Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/453

king of the beasts! This deer hath been slain by me! By the might of my arm he will today gratify his hunger!'—When he hath boasted in such language, I, for my part, do not wish to touch this food—The tiger replied,—If, indeed, the mouse hath said so, my sense is now awakened. I shall, from this day, slay, with the might of my own arm, creatures ranging the forest and then feast on their flesh.—Having said this, the tiger went away.

"'And after the tiger had left the spot, the mouse came. And seeing the mouse come, the jackal addressed him and said,—Blest be thou, O mouse, but listen to what the mongoose htah said. He hath even said,—'The carcase of this deer is poison (the tiger having touched it with his claws). I will not eat of it. On the other hand, if thou, O jackal, permittest it, I will even slay the mouse and feast on him!' Hearing this the mouse became alarmed and quickly entered his hole. And after the mouse had gone, the wolf, O king, came there having performed his ablutions. And seeing the wolf come, the jackal said unto him,—The king of the beasts hath been angry with thee! Evil is certain to overtake thee! He is expected here with his wife. Do as thou pleasest!—Thus was the wolf also, fond of animal meat, got rid off by the jackal. And the wolf fled contracting his body into the smallest dimensions. It was then that the mongoose came. And, O king, the jackal, seeing him come, said,—By the might of my arm have I defeated the others who have already fled. Fight with me first and then eat of this meat as you please!—The mongoose replied,—When, indeed, the tiger, the wold, and the intelligent mouse, have all been defeated by thee, heroes as they are, thou seemest to be a greater hero still! I do not desire to fight with thee.—Staying this, the mongoose also went away.'

"Kanika continued, 'When they all had thus left the place, the jackal, well-pleased at the success of his policy, alone ate of that meat. If kings ever act in this way, they can be happy. Thus should the timid by exciting their fears, the courageous by the arts of conciliation, the covetous by gift of wealth, and equals and inferiors by exhibition of prowess,