3.3 Panchtantra - The Sly Mediator

Once there lived a group of partridges in a forest.

The birds lived in holes near the tree. One of them lived on the tree instead of the hole. They saw each other everyday and soon became good friends.

One day one of partridges went in search of food. The day passed by and he did not returned. The fellow partridges were worried and spoke among themselves,’ Why is he so late today? Why is he not returning? God forbid! But has he been trapped or killed?'

The partridge did not return that day. The partridges in the flock grew very anxious. They waited for him keenly. Some of them went to search him, but returned empty handed. The partridge did not returned next day or day after. Days passed by and the flock gave up the hope of partridge returning. They wailed for him.

One night, a hare who lost it way to home came and took shelter in the missing partridge's hole. The flock let the rat stay.

One day, much to the surprise of flock, the missing partridge returned. They were elated to see their fellow friend and said him where he went without let them know. The partridge told his flock that he went to a place where there was ample food, 'I ate well there and grew fat. But I was missing my friends, so I returned'.

The flock greeted the partridge very well. They sat together and talked for hours. They ate together and celebrated.

At twilight, the partridges started returning to their holes. When the partridge returned to his hole, he found a hare resting there. The partridge yelled, 'Hare! This hole is my home. It was not abandoned. Why did you occupy it?  Now please quit, it want to rest'.

But the hare was comfortable in the hole. He refused to leave it, 'This hole was abandoned. I occupied it and now it us my home. I will not leave it'.

The hare and partridge began quarreling. When partridge saw that the hare was stubborn and unyielding, he said, 'Hare, you as unethical and unyielding. We should approach someone wise to understand the situation and gave verdict'.

The hare agreed and they decided to approach someone who is earned and unbiased to settle the dispute.

While the hare and the partridge talked, a sly tomcat hiding behind the bushes heard them. He became aware of the situation and decided to mediate.

There was a nearby the tree. The tomcat quickly went and stood near the river bank. He closed his eyes to appear to be in meditation.

The partridge and the hare walked ahead the tree to find someone wise who could decide for them. They saw the tomcat observed in mediation. The hare suggested, 'He looks learned. Let's approach him to decide for us'.

The partridge said, 'He is tomcat. Though he appears holy and learned, he is our natural enemy. We should be careful and talk to him only from distance'.

The hare agreed readily with the partridge's way of thinking. So they approached the tomcat, but stood at a distance and said, 'O holy person! We have a dispute and have come to seek your verdict on it. Kindly help us and whosoever you feel is guilty, will serve you as your food'.

As decided, they came to the wild tomcat, but stood at a distance, "Holy person! We have a dispute amongst us. Will you please settle our dispute and advice us who is right in accordance to Holy Scriptures. If you decide that one of us has sinned, you may as well eat him!"

The tomcat pretended to be very pious and said, 'Sons! I will hear your dispute and give verdict according to guidelines laid in scriptures. But, I have renounced the world. I do not resort to any killing animal for food. Whatever be the verdict, I shall not harm any one of'.

The hare and the partridge were relieved to hear the tomcat. The tomcat said, 'Please explain the reason for dispute between two of you. I can give the judgment only after hearing you both'.

When the hare and partridge started explaining the reason to tomcat, he interrupted them and said, ' Sons! Pity me. I am old and hard of hearing. Please come near me and sit. I am here to listen to you patiently'.

The hare and the partridge were completely carried away by tomcat's words. They had no fear, no doubt and readily went and sat near the tomcat.

The tomcat had been waiting for this opportunity. He rose vigorously and caught the hare with his mouth, and seized the partridge with his claws. The hare and the partridge both were mercilessly killed and eaten by the wily mediator tomcat.

Moral: Think before you trust anyone.