perform ablutions regularly, and am charitable. Why, then, am I not worthy of
confidence?"
"So far, you see," continued the Tiger, "I have an interest in wishing to give
away to some one this golden bracelet from off my own wrist; and as thou
appearest to be rather a poor man, I prefer giving it to thee; according to this
saying:
"'Make choice of the poor, and bestow not thy gifts on others.' Then go, and
having purified thyself in this stream, take the golden bracelet."
The Traveller no sooner began to enter the river to purify himself, than he stuck
fast in the mud, and was unable to escape. The Tiger told him he would help him
out; and creeping softly toward him, the poor man was seized, and instantly
exclaimed to himself: "Alas! the career of my heart is cut short by fate!"
But whilst the unfortunate fellow was thus meditating, he was devoured by the
Tiger. Hence also, it is at no time proper to undertake anything without
examination.
The Jackal and the Cat
To one whose family and profession are unknown, one should not give
residence: the Jackal Jarad-gava was killed through the fault of a Cat.
On the banks of the river Bhageerathee, and upon the mountain Greedhra-koota,
there is a large parkattee tree, in the hollow of whose trunk there dwelt a Jackal,
by name Jarad-gava, who, by some accident, was grown blind, and for whose
support the different birds who roosted upon the branches of the same tree were
wont to contribute a trifle from their own stores, by which he existed. It so fell
out, that one day a certain Cat, by name Deerga-karna,[1] came there to prey
upon the young birds, whom perceiving, the little nestlings were greatly terrified,
and began to be very clamorous; and their cries being heard by Jarad-gava, he
asked who was coming. The Cat Deerga-karna, too, seeing the Jackal, began to
be alarmed, and said to himself: "Oh! I shall certainly be killed, for now that I
am in his sight, it will not be in my power to escape. However, let what will be
the consequence, I will approach him." So, having thus resolved, he went up to
the Jackal, and said: "Master, I salute thee!" "Who art thou?" demanded the