The Frog King and the Snake

There once lived a king of frogs in a well. The frog ruled over all the other frogs who lived in the well. 

However there were many frogs in the well who plotted against the king frog. 

The king frog managed to pacify the other frogs but it was done at a great price. 

After the entire matter had been resolved the king frog decided to take revenge on the enemy frogs who wanted to overthrow him from his throne. 

The king frog went to a tree which was situated near the well. 

The tree had a huge hole where a big black snake lived. 

The king frog called the snake. “I want to be your friend.” 

The snake was surprised. “Nature has intended us to be enemies. Why do you want to be my friend?”

 

The frog told the snake everything that had happened in his well. “I want to avenge the frogs that have gone against me. That is why I want you to come to the well. There you can eat the frogs who are my enemies.” 

The snake thought that for sometime. “Is there water in your well?” 

The frog shook its head. “Not much. There is a hole in the well above the water. You can stay there and you can eat my evil relatives.” 

The snake agreed and the king frog let the snake into the hole of the well. 

The king frog however made the snake promise that it would eat only the evil relatives and not the near and dear ones of the king. 

After that the snake started eating the frogs whom the king frog pointed out. 

Finally all the evil relatives of the king frog had been eaten. 

Now the snake looked angrily at the king frog. “I am hungry and there is no one else left for me to eat. So I have no choice other than to eat you and your family.” 

The king frog was afraid and he realized his mistake. He realized that he had become friends with his enemy for selfish reasons and that had backfired on him. 

However the king frog managed to keep his calm and nodded at the snake. “Do not worry. Me and my relatives will go to other wells and ponds and pursue the other frogs there to come and live in this well with me. Then you can feed on them.” 

The snake like the idea He nodded at the frog. “Go out of the well with your friends and bring all the other frogs to come and live in this well.” 

That way the king frog and his relatives came out of the well and escaped the snake.

Adapted from the Panchatantra