Somewhere in the woods, there is a city called Vardhamana. A very prosperous merchant, by the name Dantila, lived there. He exercised authority over the whole city. During his administration, he kept both the common people and the king very happy. What more can be said? A man as wise as that has hardly been heard of or seen, for:
“The man who seeks the good of the king,
Is hated by the common people.
And the man who seeks the welfare of the people,
Is hated by the king.”
In such conflicting circumstances, it is almost impossible to find such a man, loved by the king as well as the people.
In the course of time, the marriage of Dantila’s daughter took place. Dantila invited the entire public and the king’s officers. He entertained them sumptuously, gave them presents of clothing and in this way, he honored them. After the wedding, the king himself with the queen and the entire court were invited along to Dantila’s house, and he showed them great respect.
A servant by the name of Gorambhar, who used to sweep the floors of the king’s palace, came there too, but uninvited. He sat down on a seat meant for someone else. Dantila caught him by the neck and threw him out.
The servant felt insulted and could not sleep all night for thinking, “How can I get Dantila into disfavor with the king and so, get even with him. But then, what chance have I, an ordinary fellow, of harming such a powerful person as he is.”
Several days later, early in the morning, when the king was not yet wide awake, Gorambhar was sweeping the floor near his bed and said, “Good heavens! Dantila has become so brazen nowadays that he actually dares to embrace the queen!”
When the king heard this, he jumped up and shouted, “Gorambhar! Is that true? Has Dantila really embraced the queen?”
“Master,” replied Gorambhar, “I was gambling all night and didn’t sleep at all. This morning I feel drowsy. I really don’t know what I’ve been saying.”
Jealous, the king thought to himself, “Yes! The servant Gorambhar is allowed to go about freely in the palace and so is Dantila. It is quite possible that Gorambhar has seen Dantila embracing my queen, for:
“What a man ponders over, sees or performs
During the day,
He will mutter in his dreams.
And there is no doubt about it when a woman is involved. She smiles at one man, with half-opened lips, throws a little remark at another; at the same time flirting with the third, her eyes half-closed, whilst in her heart she dreams of yet another man, the one she loves. Who can depend on the love of such a woman, with eyebrows like the bows of an archer? The man who thinks that a woman loves him is a fool. He falls into her trap – she’ll treat him like a toy.”
The king’s thoughts were so troubled that, from that day onward, he withdrew his favors from Dantila and, what is more, he forbade him even to enter the palace. Dantila was astounded to see this sudden change in the king’s attitude and said to himself, “It’s true what they say:
‘Has anyone heard of
A crow that is clean,
A gambler who is honest,
A snake that forgives,
A passionate woman who is calm,
An impotent man who is brave,
A drunkard with discrimination,
Or the friendship of a king.’
Even in my dreams, I have done no harm to anyone, not to the king himself, nor to anyone in his family. Why then is the king so hostile towards me?”
Some time passed.
One day, when Dantila wanted to pass through the gateway to the palace, he was stopped by the guards. Gorambhar, who was sweeping the floor, saw this and he said with a smirk, “Ho! Guards! That fellow is the king’s favorite. He can arrest or release people, just as he pleases. He threw me out. Be careful, you may suffer the same fate.”
When Dantila heard this, he thought to himself, “It is surely Gorambhar who has caused the trouble. Now I understand why they say:
“The king’s servant,
Though he be of low caste, foolish or mean,
Is respected wherever he goes.”
Dantila felt upset and returned home in a very dejected mood. He thought it over and that evening, he invited Gorambhar to his house, gave him a pair of garments and said kindly, “My dear friend, it was not because I was angry that I threw you out that day but because it was an impropriety for you to take the seat you took – it was reserved for a Brahmin. The Brahmin felt insulted, that’s why I had to throw you out. Forgive me.”
