will spend the rest of my life piously. I will live on fruits and grass and chant the name of God all the time. Birds and animals of the jungle need not fear me any more."

Some innocent animals believed every word of the tiger. "What a great saint!" they said. "We must go and pay our respects to him." So every day a few animals went to meet him in his cave. The tiger jumped upon the innocent animals and ate them. Thus he managed to keep off starvation.

A fox came to know about the saintly tiger. He said to himself; "I can't believe it. How can a tiger ever live on fruits and grass? I must go and find out the truth myself."

So one day the fox went to the tiger's cave. He stopped at the entrance of the cave. Very carefully and minutely he examined the footprints of the animals who had visited the cave earlier. He noticed that all the footprints points towards the cave. There was no sign of footprints going out of the cave. So he said, "I don't want to die to keep this false saint alive," and went away.

NEVER TAKE A SATAN'S WORDS FOR GRANTED

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Saintly TigerOnce a bear, a wolf and fox went hunting under the leadership of a lion. Very soon they caught and killed a buffalo. The fox cut the buffalo into four parts. The animals were eagerly waiting to eat their shares.

Just then the lion roared, "Keep away from the kill and listen to me. I claim one part of the kill because I was your partner in hunting. I claim a second part because I was your leader. I claim a third part because I want it for my cubs. If anyone wants the fourth part, come on, fight me and have it."

The bear, the wolf and the fox let the lion have all the four parts of the kill and walked away quietly.

MIGHT IS RIGHT

The Story Of The Merchant Dantila
"Somewhere in the world, is a city called Vardhamana. A very prosperous merchant, by the name Dantila, lived there. He exercised authority over the whole city. During his administration, he kept both the common people and the king very happy. What more can be said? A man as wise as that has hardly been heard of or seen, for:

'The man who seeks the good of the king,
Is hated by the common people
And the man, who seeks the welfare of the people,
Is hated by the king.'

"In such conflicting circumstances, it is almost impossible to find such a man, loved by the king as well as the people."


"In the course of time, the marriage of Dantila's daughter took place. Dantila invited the entire public and the king's officers. He entertained them sumptuously, gave them presents of clothing and in this way, he honored them. After the wedding, the king himself with queen and the entire court were invited along to Dantila's house and he showed them great respect.

"A servant by the name of Gorambha, who used to sweep the floors of the king's palace, came there too, but uninvited. He sat down on a seat meant for someone else. Dantila caught him by the neck and threw him out.

"The servant felt insulted and could not sleep all night for thinking. 'How can I get Dantila into disfavor with the king and so get even with him. But then, what chance have I, an ordinary fellow, of harming such a powerful person as he is.'

"Several days later, early in the morning, when the king was not yet wide awake, Gorambha was sweeping the floor near his bed and said, 'Good heavens! Dantila has become so brazen nowadays that he actually dares to embrace the queen!'

"When the king heard this, he jumped up and shouted, 'Gorambha! Is that true? Has Dantila really embraced the queen?'

-'Master,' replied Gorambha, 'I was gambling all night and didn't sleep at all. This morning I feel drowsy. I really don't know what I've been saying.'

"Jealous, the king thought to himself, Yes, The servant Gorambha is allowed to go about freely in the palace. He has seen Dantila embracing my queen, for:
"What a man ponders over, sees or performs
During the day,
He will mutter in his dreams."

-'And there is no doubt about it when a woman is involved. She smiles at one man, with half-opened lips, throws a little remark at another, at the same time flirting with the third, her eyes half-closed, whilst in her heart she dreams of yet another man, the one she loves. Who can depend on the love of such a woman, with eyebrows like the bows of an archer? The man, who thinks that a woman loves him, is a fool. He falls into her trap-she'll treat him like a toy.'

"The king's thoughts were so troubled that, from that day onward, he withdrew his favors from Dantila and, what is more, he forbade him even to enter the palace. Dantila was astounded to see this sudden change in the king's attitude and said to himself, 'It's true what they say:
"Has anyone head of
A crow that is clean,
A gambler who is honest,
A snake that forgives,
A passionate woman who is calm,
A drunkard man who is brave,
A drunkard with discrimination,
Or the friendship of a king."

-'Even in my dreams, I have done no harm to anyone not to the king himself, nor to anyone in his family.

Why then is the king so hostile towards me?'
"Some time passed.
"One day, when Dantila wanted to pass through the gateway to the palace, he was stopped by the guards. Gorambha, who was sweeping the floor, saw this and he said with a smirk, 'Ho! Guards! That fellow is the king's favorite. He can arrest or release people, just as he pleases. He threw me out. Be careful, you may suffer the same fate.'

