The Mediator

Once in a forest in a tree lived two partridges. The partridges were best of friends and talked with each other daily.

One of the partridges lived in the branches of a tree whereas the other bird lived in the hole at the base of the same tree.

Once one of the partridges flew away in search of food. But that time the partridge did not return in the evening.

The other partridge grew worried as his friend did not return for the next three days. The partridge living in the branch of the tree was afraid that the partridge which had flown away had been injured or killed. But there was nothing that he could do. Finally after three days, the partridge living in the tree decided that something untoward had happened to his friend and left it at that.

That evening a rabbit came to the tree. The rabbit wanted to live in the empty hole at the base of the tree.

The partridge who lived in the branches of the tree saw this but he realized that now that his friend was no more, this rabbit could live in the base of the tree.

A day later the other partridge returned. He had found a great place with lots of good food. But he had eaten quite a lot of food there and he had become fat.

That was when the partridge saw that his home had been taken over by the rabbit.

The partridge and the rabbit fought over whom the hole at the base of the tree belonged to.

Finally they decided to go to a mediator to decide the matter.

In the same forest lived a cat. The cat pretended to be very pious. So he always sat still and made sure he did not attack the small animals that came near him. The cat kept this up for a day or two.

It was at this time that the rabbit and the partridge came there looking for a mediator.

"Let us go and talk to him. The cat seems very noble and will surely help us." Said the rabbit.

"Be careful." The partridge warned. "The cat is a natural enemy to both birds and rabbits. We have to stay far away from the cat so that he cannot pounce on us."

The rabbit agreed to this. Both the rabbit and the package bowed to the cat. "Great soul! Would you please solve a dispute between us?" Both the smaller animals spoke together from a far away position.

The cat studied the two animals. "You should know I have given up violence. I am following the path of nonviolence and peace. But I am very old. I cannot listen to you. Please come a little closer so that I may be able to listen to your problems and settle any disputes that you may have."

The two small animals did not understand the import of the cat's words. They were impressed with the cat’s words and foolishly they went forward to present their case better.

The cat saw the opportunity and pounced on the two small animals and killed them immediately.

The clever cat kept to his act and he was never hungry after that.

Adapted from the Panchatantra