1.9. The Camel, The Jackal And The Crow
In a
far off forest, there lived a lion named Madotkata served by a leopard, a
jackal and a crow. One day they sighted Kradanaka, a camel who lost his way.
Thinking the camel they saw was an unusual animal, the lion asked his
assistants to find out if he was a wild animal or domestic animal.
The
crow said that the camel was a domestic animal fit to be killed and eaten.
Refusing to eat Kradanaka, the lion said:
“I
shall not kill someone who came seeking hospitality. According to our elders,
you cannot kill even an enemy who came trusting you. He who kills so commits
the sin of killing hundred Brahmins. Assure him of safety and bring him to me.”
The
three assistants brought the camel to the presence of the lion. On the lion
asking the camel to relate his story, Kradanaka told him how he was part of a
trade caravan and how he had lost his way. The lion told the camel, “Kradanaka,
why do you go back to your village and become once again a beast of burden?
Remain with us without any hesitation and feast on this tender grass.”
Thereafter, the camel stayed on to live happily with the lion and his three
assistants.
One
day, the lion was locked in a battle with an elephant. The tusker gored
Madotkata and badly injured him. Hebecame too weak to hunt. Without food he was
in no position to do anything. Then, the lion asked the assistants to go out
and look for some animal for his meal. "Bring the animal here. I will kill
him somehow and provide food for you all,” said the lion.
The
leopard, the jackal, and the camel looked everywhere for an animal but could
not find anyone. The jackal told the crow aside:
“Friend,
what is the use of wasting time like this? We have Kradanaka, our lord's loyal
friend. Let us kill him and survive.” “That is fine. Yet we cannot kill him
because our lord has assured him protection,” said the crow.”
“Leave
it to me. I shall convince Madotkata to kill the camel. Wait here. I will meet
the lord and get his permission,” said the jackal and left to meet the lion.
The
jackal told his lord, “Oh, lord, we went to every nook and corner of the
forest. We could not find a single animal. We are tired, weak and hungry. Since
my lord is also in the same condition, I humbly suggest that we make a meal of
this camel.”
Highly
annoyed, the lion said, “You sinner, if you repeat these words, I shall first
kill you. I have given him my word. How can I kill him? Haven't our elders said
that no gift of land or cow or food is greater than the gift of an assurance?”
“You
are right my lord. It is a sin to kill him who has your word. But if the camel
voluntarily offers himself as food it is no sin to accept the offer. If he does
not volunteer, you can kill anyone of us. You are hungry and close to your end.
If we are not of use to you at this time what value have our lives? If anything
undesirable happens to our lord, we will immolate ourselves.”
“This
seems to be more reasonable,” said the lion.
The
jackal told the other two assistants, “Friends, our lord is in a pitiable
condition. There is now no one to protect us from others. Instead of aimlessly
searching the forest for food, let us offer our bodies to him. That will
deliver us from the burden of debt. The servant who is witness to the helpless
death of his master will go to hell.”
After
the jackal's plea, all of them called on the lion with tears in their eyes.
“What's the matter? Did you find an animal?” asked the lion.
“No,
my lord. We searched every place, every inch of the forest. We are not lucky.
We found nothing. But I request the lord to have me for his meal. That will
mean two birds with one shot. The lord will survive and I will go to heaven. He
who lays down his life to save his lord will have no rebirth,” said the crow.
It
was now the turn of the jackal to show his loyalty. He said, “My friend, crow.
Your body is too small to slake the hunger of my lord. It amounts to starving
him and that is a sin. Get out of my way. I have to submit a plea to my lord.”
Addressing
the lion, the jackal said, “Lord, I request you to have me for your meal and
ensure me a place in heaven. The lord has rights of life and death over his
servants. Therefore, it is no sin in exercising his rights.”
The
leopard intervened and said, “You jackal, you are no great personality. Let me
plead with the lord.” Addressing Madotkata, the leopard said, “Oh lord, let me
give away my life to save your life. Please permit me to earn a permanent berth
in heaven. My sacrifice will win fame for me on earth.”
All
this set Kradanaka thinking, “All these servants of the lord have said what
they wanted to say. Still, the lion did not kill anyone of them. Let me also
offer to be the lord's food today. I am sure my friends will support me.' He
then turned to the leopard and said, “What you have said is right and proper.
But you are a carnivorous animal and belong to the same species as the master
does. How can he kill you? Let me offer myself.”
The
camel then came forward and requested the lion to have him for that day's meal.
At once, the jackal and the leopard pounced on him tore him to pieces and all
of them had a sumptuous feast.
As
the story ended Sanjeevaka told Damanaka, “Wicked people surround the king.
Good men should not serve such masters. I will need your advice to get out of
this problem.”
“The
best course is to leave the country,” said Damanaka.
“It
is not wise to leave when the king is still angry. He can reach me anywhere I
go. The only alternative I have is to go to war with the king.”
Damanaka
was afraid that if Sanjeevaka chose to fight Pingalaka the lion might die and
that would be a disaster. Let me persuade the bullock to leave the forest, he
thought.
“Going
to war is all right. But how can there be a war between a servant and a king?
If you underestimate the strength of your enemy you will meet the same fate as
the Sea met at the hands of the bird pair.”
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