"When Dantila heard this, he thought to himself, 'It is surely Gorambha who has caused the trouble. Now I understand why they say:
"The king's servant,
Though he be of low caste, foolish or mean,
Is respected wherever he goes." '

"Dantila felt upset and returned home in a very dejected mood. He thought it over and that evening, he invited Gorambha to his house, gave him a pair of garments and said kindly, 'My dear friend, it was not because I was angry that I threw you out that day but because it was an impropriety for you to take the seat you took-it was reserved for a Brahmin. The Brahmin felt insulted, that's why I had to throw you out. Forgive me.'

"When Gorambha saw the clothes, he was very pleased. Full of joy, he said to Dantila, 'Sir, now I forgive you. You have expressed you regrets and also honored me. Once again you shall see the favor of the king and in this way I shall prove to you my cleverness.' With these words Gorambha went home happily.

"Next morning, he went to the palace and started sweeping the floor. When he had made sure that the king was lying half-awake, he said, 'The king is really indiscreet, he eats cucumber in the lavatory!'

"The king was taken aback to hear his and he shouted, 'You, Gorambha! What's that nonsense you're talking! It's only because you're my servant that I don't kill you. Have you ever seen me doing such a thing?'

-'Master,' said Gorambha, 'I was gambling last night and didn't sleep at all. This morning I feel drowsy. I really don't know what I've been saying. But if I've said anything out of place, please forgive me.'

"When the king heard this, he thought to himself. 'Never in my life have I eaten cucumber in the lavatory. It this fool has said something ridiculous about me, surely what he said about Dantila was ridiculous too. It was wrong of me to have insulted Dantila. Besides, without him, the whole administrative system, at the palace and in the city, has become slack.'

"When he had considered this carefully, the kind invited Dantila to the palace, presented him with jewels and clothing and reappointed him to his former position. -"And so," continued Damanaka, "that's why I said:
'A man who, out of pride,
Does not properly handle the high, the middle and the low,
Shall be ruined, as Dantila was ruined,
Even though he was the favorite of the king.' "

-"Brother," said Sanjivaka, "you're right, I'll do exactly as you say."

Then Damanaka brought Sanjivaka to Pingalaka and said, "Master, I have brought Sanjivaka to you. Now I leave everything in your hands."

Sanjivaka bowed before Pingala and stood before him respecfully. Pingalaka greeted him with similar respect and asked, "My friend, how is the world with you? How do you come to be in this wild jungle?" And Sanjivaka told him all that had happened to him.

When Pingalaka had finished listening to Sanjovaka's story, he said kindly, "My dear Sanjivaka, don't be afraid. Move about as freely as you please in this jungle, which my claws and arms protech. however, you must always stay near me, for this jungle is inhabited by wild beasts, dangerous even to very powerful animals, to say nothing of grass-eaters."

With this, Pingalaka went to the bank of the river Yamuna to drink water to his heart's content. And then he returned to the jungle. He entrusted the administration of the kingdom to Karataka and Damanaka and began to listen to Sanjivaka's moral tales-this is how he spent his time.

Sanjivaka had made a thorough study of the shastras*, and, in a few days, he considerably enlightened the dull Pingalaka and made him forget his wild mannerisms.

Every day they had discussions together in secret. All the other animals stayed at a distance, even Damanaka and Karatake were forbidden to approach them.

As the lion would no longer go hunting, all the animals including Damanaka and Karataka began to starve. They say:
"As birds forsake an old withered tree,
No longer bearing fruit and fly elsewhere,
So servants forsake a king,
From whom they no long benefit."

When Karataka and Damanaka had given up all hope of a change in the king's attitude, they held a discussion together.

-"Brother Karataka," said Damanaka, "again we're in a spot. Ever since Pingalaka has been taken up by this talk of Sanjivaka's, he has neglected all his reponsiblities. His entire court has deserted him. Now what are we going to do?"

-"Even if the master does not listen to you," said Karataka, "it is still your duty to set his faults rights. It's a minister's duty to advise a king, whether the king accepts his advice or not. If a proud king or an agitated elephant follows the wrong path, it's the fault of the minister and the mahout. You brought the grass-eating Sanjivaka to the master. You yourself have raked the burning coals."

-"That's very true," said Damanaka. "It is my fault, not the master's. They say:
'The jackal between the fighting rams
And the Sanyasi* who trusted Ashadhbuti*,
Were themselves to blame.' "

-"How was that" asked Karataka.
And Damanaka told:
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The Story Of The Tittibha Birds And The Sea
"Somewhere in the world, on a seashore, there lived a pair of Tittibha birds, husband and wife. In the course of time, the female was expecting a family. As the time to lay her eggs was near, she said to her husband, 'My dear, it's almost time for me to lay my eggs. Look for some good safe place, where I can lay them.'
-'Dearest, said the male Tittibha, 'this coast is very nice, you can lay the eggs here.'
-'But,' said she, 'on nights when the moon is full, the Sea here sends its waves so high that they can drag off even a wild elephant. No, find some better place, away from here.'

