The Brahmin, the Tiger and the Jackal Fairy Tale

Long ago in India there lived a kind and trusting Brahmin, a wise scholar. He never harmed anyone and could not bring himself to step on an ant. But he had one weakness: he believed everyone.

One day, as the Brahmin was walking to a neighbouring village, he saw a tiger sitting in an iron cage by the road. Hunters had caught the tiger and locked it up. It had eaten nothing for several days, it was suffering from thirst and it had grown very weak.

"O kind Brahmin!" begged the tiger. "Let me out. I am dying of thirst. Let me have just one sip of water. I swear I will never harm you. I will be your friend."

The Brahmin thought it over. "You are a tiger. It is your nature to hunt. If I let you out, you might eat me," he said. "No, no!" wept the tiger. "I will not break my word. Only have pity on me." The Brahmin's heart softened, and he opened the door of the cage.

The tiger sprang out of the cage, stretched and roared. Then it looked at the Brahmin and licked its lips. "Thank you, Brahmin. But I have been hungry for so long. You will be my dinner!"

"That is unfair!" cried the Brahmin. "I saved you, and now you want to eat me! At least let us ask others. If three witnesses say you are right, I will agree." The tiger laughed. "Very well. They will take my side anyway."

First they asked a big tree by the road. The tree sighed. "I give travellers shade from the sun. But they break my branches, tear off my leaves and throw them on their fires. People are ungrateful. The tiger is right."

Next they asked an old buffalo in a field. The buffalo shook his head. "When I was young, I ploughed the land for my master and pulled his cart. Now that I am old, he has driven me out into the field. Don't expect kindness from people. The tiger is right."

Third, they asked the road itself. The road said, "I serve everyone, rich and poor. But instead of thanking me, they trample on me and cover me with dust. The tiger is right."

The Brahmin grew very sad and hung his head. Just then a jackal came out of the bushes. "What is the matter, Brahmin? Why do you look so sad?" he asked.

The Brahmin told him everything. The jackal scratched his head and pretended to think hard. "I don't understand. Tell me again. You were sitting in the cage? And the tiger was walking along the road?" "No, no! The tiger was in the cage," said the Brahmin.

"Ah... So the tiger locked you in the cage?" said the jackal, getting muddled again. The tiger lost patience and roared, "You fool! I was in the cage! The Brahmin was walking along the road!" "Forgive me, I am slow to understand. How exactly were you sitting? Show me, and I will understand at once," said the jackal.

"Like this!" snapped the tiger, and he went back into the cage and sat down. "And where was your tail? Inside or outside?" "Inside!" And the tiger tucked his tail in. At that very moment the jackal slammed the door shut and slid the bolt across.

"Now I understand!" laughed the jackal. "Everything is just as it was. And you, kind Brahmin, go on your way. But remember: be kind, but don't lose your head." The Brahmin thanked the jackal and walked on to the village. And the tiger was left sitting in the cage, thinking about his greed and his broken promise.