Loss Of friend

THE BLUE JACKAL

There was a jackal who lived in a forest. One day, driven by hunger, he went to a nearby town in search of food. When a group of dogs saw him, they started chasing him. The jackal fled in panic and entered the house of a washerman.

There, the jackal hid in a tub-full of indigo dye used for colouring clothes. When he eventually came out of the tub, he had become a blue-coloured animal! So, when the dogs saw him, they could not recognize him and so went away.

The blue jackal went back to the forest. When the stronger animals, like the lion, tiger, panther and wolves, and the other small animals in the forest saw him, they were very scared. They ran in all directions to save themselves. We do not know his power and strength, they cried. "It's better that we keep a distance from him Haven't our elders warned us not to trust him whose conduct, caste and courage are not known?"

The blue jackal saw them running away and asked Why do you run away like that? There's nothing to fear. I'm a special creation of God. He has told me that the animals here had no ruler and that he was nominating me as your king. He has told me to rule over you. You shall now live safely under my protection."

All the animals in the forest accepted him as their king. He in turn appointed the lion as his minister. the tiger as his guard and the wolf as the gatekeeper. After distributing offices to the animals, the new king banished all the jackals from the forest.

The lion, tiger and wolf killed other animals and brought them as food for the new king. Taking his share, the blue jackal would distribute the rest of the kill among his subjects.

One day, when the new king was holding court. he heard a group of jackals howling. Thrilled by the sound of his cousins, the blue jackal responded in his natural voice. The lion and other animals immediately realized that their king was, after all, a jackal and not a special animal sent by God! They at once pounced on the blue jackal and killed him,

Damanaka said. "The moral is, he who abandons his own folk will perish.

'But how do I believe that Sanjeevaka has evil intentions?" asked Pingalaka.

He told me today that he would kill you tomor row. If you notice him carefully tomorrow, you'll find him red-eyed and occupying a seat he does not deserve. He would stare at you angrily. If what I say comes true, it's for you to decide what to do with Sanjeevaka, said Damanaka.

After this meeting with the king, Damanaka went to meet Sanjeevaka. The bullock received him with courtesy.

'We are meeting after a long time, he said. "What can I do for you? They are blessed who are visited by friends.

You're right, sir,' said Damanaka. 'But there's no luxury for servants! They have lost their freedom for the sake of money. They know no sleep, have interest in food, nor can they speak without fear. Y they live. Somebody has rightly compared a servant life to that of a dog's.'

'Come to the point, my friend, the bullock was now impatient.

Damanaka said, 'Sir, a minister is not supposed to give bad advice. He cannot also disclose royal secret If he does, he'll go to hell after his death. But sinc I consider you a dear friend of mine, I will have to reveal a secret. Also, it was on my suggestion that you took up service in the royal household. Pingalaka has evil designs on you. When we were alone, he told me he would kill you and bring happiness in the forest. to everyone

I told the king that this was like stabbing a friend in the back, Damanaka continued. "The king was angry and said that you were a vegetarian and he lived on meat. Hence, there was natural discord between you and him. He said that this was enough reason for him to kill you. This is a secret I have kept to myself for a long time. It's now for you to do what you think is right.

Sanjeevaka almost fainted on hearing these words. Then, recovering after some time, he said, 'It's truly said that a person who serves the king is like a bull- ock without horns. It's not easy to please a king. It's difficult to know the mind of a king who has different ideas. Even sages couldn't read the minds of kings. I think some servants who are jealous of my friendship with the king must have poisoned his mind.

'Don't worry,' Damanaka said. 'Forget what tales the servants carried to the king. You can still win his favour by your sweet words.

"That's not true. It's impossible to live with wicked people, however small they are. They can always think of a hundred ways to get you, in the same manner as the jackal and the crow trapped the camel.'

"That sounds interesting. Tell me what happened to the camel? asked Damanaka.

Sanjeevaka told Damanaka the story.