The Jackal and the War-Drum

In a certain region was a j ackal whose throat was



pinched by hunger. While wandering in search




food, he came upon a king's battle ground in the
midst of a forest. And as he lingered a moment there

he heard a great sound



This sound troubled his heart exceedingly, so thai
he fell into deep dejection and said: "Ah me! Dis-
aster is upon me. I am as good as dead already. Who

made that sound? What kind of a creature?"

But on peering about, he spied a war-drum that
loomed like a mountain-peak, and he thought: "Was

that sound its natural voice, or was it induced from



without?" Now when the drum was struck by the




tips of grasses swaying in the wind, it made the sound,
but was dumb at other times.

So he recognized its helplessness, and crept quite
near. Indeed, his curiosity led him to strike it him

self on both heads, and he became gleeful at the
thought: "Aha! After long waiting food comes even
to me. For this is sure to be stuffed with meat and

fat."

Having come to this conclusion, he picked a spot
gnawed a hole, and crept in. And though the leather
covering was tough, still he had the luck not to break
his teeth. But he was disappointed to find it pure



wood and skin, and recited a stanza:

Its voice was fierce; I thought it stuffed

With fat, so crept within;



And there I did not find a thing
Except some wood and skin.



So he backed out, laughing to himself, and said

thought at first that it was full
Of fat




and the rest of it.
And that is why I say that one should not be


troubled by a mere sound." "But," said Rusty



"these retainers of mine are terrified and wish to run
away. So how am I to reinforce my resolution ?" And

Victor answered : "Master, they are not to blame. For
servants take after the master. You know the prov-
erb:



In case of horse or book or sword
Of woman, man or lute or word,

The use or uselessness depends

On qualities the user lends.
"Then summon your manhood and remain on this
spot until I return, having ascertained the nature of
the creature. Then act as seems proper/' "What!"
said Rusty, "are you plucky enough to go there?"
And Victor answered: "When the master commands
is there any difference between 'possible' and 'im
possible' to the good servant? As the proverb says:


Good servants, when their lords command
Behold no fear on any hand,
Cross pathless seas if he desire
Or gladly enter flaming fire.


The servant who, his lord commanding,
Should strive to reach an understanding




On labors hard or easy,

King's counselor should never be.


If you feel so, my dear fellow," said Rusty, "then



go. Blest be your journeyings."

So Victor bowed low and set out in the direction
of the sound made by Lively. And when he was gone,



terror troubled Rusty's heart, so that he thought:



"Ah, I made a sad mistake in trusting him to the
point of revealing what is in my mind. Perhaps this
Victor will betray me by taking wages from both



parties, or from spite at losing his job. For the prov

erb says:

A servant suffering from a king
Dishonor after honoring,

Though born and trained to service, will
Be eager to destroy him still.


"So I will go elsewhere and wait, in order to learn
his purpose. Perhaps Victor might even bring the
thing along and try to kill me. As the saying goes:

The trustful strong are caught



By weaker foes with ease
The wary weak are safe
From strongest enemies."


Thus he set his mind in order, went elsewhere, and
waited all alone, spying on Victor's procedure.

Meanwhile Victor drew near to Lively, discovered

that he was a bull, and reflected gleefully: "Well,



well ! This is lucky. I shall get Rusty into my powei

by dangling before him war or peace with this fellow.
As the proverb pu ts i t :

All counselors draw profit from




king in worries pent


And that is why they always wish
For him. embarrassment.



As men in health require no drug

Their vigor to restore,
So kings, relieved of worry, seek



Their counselors no more.


With these thoughts in mind, he returned to meet
Rusty. And Rusty, seeing him coming, assumed his
former attitude in an effort to put a good face on the
matter. So when Victor had come near, had bowed
low, and had seated himself, Rusty said: "My good
fellow, did you see the creature?" "I saw him," said
Victor, "through my master's grace." "Are you tell
ing the truth?" asked Rusty. And Victor answered:



"How could I report anything else to my gracious

master? For the proverb says:

Whoever makes before a king
Small statements, but untrue.



Brings certain ruin on his gods



And on his teacher.