"When the male Tittibha heard this, he laughed and said, 'What a thing to say! The Sea wouldn't dare harm my children. Lay your eggs here and stop worrying!"

"Now, the Sea heard this and thought to himself, 'What king of impudence is this, from a bird, the size of a worm! For fun, I'll take away his eggs and see what he does.'

"In the course of time, the female laid eggs. One day shortly afterwards, when the two birds had flown off in search of food, the waves of the sea came higher and higher and swallowed up the eggs.

"When the birds returned, the female went to her nest and found it empty. She wept bitterly and said to her husband, 'You fool! The waves of the sea have swallowed my eggs. I asked you to find somewhere else for me to lay them, but you, stupid thing that you are, wouldn't listen to me! They say:
"Those who refuse to follow
The advice of friends, who wish them well,
Come to grief,
Like the foolish turtle who fell off the stick.' "
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The Story Of He Turtle Who Fell Off The Stick
In a certain lake, there lived a turtle, by the name of Kambugriva. Two swans, whose names were Sankata and Vikata, were her friends. Every day, the three of them would go to the bank of the lake and tell each other stories about holy saints and hermits, and then go home at sunset.

" 'After a few years, that part of the country had no rain and, bit by bit, the lake began to dry up.
" 'The two swans were worried about it and said to the turtle, "This lake is becoming nothing but mud. We are worried as to how we will be able to survive here, without water."

-"My friends," replied the turtle, "it's quite true that it's impossible to stay here. But we will find some way out, for:
'Even in bad times,
A man should not lose hope,
For by making an effort,
He can certainly find a solution.'

-"So," continued the turtle, "first look for a lake full of water. Then find a strong stick or a rope from somewhere. I shall hold on tight with my mouth to the middle of the stick and you can hold the ends and carry me like this, to the lake."
-"Friend," replied the swans, "we'll do what you suggest, but while we're flying, you mustn't open your mouth to speak, or you will fall off the stick!"

" 'They carried out this plan. When they had flown some distance, the turtle saw below, a town. The town people looked up and saw something being carried in the sky. They said to each other, full of admiration, 'Look at that! Those birds are carrying a round thing!"
" 'When the turtle heard the commotion, she opened her mouth to ask, "What's all that noise about!" But of course the minute she opened her mouth to speak, she fell down to the earth. And the people hacked her to pieces and ate her.

"Those who refuse to follow
The advice of friends, who wish them well,
Come to grief,
Like the foolish turtle, who fell off the stick."
And,
"He who puts his mind to a problem
Before it presents itself,
And he who puts his mind to it
When it actually arrives,
Both these categories escape,
But those who depend on luck,
Will be destroyed,
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The Story Of The Jackal And The Sanyasi
"Once upon a time, in a lonely matha, there lived a Sanyasi called Dev Sharma. Many people used to visit him and present him with finely woven garments, which he sold and got very rich on the proceeds. As a result of being so rich, he trusted nobody. Night and day he kept the treasure purse under his armpit and would not part with it even for a second. As they say:
'Getting money is an arduous toil
And guarding it is even more of a trial.
Coming and going money causes trouble,
Damn this unending source of worry!'

"A swindler by the name of Ashadhbuti, who robbed other men of their money, noticed that the Sanjyasi kept the treasure purse under his armpit. He said to himself, 'How could I rob this man of his money! It's difficult to make a hole through the walls of the matha or to get in over the high gates, so what I'll do is charm him with honeyed words so that he accepts me, some day he'll fall into my clutches. As they say: "A man who has no desires,
"A man who has no desires,
Doesn't deprive others of their rights." And,
"A man with no passion
Doesn't adorn himself,
The fool does not speak subtly,
And the man, who speaks out his mind,
Is never a chat."

"When he had resolutely made up his mind, to carry out this plan, Ashadhbhuti approached Dev Sharma, stood before him with reverence and said, 'Om Namaha Shivaya!' With these words, he threw himself humbly on the ground before Dev Sharma and said, 'Oh, Bhagawan, this life is futile! Youth gushes by, like a mountain stream. Life is like a fire in the grass, all its pleasures are as transient as the clouds in autumn, and one's relationship with friends, sons, wives and servants is no more than I may cross the ocean of life.'

"When Dev Sharma heard that you have come to give up the world in your youth. You ask for direction to cross this thinking:
"The good man's mind
Has the peace of old age
Whilst his body is still young,
But the wicked man's body
Is feeble with age
Whilst his mind remains young." '

"When Ashadhbhuti heard this, he fell on the ground before Dev Sharma, touched his feet, and said, 'Oh Bhagawan, initiate me in the secrets!'

