Page:Katha sarit sagara, vol2.djvu/53

 " So Mandavisarpiní perished by associating with Tittibha. Accordingly your association with Sanjívaka will not be for your advantage; if you do not believe in what I say, you will soon yourself see him approach, brandishing his head, confiding in his horns, which are sharp as lances."

By these words the feelings of Pingalaka were changed towards the bull, and so Damanaka induced him to form in his heart the determination that the bull must be killed. And Damanaka, having ascertained the state of the lion's feelings, immediately went off of his own accord to Sanjívaka, and sat in his presence with a despondent air. The bull said to him, " Friend, why are you in this state? Are you in good health?" The jackal answered, " What can be healthy with a servant? Who is permanently dear to a king? What petitioner is not despised ? Who is not subject to time?" When the jackal said this, the bull again said to him— " Why do you seem so despondent to-day, my friend, tell me?" Then Damanaka said— " Listen, I speak out of friendship. The lion Pingalaka has to-day become hostile to you. So unstable is his affection that, without regard for his friendship, he wishes to kill you and eat you, and I see that his evilly- disposed courtiers have instigated him to do it." The simpleminded bull, supposing, on account of the confidence he had previously reposed in the jackal, that this speech was true, and feeling despondent, said to him: " Alas a mean master, with mean retainers, though he be won over by faithful service, becomes estranged; in proof of it hear this story."

Story of the Lion, the Panther, the Crow and the Jackal.* :—There lived once in a certain forest a lion, named Madotkata, and he had three followers, a panther, a crow, and a jackal. That lion once saw a camel, that had escaped from a caravan, entering his wood, a creature he was not familiar with before, of ridiculous appearance. That king of beasts said in astonishment, " What is this creature?" And the crow, who knew when it behoved him to speak, said, " It is a camel." Then the lion, out of curiosity, had the camel summoned, and giving him a promise of protection, he made him his courtier, and placed him about his person. One day the lion was wounded in a fight with an elephant, and being out of health, made many fasts; though surrounded by those attendants who were in good health. Then the lion, being exhausted, roamed about