In a certain country lived a king who had a very beautifully decorated bedroom. An exquisite white silk sheet covered the bed and in the folds of the sheet, there lived a white flea, by the name of Mandavisarpini. She used to drink the blood of the king and, in this way, spend her time very happily.
“One day, a bug by the name of Agnimukha crept into the bedroom. When the flea caught sight of him, she cried, ‘Agnimukha! What are you doing here? Get out at once!’
‘Madam,’ replied the bug, ‘that’s not the way to speak to a guest, even if he is a good-for-nothing. A lady householder should hold out her hand even to someone of low caste. She should say, “Welcome! Please take a seat here and make yourself comfortable. You have visited me after many days. Tell me, what is the latest news? You are looking rather thin. Are you well? I am delighted to see you again!”‘
‘And besides,’ continued the bug, ‘I have drunk all types of blood, but so far I have never had the pleasure of tasting the blood of a king. I think it must be very sweet, for he has been eating the choicest food. Now, if you will permit me, I would love to taste the king’s blood. I have come to your house faint with hunger. Mandavisarpini, it is unworthy of you to enjoy the king’s blood all to yourself! Let me too have a share of it.’
‘But, Agnimukha,’ said the flea, ‘I only suck the king’s blood when he has gone fast asleep but you are nasty and bite like a sharp needle. However, if you promise to let the king go to sleep before you start biting him, then I will let you drink his blood.’
‘Oh, I do promise!’ replied the bug, ‘I will even swear to wait until you have sucked his blood before I suck it myself.’
While they were talking, the king came and lay down on the bed. The bug’s mouth began to water and he took a bite of the king, without waiting for him to fall asleep. They say: ‘You cannot change a person’s temperament by preaching, Even boiled water will finally get cold.’
“The bug’s bite was like a sharp needle. The king jumped up and cried out to his servants, ‘Hey! Something’s bitten me! See if there is a bug or a flea in my bed!’
When the bug heard this, he hid himself in a corner of the bed. When the servants came and searched with sharp eyes, they found a flea lying between the folds of the sheets, and killed her.
“And so,” continued Damanaka, “that’s why I said: ‘Refrain from entertaining a man Whose character is unknown. The bug was at fault But instead they killed the flea.’ And they also say: ‘He who sacks his own confidants And engages outsiders in their place, Shall die like King Kukudruma.'”
“How was that?” asked Pingalaka.
And Damanaka told: THE STORY OF THE JACKAL WHO FELL INTO A VAT OF INDIGO DYE
