Sanskrit:
मतिर्दोलायते सत्यं सतामपि खलोक्तिभिः।
Hindi:
सज्जन पुरुषों की भी बुद्धि दुष्टों की छलभरी बातो में आकर चंचल हो जाती है।
In a certain part of a forest there lived a lion, by name Madotkata.
He had three servants, a crow, a tiger and a jackal. Once, as they were roaming about, they saw a camel that had strayed from the herd and asked him where he had come from. He told his account. Then he was taken to the lion and presented.
Then lion gave him his word of safety, named him Chitrakarna and asked him to stay with him. Now on one occasion, owing to the lion’s indisposition and there being a heavy rain, they, not getting anything to eat, were in distress. Then they fell thinking—Let us manage things in such a way that our master will kill Chitrakarna. What have we to do with this thorn-eater?
The tiger said—Our master has favoured him by giving his word of surety. How can this be possible then?
The crow observed—Now that our master is grown lean he will commit even sin. A woman oppressed with hunger will abandon even her son; a female serpent distressed with hunger will eat even her egg; what sinful act is a hungry man not capable of? Men when reduced to poverty, become cruel. A drunkard, one exceedingly careless, one gone mad one fatigued, one who is in the power of anger, one who is hungry, one who is covetous, one who is timid, one engaged in a business brooking no delay, and a lover, mind not what is just. Having thus deliberated they went to the lion.
The lion asked—Have you got anything for food?
They said—We have found nothing, even after an effort.
The lion asked—What is the means of our sustenance now?
The crow replied—By your not availing yourself of the food at command we are all in the jaws of death.
What is the food at my command? asked the lion.
The crow whispered into his ear-Chitrakarna. The lion having touched the ground and then his ears, said—We have retained him here by pledging our word of safety. So how can this be possible?
As they speak of the gift of safety as the greatest of all gifts, so they do not talk of land, nor of gold, nor of cow, nor of food. If a supplicant be well protected, that fruit is obtained which is the reward of the performance of a horse-sacrifice which is rich in the gift of all desires.
The crow said—your lordship need not kill him. But we shall so contrive it that he will consent to offer his own body. The lion, on hearing this, remained silent. Getting an opportunity thereby, the crow fabricated a plot and taking them all with him went up to the lion.
The crow said—Lord, even after busy search we have found nothing to eat. While our lord is distressed by many fasts. So let him eat my flesh. All subjects have, indeed, the king for their root. If the trees have roots man’s effort will be successful.
The lion replied—Friend, better to part with life than to proceed to do a deed like this.
The jackal, too, said the same thing, to which the lion replied that it could not be done. Then the tiger said—Let the master live on my flesh.
The lion replied—This can never be proper.
Now Chitravarna too, having got confidence, made a similar offer of himself. Just as he was saying that, the tiger ripped his side and killed him, after which he was eaten by them all.
Then hearing the words of the third villain, the Brahmana, concluding that his own understanding was in error, threw down the goat, bathed and went home.
The king asked-Meghavarna, how could you live so long among the enemies, and how could you win their favour?
Meghavarna replied—Sire, what can one seeking to execute his master’s business or having his own interest at heart not do? Behold:—Do not people bear, O king, fuel on their heads for burning? The tide of river, although washing the root of tree, destroys it. Again it is said—Having to achieve an object, a wise man should even bear his enemies on his shoulder, just as the frogs were destroyed by an old serpent.
The king demanded how it was, and Meghavarna related this.
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