-'My child!' answered Dev Sharma, 'I will, but on one condition, that you will never enter the matha at night, because Sanyasis are recommended to stay alone at night without company, and we will keep to it, you and I. For they say:
"A king is ruined through bad advisers,
A Sanyasi through company,
A son through over-indulgence,
A Brahmin through lack of studying the shastras,
A business or a farm through neglect,
And a family and character through contact with bad people."

-'And so,' continued Dev Sharma, 'after taking the vow of initiation, you will have to sleep in a thatched hut at the gate of the matha.'

-'I shall willingly carry out your wishes,' said Ashadhbhuti.
"At bedtime, Dev Sharma initiated Ashadhbhuti according to the rituals and made him his disciple. Ashadhbhuti massaged his hands and feet, waited upon him and made him happy but nonetheless Dev Sharma did not part with his moneybag even for a second.

"After some time, Ashadhbhtuti began to think, 'He does not trust me at all! Shall I knife him in broad daylight, poison him or kill him like a wild animal?

"While he was thinking this over, the son of one of Dev Sharma's disciples, from a nearby village, came to give him a personal invitation and said 'Bhagawan! Today the ceremony of the sacred thread takes place in our house. Please come and sanctify it with your presence.'

"Dev Sharma gladly accepted the invitation and Ashadhbhuti accompanied him. On the way, they came to a river. When Dev Sharma saw the river, he folded his money bag in his robe and said, 'Ashadhbhuti, look after this robe with the vigilance of a Yogi until I return.' And he went into the bushes. The minute Dev Sharma's back was turned, Ashadhbhuti vanished with the money bag.

"Meanwhile, as Dev Sharma was answering the call of nature, he saw in the distance, two golden rams, fighting each other. They rammed into each other until the blood oozed, out, but still they refused to stop fighting.

"Meanwhile, a blood-thirsty jackal arrived on the scene and began to lick the blood from the ground. Dev Sharma thought to himself, 'If he comes in between the two fighting rams, he's sure to get himself killed.'

"Sure enough, craving for the blood, the jackal got caught up in the fight. He was hit on the head, fell down and died.

"Dev Sharma finished what he was doing and slowly returned, thinking about this incident and also about his money. When he got back, he failed to find Ashadhbhuti but saw only his robe, lying on the ground. He peered anxiously inside it but could not find his purse. He began to cry out, 'Alas! I have been robbed!' And he fell to the ground, in a swoon.

"After a minute or so, he returned to his senses. He got up and began to shout 'Ashadhbhuti, where are you, you swindler! Answer me!' After he had shouted like this in a loud voice, he slowly trailed Ashadhbhuti's footsteps until, just before evening, he came to a village. He stayed there a short time and then returned to his matha.
-"And so," continued Damanaka, "that's why I said:
'The jackal between the fighting rams
And the Sanyasi who trusted Ashadhbuti,
Were themselves to blame.' "
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The Story Of The Monkey And A Bird Called Suchimukha
"A troupe of monkeys was living somewhere in the mountains. It was winter. The rain, accompanied by a strong wind, drenched their bodies, and they shivered with cold.

'"Some of the monkeys found some red Gunja fruits and began to blow them, hoping to make fire from them.

"A bird, by the name of Suchimukha, saw their vain attempts and said to them, "What big fools you are! Those aren't embers of fire, they're only Gunja fruits. You are wasting you time. These fruits can never protect you against the cold. Find some place to shelter in a jungle or a cave or a burrow, where the rain and the wind can't reach you."

-"Food yourself!" said one of the old monkeys. 'What is it to do with you! For they say:
"A wise man, who wants to succeed,
Should never give advice
To a man who has been repeatedly obstructed in his work
Or to a gambler, who has just lost his money."

"But, disregarding what the old monkey had said, the bird persisted in asking why the monkeys were making such an effort and all to no purpose and he refused to stop his chatter. One monkey, who had become frustrated by his vain efforts, caught hold of the bird by the wings and smashed him against a stone, killing him.
-"And so," continued Karataka, "that's why I said:
'Advice given to fools,
Instead of calming them,
Only makes them more excited.

-"And, another thing, you should not give advice to just anyone. A furious monkey destroyed a sparrow's nest for the same reason!"

-"How was that?" asked Damanka.
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The Story Of The Sparrow And The Monkey
"Somewhere in the jungle, there grew a Shami tree. On its long branches, a pair of sparrows had made their home.

"One day, in winter, whilst the pair was sitting happily together, a light rain began to fall.

"After some time, a monkey, battered by the strong winds, came and stood under the tree, his teeth chattering with cold.

-"When the female sparrow saw him in this state, she said to the monkey, "With your hands and feet, you look like a human being. So why don't you make a home for yourself?'