When Gorambhar saw the clothes, he was very pleased. Full of joy, he said to Dantila, “Sir, now I forgive you. You have expressed your regrets and also honored me. Once again you shall see the favor of the king, and in this way, I shall prove to you my cleverness.” With these words, Gorambhar went home happily.
Next morning, he went to the palace and started sweeping the floor. When he had made sure that the king was lying half awake, he said, “The king is really indiscreet, he eats cucumber in the lavatory!”
The king was taken aback to hear this and he shouted, “You! Gorambhar! What’s that nonsense you’re talking! It’s only because you’re my servant that I don’t kill you. Have you ever seen me doing such a thing?”
“Master,” said Gorambhar, “I was gambling last night and didn’t sleep at all. This morning I feel drowsy. I really don’t know what I’ve been saying. But if I’ve said anything out of place, please forgive me.”
When the king heard this, he thought to himself, “Never in my life have I eaten cucumber in the lavatory. If this fool has said something ridiculous about me? surely what he said about Dantila was ridiculous too. It was wrong of me to have insulted Dantila. Besides, without him, the whole administrative system, at the palace and in the city, has become slack.”
When he had considered this carefully, the king invited Dantila to the palace, presented him with jewels and clothing, and reappointed him to his former position.
“And so,” continued Damanaka, “that’s why I said:
‘A man who, out of pride,
Does not properly handle the high, the middle, and the low,
Shall be ruined, as Dantila was ruined,
Even though he was the favorite of the king.'”
“Brother,” said Sanjivaka, “you’re right, I’ll do exactly as you say.”
Then Damanaka brought Sanjivaka to Pingalaka and said, “Master, I have brought Sanjivaka to you. Now I leave everything in your hands.”
Sanjivaka bowed before Pingalaka and stood before him respectfully. Pingalaka greeted him with similar respect and asked, “My friend, how is the world with you? How do you come to be in this wild jungle?” And Sanjivaka told him all that had happened to him.
When Pingalaka had finished listening to Sanjivaka’s story, he said kindly, “My dear Sanjivaka, don’t be afraid. Move about as freely as you please in this jungle, which my claws and arms protect. However, you must always stay near me, for this jungle is inhabited by wild beasts, dangerous even to very powerful animals, to say nothing of grass-eaters.”
With this, Pingalaka went to the bank of the river Yamuna to drink water to his heart’s content. And then he returned to the jungle. He entrusted the administration of the kingdom to Karataka and Damanaka and began to listen to Sanjivaka’s moral tales – this is how he spent his time.
Sanjivaka had made a thorough study of the shastras, and, in a few days, he considerably enlightened the dull Pingalaka and made him forget his wild mannerisms. Every day they had discussions together in secret. All the other animals stayed at a distance; even Damanaka and Karataka were forbidden to approach them.
As the lion would no longer go hunting, all the animals including Damanaka and Karataka began to starve. They say:
“As birds forsake an old and withered tree,
No longer bearing fruit and fly elsewhere,
So servants forsake a king,
From whom they no longer benefit.”
When Karataka and Damanaka had given up all hope of a change in the king’s attitude, they held a discussion together.
“Brother Karataka,” said Damanaka, “again we’re in a spot. Ever since Pingalaka has been taken up by this talk of Sanjivaka’s, he has neglected all his responsibilities. His entire court has deserted him. Now what are we going to do?”
“Even if the master does not listen to you,” said Karataka, “it is still your duty to set his faults right. It’s a minister’s duty to advise a king, whether the king accepts his advice or not. If a proud king or an agitated elephant follows the wrong path, it’s the fault of the minister and the mahout. You brought the grass-eating Sanjivaka to the master. You yourself have raked the burning coals.”
“That’s very true,” said Damanaka. “It is my fault, not the master’s. They say:
‘The jackal between the fighting rams
And the Sanyasi who trusted Ashadhbhuti,
Were themselves to blame.’
“How was that?” asked Karataka.
And Damanaka told: THE STORY OF THE JACKAL AND THE SANYASI