And again:



The king incarnates all the gods,

So sing the sages old;
Then treat him like the gods: to him

Let nothing false be told.



And once again:




The king incarnates all the
Yet with a difference:

He pays for good or ill at once
The gods, a lifetime hence."



"Yes/' said Rusty, "I suppose you really did see
him. The great do not become angry with the mean.
As the proverb says :

The hurricane innocuous passes
O'er feeble, lowly bending grasses,
But tears at lofty trees: the great

Their prowess greatly demonstrate.


And Victor replied: "I knew beforehand that my
master would speak thus. So why waste words ? I will
bring the creature into my gracious master's pres-
ence." And when Rusty heard this, joy overspread
his lotus-face, and his mind felt supreme satisfaction.

Meanwhile Victor returned and called reproach


fully to Lively: "Come here, you villainous bull!
Come here! Our master Rusty asks why you are not
afraid to keep up this meaningless bellowing." And
Lively answered: "My good fellow, who is this per-



son named Rusty i


What!" said Victor, "you do not even know our
master Rusty?" And he continued with indignation:
"The consequences will teach you. He has a retinue
of all kinds of animals. He dwells beside the spread-
ing banyan tree. His heart is high with pride. He is
lord of life and wealth. His name is Rusty. He is a

mighty lion."

When Lively heard this, he thought himself as
good as dead, and he fell into deep dejection, saying:
"My dear fellow, you appear to be sympathetic and



eloquent. So if you cannot avoid conducting me

there, pray cause the master to grant me a gracious
safe-conduct." "You are quite right," said Victor.

"Your request shows savoirfaire. For



The earth has a limit



The mountains, the sea


The deep thoughts of kings are

Without boundary.


Do you then remain in this spot. Later, when I have
held him to an agreement, I will conduct you to him.

Then Victor returned to Rusty and said: "Mas-
ter, he is no ordinary creature. He has served as the
vehicle of blessed Shiva. And when I questioned him,
he said: 'Great Shiva was satisfied with me and bade

me crop the grass beside the Jumna. Why make a
long story of it? The blessed one has given me this
forest as a playground



At this Rusty was frightened, and he said:

knew it, I knew it. Only by special favor of the gods
do creatures wander in a wild wood, bellowing like
that, and fearlessly cropping the grass. But what did
you say?"

Master " said Victor, "I said: This forest is the


domain of Rusty, vehicle of Shiva's passionate wife
Hence you come as a guest. You must meet him
must spend your time in brotherly love, must eat
drink, work, play, and make your home with him.
All this he promised, adding: Tou must make your
master grant me a safe-conduct/ As to that, the mas-
ter is the sole judge.

At this Rusty was delighted and said: "Splendid
my intelligent servant, splendid ! You must have tak-
en counsel with my own heart before speaking. I grant



him a safe-conduct You must hasten to conduct


him here, but not until he too has bound himself by
oath toward me. Yes, there is sound sense in the say-
ing:

Polished, fully tested,

Sturdy too, and straight
Are the pillars proper

To a house — or state.



Again :



Wit is shown in hours of crisis:
Doctors' wit* in sore disease


Counselors', in patching friendship-
All are wise in hours of ease/ 1

Now Victor thought, as he set out to meet
Lively: "Well, well! The master is gracious to me
and ready to do my bidding. So there is none more
blest than I. For



Four things are nectar: milky food


A fire in chilly weather
An honor granted by the king
And loved ones, come together.


So he found Lively, and said respectfully: "My
friend, I won the old master's favor for you, and made



him give you a safe-conduct. You may go without



anxiety. Still, though you have favor in the eyes of
the king, you must act in agreement with me. You



must not play the haughty master. I for my part,
in alliance with you, will take the r61e of counselor,
and bear the whole burden of administration. Thus
we shall both enjoy royal affluence. For

A sinful chase — yet men can stalk



The treasures of the crown :
One starts the quarry from its lair
Another strikes it down.


And again :



Whoever is too haughty to



Pay king's retainers honor due

Will find his feet are tottering

So merchant Strong-Tooth with the king*

How was that?" asked Lively. And Victor told



the story of





MERCHANT STRONG-TOOTH