"The monkey got angry and shouted, 'Why don't you shut your mouth, you slut!' And then he said to himself. 'What a cheek this female bird has, giving me advice! This insolent harlot thinks, she is an educated woman and won't stop yapping. She makes me want to kill her!"

Then the monkey said, 'Why should you worry, for they say:
"You should only give advice
To someone who specifically asks for it,
Otherwise, it's like crying in the wilderness."

"Without much ado, the monkey climbed up the tree and tore up the nest in a thousand pieces.

-"And so," continued Karataka, 'you shouldn't give advice to just anyone. And in the same way," he went on, "my good advice had no effect on you, but it's not your fault, for:
'Only the good and not the bad,
Instead of calming them,
Derive benefit from good advice.
Just as a bright light put into a dark, upturned pot
Becomes useless,
So advice given to an undeserving person,
Will be fruitless and ineffectual.'.
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The Story Of Dharmabuddhi And Papauddhi
"In a village, there lived two friends, whose names were Dharmabuddhi and Papabuddhi. One day, Papabuddhi though to himself, 'I am not only poor but also not so bright to himself, so I shall get Dharmabuddhi's help, go with him to another kingdom and make some fortune, and live happily ever after."

"And so, after a few days, Papabuddhi said to Dharmabuddhi, 'My friend! How are you planning to provide for your old age? Let's go to a foreign country and make money there! Besides, unless you travel abroad, what stories will you tell your grandsons? For:

"A man who has not wandered in different lands
And has not learned foreign languages,
Nor studied various cultures,
And made himself a fortune,
Is born in vain on this earth." '

Dharmabuddhi readily agreed to accompany Papabuddhi and carry out his plan. He took leave of his parents and, on an auspicious day, set out with Papabuddhi on their travels.

"Through Dharmabuddhi's cleverness, the two of them made a lot of money and after some time, returned home, extremely pleased with themselves.

"As they were approaching their own village, Papabuddhi said to Dharmabuddhi, 'Friend! It's not a good idea to carry this money home, because then our friends and relatives will want a share of it. So let us take home only a nominal amount and bury the rest in the jungle. When the necessity arises, we can come back and dig it out, for they say:
"A clever man does not show off his wealth to anyone,
For even the mind of a sage
May be shaken by the sight of money."
-Very well then,' replied Dharmabuddhi, 'we will.'

"And so after burying most of the money, they returned home with the remainder and lived happily.

"Some time after, at dead of night, Papabuddhi went to the jungle, uncovered all the money that was buried there, took it out, and closed the pit as it had been before,. Then he returned home with the money.

"After a few day, Papabuddhi went to Dharmabuddhi and said, 'Friend! I have a large family and as a result my money is all gone. Let's go and fetch some more from the place where we buried it.'
-'All right then,' replied Dharmabuddhi, 'we will.'

"When the two arrived at the place, they dug up the pit and found the money pot empty. Papabuddhi began to beat his head, crying out, 'Oh Dharmabuddhi! Only you and nobody else could have stolen the money and filled in the pit! Give me back my half or I shall make a complain against you in the court of law.'

-"You scoundrel!' said Dharmabuddhi! I could never commit such a theft! For they say:
"A righteous man looks upon other men's women
As his own mother,
And other men's wealth
As crow droppings
And other human beings
As his own self."

"And so, fighting like this, they went to the judges and accused each other. The judges ordered them to submit themselves to trial by fire to find out the truth.
"But Papabuddhi said to them, 'This decision is not good," for they say:
"In the investigation of disputes,
Only in the absence of written evidence and witnesses,
Do the wise recommend ordeal by fire."

-'Now, the goddesses in the trees of the jungle near by will be my witnesses. They will be able to reveal to us which one is a thief and which one is an honest man.'

-'You are right,' said the judges. 'We are very anxious to know the truth about this. So, tomorrow morning you must both accompany us to the jungle.'

"After that, Papabuddhi went home and said to his father, 'I have stolen a huge amount of money belonging to Dharmabuddhi and we have taken the matter to the court. Now only your co-operation will save me. Otherwise I shall lose not only the money but also my life.'

-'My son!' said the father. 'Tell me quickly what I can do to save you and make the money secure.'

-'Well,' said Papabuddhi, "In the jungle, there is a Shami tree, which is hollow inside. You get into the hollow now so that, tomorrow morning, when we come with the judges, to find out the truth, you can shout from inside the tree, "Dharmabuddhi is the thief."

"His father agreed to this arrangement and left immediately.

"Next morning, Papabuddhi took an early bath and accompanied by Dharmabuddhi and the judges, went to the Shami tree and asked in a loud voice, 'Oh goddess in the tree! Tell us which one is the thief.'
"Immediately Papabuddhi's father, hidden inside the hollow of the tree, replied, 'Listen! It's Dharmabuddhi who stole the money,'

"When the judges heard this, they were wonderstruck. They opened their eyes wide and immediately started discussing how to punish Dharmabuddhi according to the law.

