Lioness and the Young Jackal

Panchtantra Stories

Deep in the forest lived a couple of lions, and the lioness delivered two cubs. As he did every day, the lion went in search of food for himself and the lioness, when found a jackal cub after a futile attempt in search of a prey. The lion took fancy on him and instead of killing him, took him to the lioness. The lioness asked her husband, "Did you get us any food today?"  "I found this cub. That’s all," said the lion.  "I haven’t killed him because he is a child. But if you are very hungry, you can have this child for your meal."  The lioness was angry and asked her husband, "How can I kill him when you spared him his life?"  The elders have said:  "Don’t do an unworthy deed Even in the face of death; Don’t give up a worthy deed Even if it means suicide."  "I will treat him like my third son," said the lioness.  Thereafter, the new jackal cub became one of the family and the three ate, drank, played and slept together. One day when they were playing, an elephant passed by. At once, the two lion cubs got ready to attack the elephant. The jackal cub told them that the elephant was an enemy of the lions and that it was better for them to leave. The lion cubs were disappointed at the words of their jackal brother.  They went home and told their father the details of how the jackal brother fled from the scene. The father was not happy with his children and admonished them. The lion took the jackal cub aside and told him not to discourage the lion cubs who, she said, were his younger brothers.  The jackal was hurt and asked his lion mother, "How am I different from them in beauty or education or bravery? Why should the two ridicule me? I will kill both of them."  Amused by the words of the jackal cub and wishing him long life, the lioness said, "You are still a child. I brought you up taking pity on you. Your brothers are also young. Before they grow old and know that you are different from them, leave this place and join your own folk."  Realising the danger ahead, the jackal cub left the lion family in search of his own folk.  "That’s why, before other warriors find out that you do not belong to the warrior caste, leave this place," the king advised Yudhishtira. The potter immediately left the palace.  Raktamukha, the monkey, told Karalamukha, the croc, "You have tried to kill me heeding your wife’s plea. But one should never trust women. I deserted my family for the sake of a woman and gave her half of my life. But in the end she left me to join a lame lover. That’s why never trust a woman."  "Interesting," said the croc and asked the monkey to tell him that story.