Panchatantra 0008 - The Flea, The Bedbug, and the Indigo Jackal

 There was once a great king. This king had a beautiful palace and, in that, a wonderfully decorated bedroom. In that bedroom was a magnificent cot. It had layers of mattresses, on which beautiful, soft bedsheets had been spread. In the gaps between the mattresses lived a flea. This flea would softly bite the king and suck his blood. The king never realised this, and the flea was also happy.

One day, a bedbug came there. It met the flea. The flea was shocked. “Where did this come from?“ The flea asked the bedbug to leave. The bedbug was very offended. “Is this a way to treat a guest? You need to welcome guests, not drive them away!“

The flea said, “I suck the king’s blood only when he is fast asleep. I bite him softly; he never realises. Your bite is sharp. If you promise to bite the king only when he is fast asleep, then only I will allow you to stay.“ The bedbug agreed.

While they were talking, the king climbed up on his bed. As soon as the king was on the bed, the bedbug, unable to control itself, bit the king. The king felt the sting. He shouted out. The bug immediately hid itself. The king’s servants started looking around. They found the flea between the sheets and mattresses and killed it.

Ending his story, the jackal said, “Do not mix around with anyone whose character is not known to you. You could meet the same fate as the jackal who fell in a vat of indigo.“

The king wanted to know about this.

The jackal began his tale.

In a jungle, there lived a jackal. He used to live on scraps that he would find and was always hungry. One day, he was near the city, looking for food when some dogs on the street spotted him. These dogs started barking and then began chasing the jackal. Not sure where to go, the jackal ran and incidentally entered the courtyard of a house. This house belonged to a person who used to dye clothes. The dogs arrived there also. Not seeing any place to hide, the jackal jumped into a drum. This was a drum of indigo dye. He stayed in the drum for some time, waiting for the dogs to leave. He waited. After some time, he felt safe to come out. The barking seemed to have stopped. He slowly crept out of the drum. Because of the dye, he was looking very different. The dogs who were lurking there saw the jackal. They could not recognise the indigo-coloured animal. The jackal, with the dye dripping from his body, looked strange. The dogs fled the site.

The jackal, having had enough of the city, returned to the jungle. The dye was etched on his fur and skin, and he looked very different. Seeing him, the animals in the jungle also got scared. “What was this indigo-coloured being?“ They decided to leave him alone. The jackal called them and said he had been sent from the heavens by Brahma himself to rule the jungle. The animals believed him, and the jackal became the king of the jungle.

All was going well. The animals would hunt; he would get his share of food. One day, this jackal heard a pack of jackals howling in the distance. Unable to control himself, he began howling too. The moment he did, the other animals realised this was just an ordinary jackal who had tricked them. That was the end of the jackal.

The jackal finished telling his tale to the lion and said, “That is why I say, do not trust strangers, especially those who are a totally different species.“

The lion asked the jackal, “I agree. But what proof do you have that the bullock wants to harm me?“ The jackal said, “He said so this morning. He has made up his mind to kill you. Tomorrow, see for yourself. His eyes will be red, his lips will be quivering. See him and then decide for yourself.“

Saying this, the jackal went to the bullock.

“How are you doing? I haven’t seen you for a long time,“ said the bullock when he spotted the jackal. “I am not well. I am the advisor of the lion, and I am also your friend. I hate what I am about to do. I know my master’s weaknesses. Just because I want to save your life, I will tell you this. The lion wants to kill you tomorrow. I have come to warn you. The lion feels a grass-eater and a meat-eater cannot be friends.“

The bullock was shocked. He said, “I was foolish to think that the lion was my friend. I feel someone is inciting the lion against me.“ The jackal said, “I am sure your sweet conversation will please him.“ The bullock said, “No, I don’t think that will be possible. The wicked are mean-minded and will cause your downfall, like what they did to the camel.“

“What was that?“ asked the jackal. The bullock began telling the story.

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Summary of Key Learnings

This section clearly summarises the main points and principles demonstrated by the stories:

The story warns against trusting too quickly or mixing with those whose behaviour one is not fully aware of. The flea allowed the bedbug to be there, though it knew that the bedbug had a sharp bite. The flea suffered because of the bedbug.

