The Tiger, the Brahman, and the Jackal

Once upon a time, a tiger was caught in a trap. He tried in vain to get out through the bars, and rolled and bit with rage and grief when he failed.

By chance a poor Brahman (Hindu of the Highest cast) came by.

"Let me out to this cage, oh pious one," cried the tiger.

"Nay, my friend," replied the Brahman mildly, "you would probably eat me if I did."

"Not at all," swore the tiger with many oaths. "On the contrary, I should be forever grateful, and serve you as a slave!"

Now when the tiger sobbed and sighed and wept and swore, the pious Brahman’s heart softened, and at last he consented to open the door of the cage. Out popped the tiger, and, seizing the poor man, cried, "What a fool you are! What is to prevent my eating you now, for after being cooped up so long I am just terribly hungry!"

In vain the Brahman pled for his life; the most he could gain was a promise by the tiger to abide by the decision, of the first three things he chose to question as to the justice of the tiger’s action.

So the Brahman first asked a pipal tree what it thought of the matter, but the pipal tree replied coldly, "What have you to complain about?" Don’t I give shade and shelter to everyone who passes by, and don’t they in return tear down my branches to feed their cattle? Don’t whimper- be a man!"

The Brahman, sad at heart, went farther afield until he saw a buffalo turning a well wheel; but he fared no better from it, for it answered, "You are a fool to expect gratitude. Look at me. While I gave milk they fed me on cotton seed and oil cake, but now that I am dry they yoke me here, and give me a refuse as fodder!"

The Brahman, sadder still, asked the road to give him its opinion.

"My dear sir," said the road, "how foolish you are to expect anything else. Here am I, useful to everybody, yet all, rich and poor, great and small, trample on me as they go past, giving me nothing but the ashes of their pipes and the husks of their grain!"

On this the Brahman turned back sorrowfully, and on the way he met a jackal, who called out, "Why, what’s the matter, Mr. Brahman? You look as miserable as a fish out of water!"

The Brahman told him all that had occurred. "How very confusing!" Said the jackal, when the recital was ended; "would you mind telling me over again, for everything has got so mixed up?"

The Brahman told it all over again, but the jackal shook his head in a distracted sort of way, and still could not understand.

"It’s very odd," said he, sadly, "but it all seems to go in at one ear and out the other! I will go to the place where it all happened, and then perhaps I shall be able to give a judgment."

Indian Fairy Tales
The Tiger, Brahman, Jackal
PART TWO

Indian Tiger Claws
A World of Tigers
Index