Once upon a time, in a vast and dense jungle, there ruled a mighty lion named Madotkata. As the king of the jungle, he was feared by many, but he had a few loyal companions who served him faithfully: a swift and cunning leopard, a sly jackal, and a sharp-eyed crow. These four roamed the jungle together, along with many other animals who lived under Madotkata's reign.
One day, while they were wandering through the jungle as usual, Madotkata spotted something unusual in the distance. It was a strange animal, unlike anything he had seen before, grazing peacefully on the lush green grass. Curious, he stopped and pointed at the animal. “What creature is that?” he asked, eyes gleaming with interest. “Let us approach and ask where it comes from.”
The crow, being a frequent flyer who had traveled to distant lands, quickly recognized the creature. “Master, that is a camel,” he said. “These animals usually live in villages and deserts, far from our jungle. Its flesh is said to be delicious. Let us kill it and feast on it.”
But the lion, with a sense of fairness and honor, shook his head. “No,” he said. “This camel is a stranger in our jungle, and as such, it is our guest. We cannot harm it. Instead, go and assure it of its safety and bring it here to meet me.”
Following the lion’s command, the crow, jackal, and leopard approached the camel. With soothing words and assurances that no harm would come to it, they convinced the camel to follow them to Madotkata. The camel, having wandered away from its caravan and feeling lost, was glad to meet the lion and his companions.
When the camel stood before the lion, it bowed in respect and told its story. “I have been separated from my caravan,” the camel explained, “and I wandered into this jungle by mistake.”
Madotkata, listening attentively, nodded. “You are welcome here,” he said. “If you return to the village, they will surely make you a beast of burden again. But if you stay in my jungle, you will live free, and you can graze on the plentiful grass without fear of harm. I offer you protection.”
The camel, relieved by the lion’s kind words, gladly accepted the offer. From that day on, it lived peacefully in the jungle, grazing on the abundant grass and enjoying the protection of the king of the jungle.
Time passed, and one day, Madotkata encountered a fierce and wild elephant. In the ensuing battle, the lion was severely injured. His wounds were so deep that he could no longer hunt for food. The once mighty lion was now weakened, and he could barely take a few steps, let alone stalk prey. As days passed, his companions—who relied on him for food—began to grow weak from hunger as well.
One morning, Madotkata, unable to bear the hunger any longer, called his loyal servants to him. “Go into the jungle and find some animal that I can prey upon,” he commanded, his voice heavy with exhaustion. “Even in my weakened state, I must eat, and if I can hunt, I will be able to provide food for all of you.”
Obeying his order, the jackal, crow, and leopard set out into the jungle to search for food. However, no matter how far they roamed, they could not find a single animal suitable for the lion. After hours of searching, they returned empty-handed.
As they made their way back to the lion, the jackal hatched a wicked plan. “Why are we wasting time searching for food,” he whispered to the crow, “when we have food right in front of us?”
The crow, confused, asked, “What do you mean?”
The jackal grinned. “The camel! He is a large animal and would provide enough food for all of us for days. We should offer him to the lion.”
The crow, though cunning, hesitated. “But the master has given the camel his word that no harm will come to him. He will never agree to kill him.”
“Leave that to me,” the jackal said slyly. “I will convince the lion. Just follow my lead.”
When they reached Madotkata, the jackal approached him carefully. “Master,” he began, “we searched far and wide, but there is no animal in the jungle that you can hunt in your current condition. We are all starving and weak. If we continue like this, none of us will survive.”
The lion sighed, his body weak and frail. “I will not survive much longer without food,” he admitted.
“That is why I have a suggestion, Master,” the jackal said, his eyes gleaming. “You promised the camel protection, but it would not be a sin to eat him if he offers himself to you willingly. He is fat and healthy, and his sacrifice could save all of us.”
Madotkata hesitated. “It is wrong to kill one who is under my protection,” he said.
“Master,” the jackal pressed, “it would only be a sin if you broke your promise and killed him without cause. But if the camel offers himself to save your life, you would be doing him an honor. What good is our loyalty to you if we cannot serve you in your time of need?”
The lion, weakened by hunger and swayed by the jackal’s words, reluctantly agreed. “Do as you see fit,” he said.
The jackal returned to the others and told them, “Our master is weak and on the brink of death. If we lose him, we will all be unprotected. The only way to save him, and ourselves, is to offer our lives. We must repay his kindness with our sacrifice.”
As planned, the crow, the jackal, and the leopard all stood before the lion and made their offers of sacrifice. The crow spoke first. “Master, I am small and will not provide much food, but I offer myself for your survival.”
The jackal interrupted, “You are too small, and your flesh would not sustain our master. Your offer is noble, but it is not enough.”
The jackal then stepped forward and said, “Master, I am willing to offer myself. Please accept my sacrifice.”
The leopard followed, making the same offer. But each time, the lion refused, his heart too heavy with guilt to accept their offers.
Finally, the camel, who had been listening, thought to himself, “They all offer themselves, but the lion refuses to kill them. If I offer myself in the same way, I will win the lion’s favor and live safely under his protection.”
With that thought, the camel stepped forward and bowed before the lion. “Master,” he said, “you need not kill your loyal servants. I offer myself as your food. My sacrifice will save you, and I will find peace in knowing that I have repaid your kindness.”
No sooner had the camel made his offer than the other animals, influenced by the jackal, cheered in agreement. The lion, weakened and no longer thinking clearly, sprang upon the camel and killed him. Together, the lion and his companions feasted on the camel’s flesh.
MORAL: Beware of false friends who may use sweet words to lead you into danger. Always be cautious in the company of the deceitful.
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