“There was once a jackal called Gomaya. One day, he was very hungry and he wandered about in search of food. At last, he came to a battlefield. The fighting armies had left behind a drum, lying near some creepers. Because of a strong wind, the creepers were rubbing against the drum and making a noise. When the jackal heard this, he got frightened and thought to himself, ‘Unless I can make myself scarce before whoever is making this noise sees me, I am done for. But then, it is unwise to desert one’s house suddenly, so instead I must try to find out who is making this noise.’
So he took all his courage in his hands and as he crept forward he realised that it was only a drum. He continued his search and nearby he found sufficient food to last him a long time.
“And, so you see,” Damanaka went on, “you shouldn’t be afraid of a mere noise.”
“How can I be brave,” said Pingalaka, “when my whole court is trembling with fright and wants to get away from here?”
“Master,” said Damanaka, “servants should not be held responsible for they only follow their master’s example. They say:
‘Horses, weapons, books, conversation,
The harp and a wife,
They all become worthy or worthless
According to the man they belong to.’
“And so,” continued Damanaka, “be brave and wait here patiently until I return. I am going to find out about the noise. And then we shall do whatever is for the best.”
“Are you brave enough to go?” asked Pingalaka.
“Certainly,” said Damanaka, “besides, why should a servant ask questions whether a thing is to be done or not, if it is his master’s pleasure.”
“My dear friend!” said Pingalaka. “Well, if that’s the case, then by all means, go. May God protect you.”
Damanaka bowed before the king and set out, following the noise made by Sanjivaka.
After the jackal had taken his leave, Pingalaka got frightened. He sank into a deep reverie and began to think to himself, “I have made a mistake in confiding my intentions to him. As I deprived him of his position, he may join hands with my enemy and thus revenge himself on me. And so I shall hide somewhere so as to find out what he is up to and to make sure that he does not lead my enemy straight here to kill me, for they say:
‘A strong man who puts his faith in others,
May pay with his life,
But a weakling who is always wary,
Escapes death,
Even at the hands of the strongest of men.’
And so having come to this decision, Pingalaka took off and waited anxiously for Damanaka’s return.
In the meantime, Damanaka came near to where Sanjivaka was, and realized that it was only a bullock making the noise. He was overjoyed, thinking to himself, “This is a lucky omen: now I shall have Pingalaka under my thumb because I have the power to make him and this bullock friends or enemies, whichever I choose, for:
‘As a man in good health requires no doctor,
So a king free from troubles pays no attention to his minister.’
With these thoughts, Damanaka returned and searched out Pingalaka. Bowing before him, he took his place.
“So did you see him?” asked Pingalaka.
“With your good favor I have seen him,” replied Damanaka.
“Honestly?” asked Pingalaka. “Are you telling the truth?”
“Do you think anyone would dare lie to you?” said Damanaka.
“So, it’s true?” said Pingalaka, “You have seen him. The great do not assert themselves against weaklings, that’s why he did not kill you, for:
‘The storm spares the low-bowing and weak grass,
But uproots the tall trees.
The strong fight the strong
But not the weak.’
“Well, however great he may be, and however helpless we seem by comparison,” said Damanaka, “just say the word, and I will make him your servant!”
Pingalaka breathed a sigh of relief and said, “What! Could you really do that?”
“What is impossible for a man of intelligence?” replied Damanaka.
“Well,” said Pingalaka, “if that is the case, I appoint you my minister from this very day.”
Damanaka took his leave and went straight to Sanjivaka. He began to scold him, “Despicable ox! Aren’t you afraid of our master Pingalaka that you bellow at such odd hours? Come with me. My master Pingalaka has summoned you.”
When Sanjivaka heard this he said, “My dear fellow, who is this Pingalaka?”
“What!” exclaimed Damanaka. “You haven’t heard of Pingalaka? Just you wait, you’ll get to know him alright soon! He is over there, sitting under the banyan tree, surrounded by his retinue.”
When Sanjivaka heard this, he thought that his end had come and his heart sank. He said to Damanaka, “My friend, you seem sympathetic and an expert in the arts of conversation. If you want to take me to the lion, get me a guarantee that my life will be safe.”
“You are right to ask for security,” said Damanaka, for:
‘A man, can reach the ends of the earth
Or the depths of the sea
Or the tops of the mountains,
But none can fathom the deep thoughts of a king.’
“So wait here. I shall take you to him when the time is ripe.”
Then Damanaka returned to Pingalaka and said, “Master, that is no ordinary animal. He is an ox who is a special mount of Shiva. When I asked him he explained to me, ‘My Lord Shiva was very pleased with me and gave me leave to enjoy the tender grass of the river Yamuna. And Lord Shiva said that the whole jungle should be my playground.'”
“Now I know the truth!” exclaimed Pingalaka, terrified. “How else could a grass-eating animal wander fearlessly in a jungle full of dangerous beasts, except he had the blessings of Shiva. But what did you say to him when you heard that?”
“Master,” said Damanaka, “I told him, ‘This jungle has already been presented to our master by the goddess Durga, whose mount he is. But, all the same, you are welcome. Come and stay with King Pingalaka as if you were his own brother, spend your time making merry with food and drink and games.’ Well, he agreed but has requested that you should guarantee that his life will be safe. So, the rest is up to you.”
When Pingalaka heard this, he said, “Well done, my efficient minister. You have acted exactly according to my wishes. I do assure him that his life shall be safe but get me a similar assurance from him too and bring him to me quickly.”
Damanaka bowed before Pingalaka and, on his way to Sanjivaka, he thought gleefully, “My master is very gracious towards me and is behaving exactly as I hoped. I think I must be the luckiest being alive.”
When he reached Sanjivaka, he said to him respectfully, “Friend, I made a request to my master that your life should be spared. He has promised that it shall be so. And so, accompany me with confidence. But when we arrive at the king’s place, you should respect me as much as you respect yourself. Don’t get too big for your boots and start bossing me about. On my part, I shall consult you in the exercise of my duties as a minister. In this way, we can both enjoy Lakshmi, for:
‘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.’
“How was that?” asked Sanjivaka.
And Damanaka told: THE STORY OF THE MERCHANT DANTILA