"But, meanwhile, Dharmabuddhi put a heap of dried leaves and grass in front of the hollow of the tree and set fire to it. When the fire was blazing, out came Papabuddhi's father, crying pitifully, with half his body burnt and his eyes popping out.
-'Friend,' they all said to him, 'What has happened to you?'

-'It's all Papabuddhi's fault!' he replied and he told them all what Papabuddhi had done.
Then they hanged Papabuddhi on the same Shami tree.
The judges praised Dharmabuddhi and said, 'It's very true what they say:
"A wise man thinks not only of a solution to his problems,
But also of its consequences.


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The story of the bug and the flea
"In a certain country lived a king who had a very beautifully decorated bedroom. An exquisite white silk sheet covered the bed and in the folds of the sheet, there lived a white flea, by the name of Mandavisarpini. She used to drink the blood of the king and, in this way, spent her time very happily.

"One day, a bug by the name of Agnimukha crept into the bedroom. When the flea caught sight of him, she cried, 'Agnimkha! What are you doing here? Get out at once!'

"Madam,' replied the bug, 'that's not the way to speak to a guest, even if he is a good-for-nothing. A lady householder should hold out her hand even to someone of low caste. She should say, "Welcome! Please take a seat here and make yourself comfortable. You have visited me after many days. Tell me, what is the latest news? You are looking rather thin. Are you well? I am delighted to see you again!"
-And besides, continued the bug, 'I have drunk all types of blood but so far I have never had the pleasure of tasting the blood of a king. I think it must be very sweet, for he has been eating the choicest food. Now, if you will permit me, I would love to taste the king's blood. I have come to your house faint with hunger. Mandavisarpini, it is unworthy of you to enjoy the king's blood all to yourself! Let me too have a share of it.'

-'But, Agnimukha,' said to the flea, 'I only suck the king's blood when he has gone fast asleep but you are nasty and bite like a sharp needle. However, if you promise to let the king go to sleep before you start biting him, then I will let you drink his blood.'

"Oh, I do promise!" replied the bug. "I will even swear to wait until you have sucked his blood before I suck it myself!"

"When they were talking, the king came and lay down on the bed. The bug's mouth began to water and he took a bite of the king, without waiting for him to fall asleep. They say:

"You cannot change a person's temperament by preaching,"
"Even boiled water will finally get cold."

"The bug's bite was like a sharp needle. The king jumped up and cried out to his servants, 'Hey! Something's bitten me! See if there is a bug or a flea in my bed!"

"When the bug heard this, he hid himself in a corner of the bed. When the servants came and searched with sharp eyes, they found a flea lying between the folds of the sheets, and killed her.

-"And so," continued Damanaka, "that's why I said:
'Refrain from entertaining a man
Whose character is unknown.
The bug was at fault
But instead they killed the flea.
"How was that?" asked Pingalaka.



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The story of the foolish heron, the black snake and the mongoose
" 'In a jungle, there was a banyan tree. A number of herons had built their nests in it.

"Now, in the hollow of the tree lived a black snake. He used to eat up the heron's young, before their wings had sprouted.

" 'One heron, whose children had been eaten by the snake, came to the bank of the river Saraswati with tears in his eyes.
" A crab saw him and asked, "Uncle! Why are you crying?"

- "What can I do?" said the heron. "I am so unlucky that all my children have been eaten up by the black snake, who lives in the hollow of the tree. I want to kill the black snake."

" 'Now, when the crab heard this, he thought to himself, "This heron is a natural enemy of our species. What I'll do is tell him truth and lies in such a way that all the other herons will be completely destroyed. As they say:

'Let your speech be soft as butter
But your heart as hard as stone,
Advise your enemy in such a way
That he is wiped out, long with his race."

" 'And so, the crab said to the heron, "Uncle! If this is the case, then scatter some bits of fish and mutton so that the mongoose will follow the food, reach the snake's hole and kill him."

" 'The heron listened to the crab's advice and did as he had told him to. As the crab had anticipated, the mongoose followed the trail of fish and mutton, reached the snake's hole and killed him. But unfortunately, in due course, the mongoose also killed off all the herons living on the top of the tree as well.

"A wise man thinks not only of a solution to his problems, but also of its consequences."



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THE STORY OF MOTHER SHANDILI
"Once, during the monsoon season, I requested a Brahmin to allow me to stay with him, so that I could fast and pray undisturbed. He agreed, and I went to his home.

"One day, I was listening attentively to the conversation the Brahmin was having with his wife "Brahmini" he said to her, "tomorrow is a special festival, it's Sanskranti, a very favorable time for collecting alms. So I shall go to one of the villages to beg. And you too should give something to a Brahmin.'

