STORY NO. 68a. THE JACKAL AND THE ELEPHANT
There was an elephant named Karpurathilaka in the forest of Brahmaranya. On seeing him, all the jackals said to themselves, 'If we can find out some way of killing him, we shall have plenty of food for four months.' Then an old jackal said, ' I can bring about his death by the power of my intellect.' He then went to Karpurathilaka and prostrating
before him said, 'Sire, grant me an audience.' The elephant asked, 'Who are you? Where do you come from.?' He replied, 'I am a jackal sent by the assembled beasts of the forest with this message for you. "Since it is not fit for us to live without a King, your majesty has been selected for being crowned as King of this forest in consideration of your kingly qualities- He who is pure in family, nobility and conduct, is chivalrous, pious and versed in politics, is fit to be a King. One should first obtain a King, then a wife, and then wealth. If there is no King, what is the use of having a wife-or wealth since they will be robbed away in no time? Like rain, the King is the support of all creatures, with this difference that life can be sustained even during a drought but never when there is no King.
In this world, people keep within the bounds of righteousness mostly through dread of the King's punishment . A man who is naturally virtuous is difficult to find. It is only through fear of punishment that women are faithful to their old, deformed, sickly and penniless husbands. You are an ideal King. So we are all waiting to crown you."Sire, therefore come with me quick so that the auspicious moment(Hindus are very particular that the auspicious moments fixed by priests and astrologers are never transgressed) may not be passed.' Karpurathilaka was moved by the greed of a kingdom and followed the jackal and
ran before him lightly. The jackal passed over a concealed quagmire by skirting a firm edge of it. The deluded elephant however went straight into the quagmire and got stuck waist-deep into it. He called out 'Friend jackal, what am I to do now ? I have got stuck in this quagmire. I shall perish miserably. Turn back and look at me.' The jackal looked back with a smile and said ironically, 'Catch hold of my tail and get up. Since you were fool enough to place confidence in the words of one like me, suffer this unavoidable misery. It is said that those who delight int the company of the good will prosper and that these who consort with wicked persons will come to grief.' The elephant died in the quagmire, and the jackals ate his body for many a day.
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