The story of the flea says that associating with those who lack self-control can lead to your downfall. The innocent suffer for the guilty: The bedbug hid successfully, while the flea was found and killed.

A false identity will eventually be exposed by natural instinct, like it happened to the indigo jackal. The moment the indigo jackal heard the other jackals, his natural instinct to howl in response was so strong that it immediately exposed him.

The jackal’s primary goal is to turn the lion and the bullock against each other by feeding them fabricated lies about the other’s intentions. He uses the tactic of false warning to appear helpful while serving his own agenda. The bullock’s shock and belief that the lion is against him show how easily a bond of trust can be broken by calculated lies.

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Panchatantra 0007 - The lion and the hare

 The story starts in a jungle. A jungle that was ruled by a merciless, powerful lion. All were scared of him. One day, the animals got together and asked him why he was randomly killing animals. They said that just one animal a day was enough for him. If he promised not to kill any more, the group would send one animal to him every day as his meal. The lion said he was fine with this, but if on any one day, an animal did not come to him, he would then kill all the animals. The animals promised him this would not happen. One animal would be sent to him, every day.

Animals started going to him, one a day. One day it was the turn of a hare. He was reluctant. Who would want to go and become a meal of a lion? Much against his will, he went to the lion, thinking how he could possibly trick the lion.

The hare had an idea. He roamed around and went to the lion when the sun was about to set. The lion, in his den, was getting furious. He thought: "The animals broke their promise. Tomorrow I will kill all the animals." At that moment, the hare arrived there.

The lion was furious. He growled: "First, you are small, and on top of that, you are late. I will kill you now and tomorrow I will kill the other animals." The hare said: "But it is not my fault, nor is it the fault of those animals. Listen, I will tell you the reason for the delay." The lion said: "I am hungry. Hurry up, tell me fast. I am losing my patience."

The hare said: "Sir, I am a small animal. The other animals knew that. So, they sent four other hares with me. We all had started to come here when another lion appeared. He seemed very strong. I told him we were coming to you. He said he was the king of the jungle. He also said he would hold the four hares hostage. He asked me to come to you and tell you that he is challenging you. Whoever wins can have all the hares. I have come here to tell you this. It is because of that lion that I got delayed, and also why I came alone."

The lion was enraged. He shouted: "I want to see this lion!" The hare said: "This lion lives in a strange fort. He waits there and attacks from his fort." The lion said: "I don't care about his fort! Take me to him. I will kill him immediately!" The hare asked: "Should you not try and find out how strong that other lion is before attacking him?" The lion replied: "No, that's not your worry. Take me to him."

The hare then led the lion to a well. He then said: "That lion was here. He may have heard that you are on your way, so he has gone inside his fort. This is the fort." The lion looked inside and saw his own reflection. He growled, and the reflection also growled. The sound was louder, coming from inside the well. Hearing this, the lion jumped inside the well and drowned.

The hare then happily went back to the other animals and told them what had happened. All were very pleased to hear the end of the cruel lion, and they all praised the hare.

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Ending the story, the jackal told his brother: "That is why the clever person is the powerful one. I can easily create a misunderstanding between the lion and the bullock." "See if you can do it," said his brother.

One day, the jackal saw the lion and bullock. Instead of sitting together, they were sitting apart. This was the opportunity the jackal was looking for. He went to the lion. The lion was happy to see him and asked: "Why have you not come and met me? Where have you been?" The jackal said: "I did not come as you were busy. I now had to come and meet you. I can see you are bringing about your destruction yourself, and I cannot bring myself to see this." The lion said: "What is this? Do tell me."

The jackal said: "The bullock hates you. You consider him your friend. He told me one day that he knew all your strengths and weaknesses. He would now kill you, and then he would become the king of the jungle. Then he would make me his minister." The lion was shocked to hear this. "I don't believe he would deceive me," said the lion. "I trust him more than myself. I am not sure I should believe you." The jackal said: "You are making a mistake. What qualities does the bullock have? He cannot help kill your enemies. Find some offense and kill him."

