Once upon a time, there lived a lion in a forest. His name
was Vajradaunstra. He had two attendants - a jackal and a wolf.
One day a caravan passed the forest. A camel in the caravan
was an expecting female. She was in pain and could not walk. The caravan left
her behind.
When the lion saw the female camel, he attacked her and
killed her. When they tore and ate the flesh, a baby camel emerged from the
womb. The three predators were filled and hence they did not kill the young
camel. They brought it to their cave.
The lion liked the young camel for its innocence and said,
'You are endearing. Stay with us. You can feed on the grass outside the cave
and wander in the fresh air. You need not be afraid of me or anyone around me.
I will protect and take care of you'.
The four animals started living together happily. They told
stories and joke to each other and lived well.
One evening, the lion returned home with an injured paw. He
was hurt badly in a deadly fight with an elephant. The agonized lion was unable
to walk and therefore could not go around hunting. He was hungry and wrecked.
The next day the lion called the camel, jackal and the wolf
and asked them to get some small animal which he could kill and eat. But the
three of them were unable to find food. The lion grew angry on knowing this,
but he was helpless.
The jackal troubled by hunger began thinking,' this young
camel can be our food for days to come. But the lion has a soft heart for him
and would not agree to kill him. I must convince the lion to kill this young
camel for our food'.
The jackal went to the young camel and said, 'Our master is
badly in pain. He is starved and growing weak. There is no food for him. It
seems we all will die soon. If this happens you will be alone and unguarded.
Some predator may kill you for its food. Therefore, I suggest that you offer
yourself to the lion for food and save us from dying. You act will be deemed to
be a great sacrifice and you will receive boon to reborn as a mighty animal'.
The young lion was innocent and got carried away. He agreed
to offer himself to lion in want of a boon in next birth.
So in the evening, the jackal went to the lion with camel and
said, 'The camel seeks a noble rebirth. For this he is willing to sacrifice himself
and offer himself as food to you. If you kill him and worship him before eating
him, he will be reborn as a mighty animal'.
The lion was assured by the reason the jackal gave for
killing young camel. So he attacked it and the young camel died.
The lion recalled to worshiping the God before he eating the
camel. So he asked the jackal and wolf to watch the carcass while he went out
and prayed.
The jackal was hunger and greedy. He wanted to eat the entire
camel himself. So the cunning jackal called the wolf and said,’ Friend, I know
your are very hungry. You can eat flesh before the lion returns. I will make
the lion understand'.
So the wolf started eating. A few minutes later the jackal
cautioned the wolf, 'the lion is on his way back. Stop eating'.
The lion saw the flesh was eaten. He was angry and asked the
wolf and jackal, 'who dared to eat my food?’
The jackal said, 'Master, I had been trying to stop the wolf
from eating the flesh before you started with it. But he was very hungry and
could not stop himself. Kindly, forgive him for such a mistake'.
The wolf was caught in surprise and fear.
The lion saw blood on the wolf's paw. Before the wolf could
explain himself, the angry lion sprang to attack him. The wolf fled immediately
from the scene and saved his life.
While this happened, the lion heard the usual sound of
jingling bells from a distance. He was terrified and asked jackal about it.
The jackal knew that it was sound of caravan. The camels in
the caravan had bells around their necks.
The jackal had great presence of mind and said, 'Master, it
is the sound of same caravan whose female camel you killed for food. It seems
that today they are led by Yama - God of Death. From the sound it seems that
Yama is very angry with you for killing an expecting camel before its time. So
this time he is approaching you to avenge the death of female camel with the
camel's relatives and forefathers. Master, as your benefic I request you to run
away from here and safe yourself from Yama's avenge'.
The lion was troubled and scared. He could hardly think and
believed the jackal. Seeing that the caravan was nearing, the lion fled.
The jackal was now left alone with the dead camel flesh. He
cheered and relished it for many days.
Moral: Never keep company of sly and mean people. They are
self centered and can hurt you anytime for self benefit.
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