Table of Contents
The Tiger and the Traveller
A recap: Laghupatanaka, the crow, had seen the hunter set his net and scatter grains of rice to trap birds. The pigeon king and his followers had seen this. To make sure the pigeons did not go and start eating the grain, the king had started telling them the story of the tiger and the traveller.
It was a warm day. Hardly a breeze blowing. In a forest, not far from the Godavari River, was a pool. One day when I was flying through the forest, I saw a tiger. I had seen many tigers earlier, but this tiger was different. This tiger was an old one, who was sitting on the edge of the pool with his eyes closed. He had just taken a bath in the pool and was meditating. The tiger would occasionally open his eyes and would at times call out to passing people in a sweet voice.
.png "The Old Tiger with the Golden Bangle")
Dear ones, I am offering a gold bangle. I am not charging anything for the ornament. If you want it, please come close and take it.
The people passing by would take a look and ignore the call. The bangle was something they all wanted but they did not want to lose their lives. It was a tiger calling out to them. Even if it was old, it was still a tiger.
One passerby saw this and became curious. He was a greedy person. He looked at the tiger and wondered if the bangle was worth sacrificing his life. He thought:
This appears to be a stroke of luck—nevertheless, I should not be so foolish as to gamble my life for this. A positive outcome like the bangle rarely comes from a dangerous source like a tiger. A wise man will abandon a desired object if it brings harm. Even if something is mostly good, if it contains even a little deadly poison, the end result is still death. However, no one gets rich without taking a chance. I need to take that chance and see.
He stopped where he was and called out to the tiger and said:
You are talking about giving a bangle. Where is it? I do not see one.
The tiger said:
I have it here, on my paw. I am meditating and maybe that is the reason you cannot see it.
Saying this, the tiger stretched out his paw. On the paw was a beautiful golden bangle. Beautiful lotus-like patterns had been etched on the bangle. Seeing this, the passerby wanted it. He was sceptical. After all, this was a tiger who was offering the bangle. He thought for a moment, and clearing his throat, he said:
Let me be honest. I want the bangle. Then again, I am seeing that in the paw of a tiger. How can I possibly place my faith in a savage animal like you?
The tiger sighed and said:
My friend, let me tell you my story. I will tell you the truth and will not hide anything from you. When I was a young tiger, I was ferocious. I was thoroughly depraved. The number of cattle I have killed is beyond count. I did not spare any person, whether it was a brahmin or any other human. I made my meals out of them. My family left me alone in this world and went to heaven. I think this is because of those sins that I became all alone in the world. One day I came across a rishi. I was about to eat him, when he stopped me. I froze. He asked me to meditate, lead a clean and holy life and perform charity. I agreed to do that. For that, I am taking dips in the pool to purify myself. By giving away this bangle, I want to perform charity. Besides, take a look at me. I am old. My teeth have fallen off; my claws have worn off. How will I catch and eat you, even if I wanted to? Wealth does not attract me. I do not want the gold so I have decided to give this away. That is why I am calling to passerby to take this bangle. You do not seem to be very well off. Your clothes look worn. You could benefit from the bangle. You are aware of what the Bhagavad Gita says, where Krishna tells Arjuna about charity and says charity should be directed toward those in genuine need. This is like giving medicine to a sick person, who can benefit from it. One who is healthy will not gain any benefit from the medicine. Do one thing now. Step into the pool. It is not very deep. Take a dip in the water. After that, walk and come towards me and take the bangle from me.
The passerby decided to take the bangle from the tiger. He went towards the pool and carefully stepped inside. He slowly walked a few steps and realized the mistake he had made. The pool was not deep, but more than a pool it was a swamp. The traveller, after walking a few steps realized, he was stuck in the mud. He was in a dilemma. He could not move forwards, nor could he go back.
The tiger said:
Oh, are you stuck there? Wait, I will come there and help you.
