4. Hitopadesha - The Blind Vulture

Once there was a mountain near a river. At the foot of the hill there was a dense tree. The provided shelter to many birds.

One day a blind old vulture flew to the tree. It started living in the hollow of the tree. Other birds of the tree welcomed the blind vulture. They decided to share food with the vulture as he was old and blind.

The vulture was moved by their concern and thought that he should protect the offsprings of birds when they are away from the nest. Thus, the vulture received food from the birds and in return guarded their nest and offsprings.

One afternoon, a cat came near the tree. It heard the twitters of the baby birds and looked out for a way to catch and eat them. When the little ones saw the cat and sensed danger, they all made a loud chirrup.

The old vulture who was resting, got up by the voice and shouted, "Who is there?" The old vulture heard the cat's sound and said to himself, " I have to protect the babies. I should be brave."  The vulture thought to gain the cat's confidence.

But the cat said, "O old vulture, I am here to pay homage to you."

The vulture shrieked, " Go away or I will kill you."

But the Cat was very clever.

She spoke very politely the vulture, "I live on the other side of mountain. As a penance for my sins, I take bath in river every day and do not eat meat. I have heard a lot about your wisdom from birds on other side and have come here seeking your knowledge and blessings."

The cat continued, "O old vulture, you are wise and respected. I am your guest and you should treat me well. But you have threatened to kill me." The old vulture was pacified and said, "I cannot trust you as you are a carnivorous."

The cat was very sly and convincing. She bowed to ground and held her ears to show honesty and reassured the old vulture, "Killing is a sin. I have read code of conduct from scriptures and live a holy life. I cannot even think of killing bird for my food. It will be a great sin if I do so."

The old vulture felt assured with cat's words and allowed her to shelter with him in the hollow of the tree. Soon the cat started eating the young birds secretly from the vulture.

When the birds returned, they found their offsprings missing from the nest. They started searching them. Seeing this the cat thought that the birds and vulture might come to know about her evil act. So she quietly ran away from there.

The old vulture was completely unaware of what had happened. He unknowingly laid near the hollow where cat threw the remains of birds it ate. When the angry birds saw this, they thought that the vulture had killed their offsprings. They surrounded the vulture and angrily pecked him. The old vulture did not even get chance to explain himself and soon bled to death.

Moral: Never treat someone whom you do not know as friend.