The lion said: "I have given him my word that I will protect him. So how can I then kill him? He is my friend, and I am not angry with him. I probably should not have made a grass-eater my friend, but now that I have made him my friend, I cannot hurt him, even if he betrays me."

The jackal said: "You have taken pity on him and have stopped killing animals. Where will the meat-eaters get meat from? Do not make friends with one whose character you are not fully aware of. The bedbug was at fault, but the flea got killed." "How did this happen?" asked the lion. The jackal began telling the story.

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Key Take-Aways (Corrected)

1. Cleverness and wit can defeat physical power. The hare used his mind to defeat the lion.

2. The hare understood the lion's traits: arrogance and temper. By exploiting them, the hare made the lion's reflection the weapon against him.

3. The lion's fury and impatience led directly to his downfall.

Panchatantra 0006 - The Golden Chain and the Cunning Crab: How to Conquer a Stronger Enemy

 “Somewhere in India, in a large tree lived a pair of crows. Now, whenever the female crow laid eggs, a black cobra would come and gobble up the eggs. Nearby was a jackal.

The crows knew the jackal well. The jackal was also seeing this, every time it happened. As soon as the female crow had laid eggs, the cobra would climb up the tree and eat up the eggs. The crows were afraid that the next time the cobra would eat them up.

One day the crows went to him, and complained to him.

The jackal asked them not to worry. The jackal said - When the enemy becomes strong, it needs to be tricked into submission. Ordinary ones can escape the enemy by their presence of mind. Act the way the crab did and see how he overpowered a heron.

The crows wanted to know about that.

The jackal began telling them that story.

Let me tell you about this lake. It was a place far away, and the lake was huge. It was home to all kinds of aquatic creatures, and many water birds lived around it, among them was a heron. This heron we are talking about today, had lived there for years, living on fish. Now he was old and frail. He was unable to catch fish like he used to do earlier and was hungry. He was always thinking of a way for food to come to him.

One day, the old heron went near the water. Standing at the edge, he began crying out loudly. Hearing his cries, a crab came out, wondering what was happening. The crab saw the heron. He looked really sad and tears were falling from his eyes into the waters of the lake. The crab asked him - Uncle heron, why are you upset? Is it hunger that is making you cry, or is there some other reason?

The heron looked at the crab and said - My child, I have become old. I do not want to live in this world any longer. Thus, I have made up my mind to renounce this world. It is not hunger that is making me cry. I have made a vow to fast until death comes to me. So even if fishes came to me, I would not touch them.

The crab said - Why did you suddenly decide to renounce the world?

The heron said - I lived and spent my life here. I was born near this lake. I know this lake as my only home. I have heard that this lake will be drying up. That is making me sad. I have heard that this lake will be drying up. That is making me sad. I heard that in the next twelve years the lake will dry up. There is a prediction that for the next twelve years there will be no rain.

The crab was stunned. What, where did you hear this? he asked the heron.

“From an astrologer,” the heron said. The astrologer said it was written in a book. Even now, there isn’t a lot of water in the lake... The bigger creatures like crocodiles and tortoises will walk away... Saddened, I have taken up the vow to fast until death.

The crab went into the water. There he told the fishes what he had heard from the heron.

What do we do? - all said. They were worried about the future.

They all went together and asked the heron - What do we do? How do we save ourselves?

The heron said - I know of a lake close by. That lake is deep and full of water. Forget twelve, even if it does not rain for twenty-four years, nothing will happen to the lake. If you are fine, you can climb up on my back. I will take you there.

Hearing this, all wanted to go with the heron.

One by one they would climb onto the heron’s back. The heron would fly some distance. Then he would dash the fish against a rock, kill and eat it. He would then come back and ask for the next one to climb onto his back.

This cycle continued for some time.

Then the crab said - I had spoken to you first, yet you have ignored me so far. Do you have any intentions of saving me?

The heron thought - I have been having fish every day. Having a crab will be a welcome change.

The crab climbed up on the heron’s back and they set forth. When the heron reached a rocky spit, he began slowing.

The crab asked - How far is the lake?

Confident with himself, the heron said - Lake? There is no lake. This is for my feast.

The crab by then had seen the heaps of fish bones. He realized what had been happening. Using his claws, he strangled the heron to its death. After that, he walked back to the lake.

