trampling over their warren, at length, one of them, reflected in this manner:
"This troop of Elephants, oppressed with thirst, will be coming here every day to
drink, and, at length, our whole race will be destroyed!" But an old buck said to
him, "Brother, don't be uneasy; for I am going to prevent what thou dreadest."
Saying which, he set off to try how he could oppose them; but as he went along,
he began to consider how he should approach so formidable a troop; "for,"
observed he, "they say:
"'An elephant killeth even by touching, a serpent even by smelling, a king even
by ruling, and a wicked man by laughing at one.'
"Wherefore, I will mount the summit of a rock to address the head of the troop."
This being put in execution accordingly, the chief Elephant asked him who he
was, and whence he came. "I am," he replied, "an ambassador sent here by the
god Chandra." "Declare the purport of thy commission," said the Elephant. "Sir,"
replied the Rabbit, "as ambassadors, even when the weapons of war are lifted up,
speak not otherwise than for the benefit of their State; and although they speak
boldly according as it is their advantage, they are not to be put to death; then I
will declare what are the commands of the god Chandra. He bade me say, that in
driving away and destroying the Rabbits who are appointed to guard the fountain
which is consecrated to that duty, you have done ill; 'for,' said he, 'they are my
guards and it is notorious that the figure of a Rabbit is my emblem.'"
The head Elephant, upon hearing this became greatly alarmed, declared that they
had offended through ignorance, and would never go to the fountain again.
"If this be your resolution," said the ambassador, "go this once, and make your
submission before the diety himself, whom you will see in the fountain, quite
agitated with anger; and when you have pacified him, you may depart."
Accordingly, as soon as it was night, the ambassador Vijaya having conducted
the chief of the Elephants to the fountain, there showed him the image of the
moon, trembling, as it were, upon the smooth surface of the water and when he
had made him bow down to it, in token of submission, he said: "Please your
divinity! What hath been done having been done through ignorance, I pray thee
pardon them!" and upon saying this, he caused the Elephant to depart. I repeat,
therefore, "Great things may be effected by wise counsel, when a sovereign
enemy may be too powerful."