3.9 Panchtantra - Two Snakes

Once there lived a king. His name was Devashakti. The king had a son who was unhealthy and weak.

As days passed, he became more vulnerable and weak. The king was very worried and called physicians from far off places. But the prince had snake inside his stomach and none of the physicians could help.

When young prince saw his father worried and weary due his incurable illness, he was very upset. The prince himself was frustrated by his life and one night he quietly left the palace.

The princess walked far and reached another kingdom. He started living in a temple and lived by begging on the alms.

The King of this kingdom had two vitreous and learned daughters. One of the princess often said, ‘Father, we have all privileges for living due to you’ while the other princess said, ‘King! We reap as we sow. We get fruits according to our own actions’. The second daughter sounded rude to the King. One day hearing this, the king became very angry. He asked his attendants to take away the princess and marry her to anyone!

The attendants searched far and wide but found no one who agreed to marry the princess. When they saw the young prince in temple, they married the princess to him.

The princess and the young prince were happy with their marriage. They could not reside the temple as their home and therefore decided to settle elsewhere.

They started their journey. The prince soon became tired and sat under a tree to rest for a while. The princess saw that he was very weak and tired. She went to get food and water for him.

When the princess returned, she saw a snake coming out of her husband’s mouth. There was another snake that had emerged from the hole near the tree. She quietly stood and watched.

The snake from the hole said, ‘You should pity this young prince. Leave him. He is so weak and helpless. Besides, you risk your own life too. Don’t you know if he ever drinks the mix of cumin and mustard seeds it will kill you?’

The snake from prince’s mouth argued, ’You are guiding the gold pots hidden under this hole. You are in danger of dying if anyone pours hot water and oil in this hole. You should quit this hole’.

Both snakes were inconsiderate. They were at loggerheads and after much argument they returned to their respective home.

The princess had learned the secret to kill them. She acted accordingly. She gave the cumin-mustard mix to prince. He soon prince recovered. She told the prince about the snakes. Then they poured hot water and oil in the hole which killed the snake.

They dug the gold pots out and lived happily thereafter.

Moral: Let your enemies quarrel.  It will benefit you.