Seeing him, the fishes asked where the heron was. The crab told them what had happened.

Ending his story, the jackal said - this is how a mere crab was able to kill a heron.

The crows said - Then tell us. How do we kill the cobra?

The jackal said - Here is what you have to do. Go to the city. Visit the house of wealthiest person there. Look around to see when they drop something very precious on the ground. As soon as they do, swoop down, grab that and fly away with that. Drop that in the hollow where the snake lives. People will follow you surely and they will the snake.

The crows decided to follow the advice of the jackal. They did not have to fly far. Nearby royal women were having a bath in a lake; they had left their garments and ornaments on the banks. The female crow grabbed a golden chain and flew off with that. When the guards saw this, they chased after the crow. The crow dropped the chain which slipped into the hole where the snake lived. The guards started probing around to get the chain. The snake came out to see what was happening. Seeing the snake, the guards killed it immediately. They then found the chain and took it back with them.

Ending this tale, the jackal said - What cannot be achieved by strength has to be dealt with, using deceit. Like the way the hare in the jungle, killed a lion.

What happened? - asked his brother.

The jackal began telling the story.

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What do we learn from this?

what cannot be achieved by strength has to dealt with, using deceit

The two stories show different types of deception: The heron exploits the fear and trust of the fish for selfish gain. The crow/jackal use a golden chain to turn the guards against the cobra for protection and survival.

• Understand your opponent’s vulnerability.

• When you lack the strength to fight directly, find an intermediary way to deal with it.

• Do not accept claims at their face value, especially those that trigger panic or offer overly convenient solutions.

• The crab’s survival was due to his timely realization of the danger and his immediate, decisive action.

Panchatantra 0005 - How an Ascetic Lost Everything through Misplaced Trust

 

The story of the ascetic starts somewhere in India, in a place, far away.

In that city, there was an old monastery. In that monastery lived an ascetic. This ascetic was a learned person and used to give discourses and advise people. Over time, he had gained many devotees. They would come, visit him, listen to him and take his blessings. In return, they would give the ascetic expensive gifts. The ascetic would take the gifts and sell them off in the market. In return he would get money. By doing this, he ended up accumulating a lot of wealth. With wealth, came fear and distrust. He trusted no one and kept all his money in bags, and those bags he tied around himself.

His habits of moving around with money bags tied around him, were noticed by robbers. One robber made it his objective to rob the ascetic. He had a problem though. The walls of the monastery were very difficult to climb, and the gates were very high and next to impossible to climb and cross. He decided to please the ascetic with words and swindle him.

One day he went to the ascetic and asked him to become his guru. He used sweet words to please the ascetic. The ascetic, unaware of the swindler’s intentions, agreed.

The ascetic agreed on a condition that the disciple should not enter the monastery after sunset, but sleep outside. The robber agreed.

He served the ascetic while keeping a lookout for the money bags. He noticed that the ascetic always tied the money bags around himself and wondered how to gain the guru’s trust.

One day the ascetic was invited to preside over a thread ceremony at a disciple’s house. The ascetic left for that, and the swindler also left with him. On the way, passing a river, the ascetic decided to relieve himself. He took the money bags and his robes and handed them to the robber, asking him to guard them. Then, he left to answer the call of nature.

Seeing the opportunity, the robber fled as soon as the ascetic was out of sight.

While the ascetic was relieving himself, he saw two rams. They were fighting with each other, ramming their heads until their heads bled. The smell of blood brought a jackal there. It tried to get closer to the rams. Unfortunately, it got caught between the two fighting rams and met his end.

Seeing this happen in front of his eyes, shocked the ascetic. He quickly finished his business and came back to see his money bags missing. Only his robes were lying there. He tried to search for the swindler but no luck. Sad and unhappy, he returned back to the monastery.

Ending the story the jackal, who has started telling the story said – Like the ascetic was responsible for his actions, you too are to blame for creating this situation.

His brother said - Do not worry. I made the lion and bullock become friends. I will also break their friendship. Not by force, but by using my cunning. Like the crow killed a cobra using a golden chain.

How was it - asked his brother?

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The story is about mis-placed trust and the consequences of actions.

