Long ago there lived a very cruel elephant in a jungle. The elephant pulled down branches unnecessarily, trampled any animal which came before it and bullied all the other animals of the forest.
Because of the huge strength of the elephant, the other animals were afraid to go against the elephant.
All other than the fox.
The fox went to the elephant.
“Great elephant!” The fox bowed deeply. “Me and all the animals have decided to crown you as the king. They have even decided an area right in the middle of the swampy part of the forest as the auspicious place to crown you.”
The elephant’s chest swelled with pride.
The fox nodded eagerly at the elephant. “Come and I shall take you with me.”
So the elephant proudly followed the fox to the swampy parts of the forest.
The fox was a light animal and lightly ran over the swamp.
Without thinking, the elephant stepped on the swamp. Being heavier, the elephant sank into the swamp and kept sinking as he thrashed to get out.
“HELP ME FOX!” The elephant cried out. “I… am...s tuck!”
“You deserve this.” The fox told the elephant from the other side. “You hurt our siblings, crushed our young ones and cared nothing when we begged for mercy, asking you to stop.” The fox nodded furiously. “You deserve this death, elephant.”
The elephant cried out aloud, but no one came to help it and it drowned in the swamp and died.
-From the Panchatantra