Saying this the tiger stepped forward. The traveller saw the tiger come towards him and he realized what would happen. The tiger had a very mean nasty look on his face. The swamp did not bother the tiger. In an instant, the tiger went and caught the traveller. The traveller began to think:
A cheat will always remain a cheat. It does not matter how many scriptures the cheat refers to, the inherent nature of the cheat will never go away. It is also the same thing in the case of the cow – irrespective of whatever kind of grass it eats – sweet or bitter – the cow’s milk will always be sweet. Do not trust water bodies. They could look deceptive. I am caught in what was apparently a shallow body of water. Rushing waters could sweep you away. Never trust weapons. Blades can kill, whether they are sharp or blunt. Never trust one who displays claws or fangs or horns. Likewise, never trust anyone who is fickle minded, in the matters of the heart and be careful when trusting royalty. I am just a poor man. Even the moon cannot escape and gets eaten by Rahu. This was destined to be.
This was the last thought that the traveller had, before the tiger ate him up.
The Pigeons and the Mouse-King
With this, Chitragriva ended telling his followers the story of the traveller and the tiger. He then said:
My friends, this is why I am saying, we need to be very cautious. Rice grains, in a clearing, in a forest, are not normal.
One of his followers, an arrogant pigeon who was known his disrespect and boldness, interrupted and said:
I know what you are saying, but I am sure you know what people say; While one should seek advice for things which are genuinely dangerous, one should not be so paralyzed by fear that they seek a divine guidance just to decide whether or not to eat a meal.
The moment this pigeon opened his mouth and said this, the other pigeons were swayed by his words. They were hungry and wanted food. From extreme greed comes sorrow. It makes the person act impulsively. It does not let them think. Even great minds are confused when tempted, that is why Rama went after a golden deer, even though he knew it was just an illusion. So, the pigeons flew down and landed on the ground. They began pecking on the grains of rice and soon they discovered that it was indeed a trap. They were caught in the hunter’s net. They tried to escape and found they were totally covered by the net. They began blaming the pigeon, whose advice they had followed. They began shifting the blame on the pigeon as if he had forced them to come and eat the grains. If things had gone well, the pigeons would have taken all credit. As they were in a trap, it was the fault of the other pigeon. Whose fault was it? It was the desire for the rice grains that had led the pigeons there. If impulses take control, one suffers. If one can control the impulses, suffering will be far. Chitragriva asked the bickering pigeons to keep quiet and said:
Keep quiet. Why do you blame your friend for your troubles? When a cow is milked, its leg is tied to a post to keep it still; even though the mother cow loves the calf, the 'tying-post' (a source of irritation) is necessary for the process. Similarly, in hard times, even our friends' actions can feel like a burden or an irritation, but it is a natural part of the struggle. Being paralyzed by fear in such situations is the job of a coward. Now, we need to think clearly. We need to channel our inner strength and craft a plan for our escape. The great rishis have said - A truly great person is always balanced. They don't get too happy when things are good, nor too sad when things are bad. They are wise and brave. They seek honour and stick to their principles. These are qualities of a great character. A person with these virtues becomes known everywhere and makes their relatives and friends proud. So, think. What if we all fly up together? If we all fly up at the exact same time, we can carry the net away. We may be small but we can become powerful if we are united. A family must remain united, no matter how small their house may be. Consider the rice: if you strip the grain away from its husk, it loses its power to sprout and grow. So, we too need to be together.
The pigeons listened to their king. They then began flapping their wings and in perfect synchronized moves, they flew upwards. The net went with them, and they flew up into the sky. The hunter was stunned. He was sitting in the shade of a tree, when he saw the pigeons fly off with his net. He tried to catch hold of the net, but he soon gave up when he realized that this was futile. He just stared, a sad expression on his face, when he realized that he had lost his net along with the birds.
Up in the air, the pigeons asked Chitragriva:
As advised by you, we have flown up, along with net. What should we do next?
Chitragriva said:
We need to fly a long distance. We have fly north till we come to the banks of the river Gandaki. We need to seek help from a friend of mine. He is a mouse and because he is golden hearted, he is called Hiranyaka. He is the king of the mice. He will be able to help us by cutting the net.
