The Tale of the Cunning Jackal

Kanik was a clever minister. He replied, "Emperor, I will narrate to you the story of the jackal who was adept at diplomacy. He lived in a jungle with his four friends: a tiger, a mouse, a wolf, and a mongoose. One day, they spotted a beautiful and agile deer. They chased the deer but failed to catch it. Disappointed, they consulted among themselves.

The jackal said, 'Tiger, you weren't able to catch that deer because it was young, agile, and strong. I have a plan: when it is asleep, let the mouse bite off its feet. Then, it will not be able to run, and you will easily catch it. Afterward, the five of us will feast on its meat.'

As per the jackal's plan, the mouse gnawed the deer's feet, after which the tiger chased the deer and killed it. The jackal was clever and cunning. When he saw the dead deer, his mouth began to water. 'I will guard the deer's carcass while the four of you bathe,' he said. The jackal's friends trusted him. They went to the nearby river to bathe while the jackal stayed put.

The tiger, the mightiest of the four, was the first to return. He noticed that the jackal looked uneasy and asked, 'Why do you look so upset? Let the feast begin!' The jackal replied, 'My powerful friend, the mouse claims that his skills were what enabled you to kill this deer. He says that you're getting to enjoy this meal only because of him. His conceit, along with the statements he made about you, has caused me to lose my appetite.' The tiger felt embarrassed. He decided to prove his ability and said, 'If the mouse has said this, I will now hunt and eat by myself.' With that, he set out to hunt.

When the mouse returned after his bath, the jackal said, 'I don't understand what the mongoose just told me. He said that, due to the tiger's claws, the deer's carcass has become poisonous and, therefore, inedible. He added that he would rather eat you.' The terrified mouse ran for his life.

Now it was the wolf's turn. When he returned, the jackal said, 'Someone has incited the tiger against you, and he is on his way here with his friends. This could endanger your life. Think carefully and decide what to do.' The wolf's courage failed him, and he too fled.

The mongoose returned last. The jackal said, 'With my strength, I have chased the other three away. If you're bold enough, come fight me; only then will you get to eat this meat.' The mongoose replied, 'When the tiger, wolf, and the mouse couldn't face you, what chance do I have?' He then went away, disheartened.

The cunning jackal then ate the entire carcass by himself."