The Jackal and the Cat: A Lesson in Trust – Fable from Hitopadesha, India

The Jackal and the Cat

Hitopadesha Story - The Jackal and the Cat

In the heart of a lush, green forest lived a kind-hearted Jackal named Jarad-gava. Jarad-gava was a blind Jackal, but despite his blindness, he was well-liked by the other animals. His kindness and gentle nature had earned him many friends in the forest, and the other creatures would often help him find food, guiding him to places where he could eat and survive. Jarad-gava never let his disability stop him from being a friendly and caring neighbor.

One day, while the forest was bustling with the sounds of rustling leaves and chirping birds, a new creature arrived in the area. This creature was a Cat named Deerga-karna, who was known for his cunning and sly nature. Deerga-karna was on the prowl, looking for young, unsuspecting birds to eat. The young birds, who were playing and hopping around, didn't notice the Cat sneaking closer. As soon as the Cat lunged at one of the birds, the rest of the young ones were terrified and began to cry out for help.

The Jackal, who was resting nearby, heard the frantic cries of the birds. Though blind, Jarad-gava had very keen hearing, and he quickly recognized that the cries were coming from the young birds in trouble. He knew he had to do something to help them, so he sprang to action. With a loud voice, Jarad-gava threatened the Cat, warning him to stay away from the helpless birds. The Cat, seeing the Jackal approach, quickly realized that he needed to act fast.

But Deerga-karna, the sly Cat, was not a fool. He had a plan to deceive the Jackal. Instead of fighting or running away, the Cat decided to play on the Jackal's kindness. He smiled and began speaking in soft, soothing tones. "Oh, noble Jackal," he said, "I am not here to harm anyone. I am a wise and peaceful creature, a devoted follower of the great forest spirits. I come to the birds not to harm them, but to guide them toward a better life. You see, I have been chosen to help the young birds grow stronger and wiser."

The Jackal, who was known for his gentle nature and kindness, was taken in by the Cat's words. Deerga-karna spoke with such sweetness and sincerity that Jarad-gava believed him completely. The Cat continued, "Please, do not harm me. I would never hurt the innocent. In fact, I can help you with your search for food and safety. Together, we can live in peace."

The Jackal, touched by the Cat's words and trusting in the Cat's appearance of wisdom and spirituality, believed the Cat and even assured the young birds that they were safe. "There is no need to fear," Jarad-gava told them. "This Cat is here to help, not to harm you."

The Cat, now that he had won the Jackal's trust, took full advantage of the situation. He convinced the Jackal that they should live together in the tree, where they could be close to the young birds and watch over them. Jarad-gava, who trusted his new companion, agreed. They set up a home in the tree, and the Jackal felt relieved to have a friend to share his life with.

But the Cat, as always, had his own agenda. Instead of keeping his promises, he secretly began to hunt and eat the young birds one by one. The poor, unsuspecting Jackal had no idea what was happening right under his nose. He believed that the Cat was indeed looking out for the birds, as he had claimed. But in truth, Deerga-karna was silently and greedily feasting on them.

Over time, the other birds began to notice that their young ones were disappearing. One by one, the baby birds vanished, and the adult birds grew suspicious. They questioned Jarad-gava, but the Jackal, blind and trusting, had no idea what was going on. He still believed the Cat's kind words and was unaware of the Cat's treachery.

Eventually, the truth came to light. The adult birds discovered that the young birds had been eaten by the Cat. They were furious, and in their anger, they blamed the Jackal. They believed that the Jackal, being the one closest to the birds, must have eaten them. Despite the Jackal's innocence, the birds attacked him, not realizing that he had been tricked by the deceptive Cat.

The Story of The Jackal and the Cat emphasizes the importance of being careful who we trust, especially when someone seems too good to be true. The Jackal, despite his kind heart and good intentions, was deceived by the Cat's smooth talk and false claims of wisdom and spirituality. The Cat's manipulative words allowed him to gain the Jackal's trust and live alongside him, where he could secretly harm the young birds.

The story teaches us that appearances can be deceiving, and we must be cautious when allowing someone new into our lives. Just because someone sounds kind or wise doesn't mean they have good intentions. It's important to learn more about someone before allowing them close, especially if we want to protect those we care about.

The moral of the story is clear: trust should be earned, not freely given. We should be careful about who we believe and be aware of those who may use our trust for their own selfish gain.