Hearing this and following their king’s advice, the pigeons followed the directions and flew towards the mountain kingdom, where Hiranyaka lived.
As a mouse, Hiranyaka always felt he needed to be careful. He had constructed for himself, a subterranean palace with more than a hundred secret exits, and he tried to avoid leaving his palace. Hiranyaka was resting inside his palace, when he heard the loud flapping of wings. Hearing this sound scared him. He did not want to come out and see what was making the noise.
Chitragriva was sure, the pigeons were at the correct spot. This was where the house of Hiranyaka was. But where was the mouse king? Chitragriva shouted:
My friend, it is I, Chitragriva. I have come to you. Do not be afraid. Come out. Will you not welcome me and my followers?
Hiranyaka heard this and recognized his friend’s voice. He stepped out from one of the exits and expected to see his friend. He was surprised to see the pigeon king and his followers, trapped in a net. Hiranyaka said:
Is it truly you, my friend Chitragriva? If so, what has happened to you? Why are you inside a net along with your followers?
Chitragriva said:
It is myself. I am trapped here in this net with my followers. It must be because of some deeds committed by me, in a last birth. It is said: Illness, mental torment, imprisonment, and grief happen because of misdeeds committed in my past lives.
Hiranyaka did not say anything. All he could he see in front of him, was a friend who needed help. He ran towards the net and climbed up on it. He went to the portion where the pigeon king was and about to cut it, when Chitragriva said:
No, no. Do not do it. Do not free me first. Work on freeing my followers first. Leave me till the end.
Hiranyaka said:
I am a tiny mouse. How can I cut open this huge net and rescue all your followers? My teeth are small and there is only such twine that I can cut, before my teeth give way. No, let me cut your part first. Once I have freed you and if I have strength, then I will work on the other pigeons. Nobody wants the leader to perish. While one protects wealth and family, the ultimate duty is to protect one’s own life, for if the leader dies, all is lost.
Chitragriva said:
That may be what people say, should be done, but as the pigeon king, I do not agree. I cannot bear to see my followers in such agony. Since death is certain, it is better to die for a noble cause, and let the others live. My friend, if you really love and respect me, protect my integrity and honour, rather than this body of mine.
Hiranyaka was thrilled to hear this. He was deeply moved by this display of compassion. He said:
Dear friend, I really love what you said. Your followers are blessed to have you as their ruler. You should be the ruler of the universe, not pigeons. I will do what I can.
Hiranyaka then became busy. He began gnawing at the net. Slowly he worked on and eventually everyone was freed from the bondage. Seeing all were fine, Hiranyaka welcomed all of them to his kingdom. When he saw the pigeons were all refreshed, Hiranyaka said to Chitragriva:
You had blamed the net as result of your deeds in a past life. I do not agree. This is destiny. Do not blame yourself for this. The Eagle, soaring high in the afternoon sky, can spot a tiny carcass from a great distance; yet, when the time of his downfall arrives, it cannot see the trap the hunter has laid for him.
A feast was prepared for the pigeons. The birds ate their fill. It was soon time for them to leave. They all hugged the mouse and thanked him and flew off towards their homes. Seeing the pigeons had left, Hiranyaka went back into his palace.
Laghupatanaka, the crow, wanting to see what would happen, had followed the pigeons. He had witnessed the pigeons get trapped, then fly off with the net and then had seen the mouse king help free the birds. He was amazed to see the friendship between a mouse and a pigeon. He went close to the mouse king’s palace and shouted:
O great ruler of the mice. I have seen you perform great deeds. I want to be your friend.
Hiranyaka did not recognize this voice. He was scared. Who could this be? Instead of coming out, Hiranyaka said:
I do not know you. Who are you?
Laghupatanaka said:
I am a crow and my name is Laghupatanaka. I want to be your friend.
Hearing this Hiranyaka burst out laughing and said:
You tell me! How can a mouse and a crow be friends? In the natural order, mouse is food and the crow is the predator. How is this friendship possible? Because of the crow, the jackal ended up killing the deer.
Laghupatanaka was curious and asked:
How did this happen?