" 'The Brahmini got excited when she heard him say this. "How can we afford to give something to a Brahmin when we are so poor ourselves!" she exclaimed. "And another thing, ever since I married you, I have had no luck whatsoever. I have never had any good food to eat or any good clothes to wear and you've never bought me a single ornament!"
" 'When the Brahmin heard this, his spirits were very dampened and he said, "Oh, Brahmini, when you have only a mouthful, you should give half of it to someone in need. They say:

'An insignificant person who gives,
Is respected by all,
But not so a rich man, who is miserly.
Sweet water from a small well quenches the thirst,
But not the salty water of the great ocean.' "

" Well," said the Brahmin's wife, "I have got seasame seeds. I'll take the husks off them and make them into a tasty dish for some Brahmin."

" 'And so, early next morning, when the Brahmin had left for the next village, his wife cleaned the sasame seeds in hot water, removed the husks and put them in the sun to dry. Then she got busy with her household work.

" 'Meanwhile, a dog came along and cocked his leg up over the sesame seeds and went away. When the Brahmini saw what had happened, she said, "Fate has turned against me! What a trick to play! Well, I'll take the seeds to some other house and exchange them for some unhusked seeds, anyone will agree to such an exchange."

'And so,' continued the Sanyasi, 'mother Shandili went off to exchange them. Now, she happened to go to the very house that I was visiting that morning to collect alms. She said to the lady of the house, "Would you like to change these husked seasame seeds for unhusked ones?"

" 'The lady of the house was just about to make the exchange when her son stopped her, quoting from the Kamandaki nitishastra. "Mother!" he went on. "There must be some reason for mother Shandili to be trying to exchange these husked sesame seeds. Don't agree to it!"

" 'When mother Shandili saw that she had failed, she quietly left the house and returned home.

"And so," continued the Sanyasi, "that's why I said, that for every action there is always an explanation.



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CONFLICT AMONGST FRIENDS
This is the beginning of the first tantra called, "Conflict amongst friends".

"A great friendship had developed in the jungle,
Between the lion and the bullock,
But it was destroyed
By a very wicked and avaricious jackal."

This is how the story goes:
In the south of India there was a city called Mahilaropyam. The son of a very rich merchant lived there. His name was Vardhamanaka. One night, as he lay awake in bed, his thoughts were troubled. This was what he was turning over in his mind. "Even when a man has plenty of money, it is still a good thing for him to try to make more. As they say:
'There is nothing in life that money cannot achieve,
And so a wise man should be bent on increasing his wealth.
If a man has money, he has friends,
When he has money,
He is recognized by his relatives.
In this world a stranger becomes kinsman to a moneyed man,
Whilst a poor man is avoided even by his family.
A man with money will even be considered a scholar.
Money makes the old young,
But the young grow old for want of it."

Vardhamanaka came to a decision. On an auspicious day, he took leave of his elders and made preparations to travel to Mathura with his wares. He had two bullocks called Sanjivaka and Nandaka, both born in his house and able to carry heavy loads. He harnessed them to a cart and set out, accompanied by a few servants.

After a few day, as they reached the bank of the river Yamuna, one of the bullocks, the one called Sanjivaka, broke his leg and collapsed. Vardhamanaka was most distressed to see his bullock in this condition and for love of Sanjivaka, he called a halt at the place for three nights.

When the cart drivers saw Vardhamanaka so dejected they said to him, "Most noble Sir, why loiter in a jungle full of lion and tigers for the sake of one ox, when it may mean sacrificing everything. For they say:
'A wise man should never sacrifice big interests
For smaller ones.'"

When he heard them say this, Vardhamnaka left a couple of men to look after the injured bullock and set off on the remainder of the journey.

The following day, these men caught up with him. They had thought that they may come to some harm in the jungle and so they lied to Vardhamnaka, "Sir, Sanjivaka is dead. We burnt him in fire." When he heard this, Vardhamnaka performed the last rites, out of gratitude to his devoted servant.

But Sanjivaka was destined to live longer. He ate tender plants from the bed of the river Yamuna, thereby regained a little of his strength and somehow managed to get up. The cool breezes greatly refreshed him. He ate grass that was green and shining and within a few days he became fat and strong. It's true what they say:

"He whom fortune smiles on,
Though unprotected, eludes destruction,
But he who has luck against him, is done for,
Even though he be well protected.
A man left defenseless in a jungle survives,
But even after a great struggle to live,