The robber’s methods show how flattery can be used to exploit weaknesses (the ascetic’s desire for praise).

The ascetic was so consumed by his physical attachment that he failed to exercise due diligence in evaluating the character and intentions of his new “disciple.” He was too trusting in the wrong area.

Rational thought vanishes when one is scared. The ascetic’s fear of losing his wealth clouded his judgment, leading him to hand them over to the person he should have been wary of.

Panchatantra 0004 - The merchant and the king

 There was a beautiful city, somewhere in India. This city was literally governed by a rich merchant. No, he was not the ruler there. There was a king there, and the merchant ensured that everyone, the people, the king - all were pleased.

Once this merchant’s daughter was getting married. The merchant had invited most of the city’s people to attend the wedding. He treated them to lavish meals and gave them gifts. He then invited the king and his family and gave them special respect and gifts.

A sweeper of the palace heard about this and wanted to try his luck. He had unfortunately, not been invited. Even then, the sweeper went and sat there. The merchant saw this and had the sweeper thrown out. The sweeper felt extremely insulted. The merchant could have been polite and a small meal and gift would not have hurt the merchant. The sweeper went home and lay awake the whole night, thinking of ways to have the merchant fall in the eyes of the king. An idea struck him. He thought over it. This idea seemed good. The sweeper decided to put that idea to action.

A few days passed. The sweeper was sweeping the king’s chamber. It was early morning and the king was not fully awake. The sweeper started murmuring - the audacity of the merchant. He hugged the queen!

The king heard the words. What!! He was now fully awake. He called the sweeper and asked - Did the merchant hug the queen?

The sweeper quietly said - I am not sure what I said my lord. I was up all-night gambling. I am half asleep myself. Forgive me for my words.

This did not satisfy the king. This sweeper has complete access to the palace. He can go to any room. It is quite possible that he saw my queen hugging the merchant.

From that day, the king’s behaviour towards the merchant changed. The merchant would be ignored and when the merchant asked for the reason, the king asked him not to come to the palace.

The merchant was sad wondering why the king was being unfriendly towards him.

Some days passed.

One day the merchant decided to visit the palace When he went there, the palace guards caught him and asked him not to enter. The sweeper happened to be there and he said - beware of the merchant. He had me thrown out of his banquet. He could do the same to you.

As soon as the merchant heard this, he knew the reason for the king’s behaviour. He thought of a way to resolve the issue. He invited the sweeper, gave him gifts and asked him to forgive him.

Happy with the gifts, the sweeper decided to help the merchant.

The next day, early morning, when the king was half asleep, the sweeper started saying - What a king!! He eats cucumbers in the toilet.

The king was fully awake. What nonsense is this? You are a trusted servant and that is why I am not saying anything to you. If there was anyone else, I would have punished that person.

The sweeper said, - Sir, I was up the whole night gambling. I am half asleep. Forgive me for my words.

The king realized his mistake. He should not have trusted the words of a sweeper.

The merchant was invited to the court respectfully and given great gifts. Things became, as before.

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The jackal stopped and said - this is why I am saying; Give me respect that is due.

The bullock agreed and the jackal brought him and introduced him to the lion.

The lion and the bullock became friends. The lion then went to the river and drank all the water he needed.

Soon problems started appearing. The bullock started telling the lion that killing animals for food was not good. The lion tried to please the bullock.

The animals, including the jackal brothers, who lived on scraps were disheartened.

The two jackal brothers were discussing. The brother who had told the story of the monkey and the wedge, said to his brother - All these issues were created by you. If you had not introduced the lion and the bullock, these issues would not have happened.

The other jackal said - Yes, it is like a jackal that got caught between the fighting rams.

What is this - asked his brother.

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The merchant worked hard to please both the king and the people. He was someone was expert in balancing interests.

Any person who is of power should not believe rumours. Also, people who maybe on the lower rung can exert influence, if needed.
The merchant resolved the issue through diplomacy. He used appeasement and strategic kindness to manage conflict.

Anyone in power should manage all levels.

Remember, a strong reputation built over years can be demolished over-night.

Next time, another story. Till subscribe and leave a note for me.

And you want the previous story? Here it is.