Table of Contents
The Deer, the Crow and the Jackal
Laghupatanaka, the crow, had seen the mouse Hiranyaka free the pigeons. He was amazed and realized the value of true friendship. He went to the mouse and wanted to be his friend. The mouse said ‘a crow and a mouse could not be friends'. A mouse was food for a crow. He then began telling the story of the jackal, the crow and the deer.
The story takes us to a forest somewhere in Magadha. In this forest were many Champaka trees. It was a beautiful place and when the afternoon wind blew, the entire forest would be filled with the fragrance of the Champaka flowers. This forest had gotten the name Champakavati because of these trees. In this forest, apart from the Champaka trees were many fruit trees, which attracted many animals. Amongst many others were a deer and a crow who lived in that forest. The deer used to lead a carefree life. This forest was devoid of any predators. The deer would eat the ripe fruits from the trees when they would fall, and this life had made the deer quite hale and hearty.
One day, a jackal who was looking for food, happened to come to this forest. He roamed around looking for food and was about to give up, when he spotted this healthy deer. Seeing the deer, the jackal stopped. All he could think of at the moment was catching the deer, killing it and eating it. The jackal thought:
I cannot catch up with the deer. He is very swift. If I could win the deer’s confidence, I will trick him and then I could kill and eat him.
He stood thinking how to win the deer’s trust. He thought for sometime and gradually he went where the deer was. The deer, seeing the jackal approach, stood still, trying to gauge the jackal’s move. Not sure if this was a friend or an enemy, it tried to move its head to try and scare the jackal away. Undeterred, the jackal went close to the deer, and maintaining a safe distance, said:
Hello my friend. I hope you are blessed with perfect health.
The deer was puzzled. He had never seen a jackal before. Was this a friend or an enemy? He asked:
Who are you?
The jackal said:
I am a mere jackal with the name Kshudrabuddhi. I have been roaming around the forests looking for a friend. It may be because of my intellect, that I do not have any friends. I am very lonely and when I saw you here, I thought I will be your friend. If you do not think I am fit to be your friend, why don’t you let me serve you. I will get to be close to you.
The deer liked the jackal. He said to the jackal:
The sun is about to set. If you do not have a place to stay, come with me. I live with a crow called Subuddhi. I will introduce you to him.
Saying this, the deer took the jackal with him. As soon as the deer reached home, he called out to Subuddhi. Subuddhi came out and saw the jackal and asked the deer:
Who is this? What is he doing here?
The deer said:
It is a jackal. I met him in the forest. He is lonely and is looking to make friends. I wanted him to meet you, which is why I have brought him here.
Subuddhi said:
Remember one thing. This jackal is a stranger. One should not share their house with a stranger. The vulture gave shelter to a cat and met its end.
The deer and the jackal were curious and wanted to know what happened. Subuddhi began telling the story.
Analysis
The story is about discernment of character. While kindness is a virtue, blind trust is a vulnerability. Friendship should be based on shared nature and proven integrity rather than sweet words.
- The Deer: Represents the "Innocent Soul." He lives in a state of abundance (Champakavati) and assumes the world is as kind as he is.
- The Jackal: Represents "Deceitful Intellect." He uses logic and humility as tools for predation.
- The Crow: Represents "Experiential Wisdom." He is the watchful guardian who understands that the world contains both predators and prey.
Significance of the Jackal
The jackal is chosen because of its biological and cultural reputation as a scavenger and opportunist. Unlike a lion, which relies on strength, a jackal relies on manipulation. Its nature is to be small/mean—it cannot hunt the swift deer fairly, so it must hunt the deer's mind first.
Meanings of Names and Daily Life Correlation
The names in these texts are descriptive labels that define the character's primary trait:
| Name | Literal Meaning | Role in Context | Daily Life Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kshudrabuddhi | "Small/Mean Intellect" | The Jackal who uses his brain for selfish, petty ends. | The "frenemy" or a scammer who uses flattery to gain access to your resources. |
| Subuddhi | "Good/Right Intellect" | The Crow who offers sound, protective advice. | A cautious mentor, an elder, or your own "gut instinct" that warns you of red flags. |
| Laghupatanaka | "Light-falling" / "Swift Flyer" | The Crow observing the story; he is agile and observant. | The bystander who learns from others' mistakes. |
| Hiranyaka | "Golden One" | The Mouse who is cautious and value-driven. | A person who has survived hardship and is now selective about their circle. |
Lessons
- Do not offer full intimacy or "share your house" with someone whose lineage and character are unknown.
- When the Jackal says, "I am lonely... let me serve you," he is playing on the Deer's ego and pity.
Source and Similarities in Scriptures
- Mahabharata: In the Shanti Parva, Bhishma talks about conduct in times of distress to explain that a treaty between a strong and a weak person is usually a ruse.
- Aesop’s Fables: The story of "The Fox and the Crow" is similar to the Jackal’s use of flattery to get what he wants.
The Vulture and the Cat (The Teaser)
Subuddhi mentions the "Vulture who gave shelter to a cat." This refers to the story of an old, blind vulture who lived in a hollow tree. He allowed a cat to stay there because the cat spoke "piously." The cat eventually ate the birdlings in the tree and blamed the vulture, leading to the vulture's death at the hands of the other birds. This story will be shared next week.
.png)
No comments:
Post a Comment