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CROWS AND OWLS
This is the beginning of the third tantra, called "Crows and owls" and here is the first verse:
"Never trust a man who has always been your enemy and suddenly turns friendly towards you. This was the mistake the owls made and the crows burnt them all alive in their cave." This is how the story goes:
In the south of India, there was a city called Mahilaropyam. Not far from the city stood a huge banyan tree, with innumerable branches and leaves.
On this tree, lived Meghavarana, king of the crows, and with him, his vast retinue.
Some way off, in a cave, lived Arimaradana, king of the owls, and his court.
Now, the king of the owls regarded the crows as deadly enemies. Every night, the owls would fly round the vicinity of the banyan tree and kill any crow they could catch hold of. As a result, the crow's numbers began to dwindle rapidly. As they say:
"Suppress your enemy and diseases at the very beginning, or they will become strong and destroy you."
One day, Meghavarana, the crow king, called a council of his ministers and addressed them with these words, "Gentlemen, our enemy is dangerous and untiring. As he knows how to take advantage of a situation, that's why he always attacks at night. He succeeds in killing us in great numbers for, how can we possibly fight him off in the dark, when we are unable to see. On the other hand, during the daytime, we can't possibly attack him, because we don't know where the owl's stronghold is. So now, we must choose between the six Diplomatic Methods:
'Peace, war, retreat, entrenchment,
Seeking the help of allies or intrigue.'
"Which one do we prefer? Think it over and let me know."
"Your Majesty," they replied, "it's a good thing you have asked us to express our opinions, for:
'Only when a minister is specifically asked for his opinion,
Should he say what he honestly thinks and then it should make no difference whether his opinion is palatable or not. For, if a minister is nothing but a flatterer, then he is in reality not a minister but an enemy.'
"And so, Your Majesty," they went on, "we should all discuss this problem in secret and come to a decision."
Now, the crow king had five ministers: Ujjeevi, Sanjeevi, Anujjevi, Prajeevi and Chiranjeevi. First of all he turned to Ujjeevi and said him, "Ujjeevi, my friend, what would you suggest we do, as things stand?"
"Your Majesty," he replied, "Arimaradana, the owl king, is strong and attacks at the right time. And so we should not fight him, for, Brihaspati has said:
'Make peace with an enemy who is as strong as you are, for, in a battle between equals, the victory hangs in the balance, never fight unless you are sure of success.' " Ujjeevi advised the king to make peace.
Then the king turned to Sanjeevi and said to him "Sanjeevi, my friends, I should like to hear your opinion."
"Your Majesty," he replied, "Arimaradana, the owl king, is cruel and he has no ethics. Peace with someone like that cannot last long. I suggest that we do fight him. They say:
'If a weak man is full of fire, He can destroy an enemy who is stronger, Just as a lion kills an elephant and rules over his domain.' " Sanjeevi advised the king to go to war.
Then the king turned to Anujeevi and said to him, "Anujeevi, my friend, you too express your viewpoint."
"Your Majesty," he replied, "Arimaradana, the owl king, is stronger than we are, so we cannot fight him. He is also cruel and without ethics, so we cannot make peace with him, for such peace won't last long. So, I suggest that we retreat. As they say:
'A rat retreats to attack and a lion crouches to pounce on his prey.' " Anujeevi advised the king to retreat.
Then the king turned to Prajeevi and said to him, "Prajeevi, my friend, what do you think?"

"Your Majesty," he replied, "in my opinion, these three suggestions, peace, war and retreat, are useless. I think entrenchment is the right course of action. For they say:

'A crocodile in water can drag an elephant but outside, on land, he is harassed by a mere dog.'
And,
'A single archer, well entrenched, can withstand a hundred men of the enemy.'
But,
'He who, in the face of a strong enemy,
Instead of entrenching himself, deserts his post, shall never see it again.'
"And so, entrenchment is the right course of action." Prajeevi advised the king for entrenchment.
Then Meghavarana turned to Chiranjeevi and said to him, "Chiranjeevi, my friend, what do you think?"
"Your Majesty," he replied, "in my opinion, seeking the help of the allies is the only answer. For they say:
'Blazing fire, without the help of the wind, will go out.'
"So we should seek assistance, preferably from someone very strong, but even a group of lesser people would do."
Chiranjeevi advised the king to seek the help of allies. Finally, the crow king turned to Sthirajeevi, his father's old minister, and said to him, "I have asked all these ministers for their opinions in your presence, merely for the sake of putting them to the test. Now that you have heard them all, kindly tell me the right course for us to adopt."
"Your Majesty," he replied, "all these ministers have expressed their views in accordance with the nitishastra and the course of action they recommend, will indeed give good results, but under different circumstances. However, in the present case, we should use intrigue, for they say:
'Only intrigue is effectual when your enemy is powerful.'
'And, Just as guda first increases the mucous and afterwards suppresses it, so the wise first puff up the enemy and afterwards destroy them.'
"Now, what you must do, is find out your enemy's weak points and then take advantage of them at the opportune time."
"Through spies!" replied Sthirajeevi. "They say"
'Animals are guided by their sense of smell, Brahmins through the Vedas, King through spies and other men by their two eyes.' "




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