Without coming out of his palace, Hiranyaka started telling the story.
Analysis
The story here explores the conflict between nature and nurture. It suggests that an individual's core nature rarely changes.
- The Tiger and the Traveller: This segment highlights that greed blinds logic. The traveller knew a tiger is a predator, yet he allowed "sweet words" to override his survival instinct.
- The Pigeons and their King: This explores collective strength. It teaches that while an individual may be weak, unity can overcome even a hunter’s net.
- The Mouse and the Pigeon: This shows the value of social capital. True wealth is not gold, but a reliable friend who stands by you in times of crisis.
Characters and Daily Life Parallels
| Character | Representation | Parallel in Daily Life |
|---|---|---|
| The Old Tiger | Deception and "Calculated Virtue" | The fraudulent "expert" or "scammer" who uses credentials/spirituality to hide malice. |
| The Traveller | Unbridled Greed | The person looking for "get-rich-quick" schemes or "too good to be true" investments. |
| Chitragriva | The Wise Leader | A manager or head of a family who takes responsibility and prioritizes the team. |
| The Arrogant Pigeon | Impulsive Youth/Dissent | The colleague who mocks safety protocols or ignores experience for immediate gain. |
| Hiranyaka (Mouse) | The Loyal Expert | The quiet, skilled friend/professional who works behind the scenes to solve crises. |
| Laghupatanaka (Crow) | The Observant Witness | A "networking" individual who seeks to learn from the successes of others. |
Significance of the Tiger in the Story
The choice of a Tiger is deliberate. A tiger represents uncompromising power and predatory nature. By choosing a tiger, the author shows that even the most "extreme" predator can successfully use the guise of religion to deceive. A tiger "meditating" is a visual contradiction. If the traveller had not been greedy, he would have laughed at the absurdity. The tiger’s "falling teeth" show how evil adapts its methods when physical strength fails.
Name Meanings and Context
- Chitragriva: Means "Speckled Neck" or "Variegated Neck." In the context of pigeons, it suggests a leader who stands out—not just in beauty, but in maturity and distinction.
- Hiranyaka: Derived from Hiranya (Gold). He is the "Golden One." This reflects his value; though he is a small mouse, his heart and his help are as precious as gold.
- Laghupatanaka: Means "Swift-falling" or "Swift-flying." This fits the nature of a crow, which is always on the move, observant, and quick to descend upon a scene of interest.
Lessons
- A "cheat" remains a cheat regardless of how many scriptures they quote.
- Small entities, when synchronized, can move mountains (or nets).
- A leader earns true loyalty by offering their life for their followers, as Chitragriva did.
- Do not trust anyone with "claws, fangs, or horns," no matter how sweet their speech.
Correlation with Scriptures and Itihasa
- Ramayana: The text mentions Rama chasing the Golden Deer (Maricha). This is a direct parallel—even the greatest of beings can be momentarily clouded by an illusion.
- Bhagavad Gita: The tiger quotes the Gita regarding charity to the needy. This illustrates how demonic natures often use sacred knowledge to manipulate the righteous.
- Panchatantra: The Hitopadesha is heavily inspired by the Panchatantra. The frame story of the pigeons and the mouse is found in the Panchatantra (Book 2: Mitrasamprapti/ Winning of friends). However, the specific placement of the "Tiger and Bangle" as a warning within that story, is unique to the Hitopadesha.
- Upanishads: The concept of the "Tying Post" for the cow relates to the idea of Bandhana (bondage) and how external constraints are sometimes necessary for internal progress.
Hitopadesha vs. Panchatantra
While similar, they have key differences:
- Origin: Panchatantra is older (attributed to Vishnu Sharma). Hitopadesha was compiled later by Narayana Pandit.
- Structure: Panchatantra has 5 books; Hitopadesha has 4. Hitopadesha is often considered a more "student-friendly" version of the Panchatantra.
Similarities with Non-Indian Texts
- Aesop’s Fables: The story of the "Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing" is the Western parallel to the "Tiger in a Sage’s Guise." Both warn that a change in appearance does not mean a change in heart.
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