The Oldest of the Axdials

Once on a time, hard by a great banyan-tree on the
slopes of the Himalayas, there dwelt three friends, a
partridge, a monkey, and an elephant. And they came
to lack respect and subordination one to another, and
had no ordering of their common life. And the thought
came to them that it was not seemly for them to live in
this way, and that they ought to find out which of their
number was the senior and to honour him.

As they were engaged thinking which was the oldest,
one day an idea struck them. Said the partridge and
the monkey to the elephant as they all three sat together
at the foot of that banyan-tree, "Friend elephant, how
big was this banyan when you remember it first ? " Said
the elephant, " When I was a baby, this banyan was a
mere bush, over which I used to walk; and as I stood
astride of it, its topmost branches used just to reach up
to my belly. IVe known the tree since it was a mere
bush."

Next the monkey was asked the same question by the
other two; and he replied, "My friends, when I was a
youngling, I had only to stretch out my neck as I sat on
the ground, and I ceuld eat the topmost sprouts of this
banyan. So I've known this banyan since it was very tiny."

Then the partridge was asked the same question by
the two others ; and he said, " Friends, of old there was
a great banyan-tree at such and such a spot; I ate its
seeds, and voided them here; that was the origin of this
tree. Therefore, I have knowledge of this tree from
before it was born, and am older than the pair of you."

Hereupon the monkey and the elephant said to the
sage partridge, " Friend, you are the oldest. Henceforth
vou shall have from us acts of honour and veneration,
marks of obeisance and homage, respect of word and
deed, salutation, and all due homage; and we will follow
your counsels. You for your part henceforth will please
impart such counsel as we need."

Thenceforth the partridge gave them counsel, and
established them in the Commandments, which he also
undertook himself to keep. Being thus established in
the Commandments, and becoming respectful and sub-
ordinate among themselves, with proper ordering of their
common life, these three made themselves sure of re-birth
in heaven at this life's close.