STORY NO. 70. MAKE YOURSELF INDISPENSABLE
In a mountain called Arbbudasikhara(wonderful peak), in the Aravallis, there was a lion called Mahavikrama. When he went to sleep in his cave a mouse used to climb over him
and nibble at his mane. The lion used to become angry and try to catch the mouse, but in vain. The mouse invariably ran away nimbly, and slipped into his hole. The lion said to himself, "What is to be done now? They say that an insignificant foe who cannot be overcome by valour must be dealt with by engaging one who is a match for him'. So he engaged a cat called Dadhikarna, to keep the mouse from him, and gave him nice bits of meat for his service.
The mouse saw the cat, and, from fear, never left his hole, and the lion slept undisturbed, and fed the cat well. One day he gave him a specially delicious bit of meat. The cat out of gratitude chased the famished rat, which had come out of its hole, in a desperate search for food, and killed it. On seeing that, the lion, rid of the mouse, saw no reason to give the cat any more meat, as there was no more need for his services. Dadhikarna realized too late that a master should never be made entirely free from cares and that a servant should always make himself indispensable if he is to retain his post and salary. 
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