Chapter 34 - The two Otters and the Jackal

[Source: Kah-gyur, ff. 94*, 95.]

In long-past times there lived on the bank of a river two otters, which from time to time used to enter the water and bring fish ashore. But while the otters were on the dry land, the fish used to get back into the water.

Finding there was nothing left, the otters took counsel together one day, and determined that in future one of them should go into the water while the other remained on land, and that they should share the spoil in common. So one of them went into the water while the other remained on land. The one which went into the water frightened the fish, and drove them ashore, while the one which remained on land killed them; the fish also which remained in the water were killed by the otter which had gone into the water.

Now when the heap of fish had become great, one of the otters said, “Divide the heap.”

The other replied, “I will not divide it.”

“Why not?”

“I should not like to make a mistake.”

Then the other said, “For the matter of that, I too might make a mistake.”

While they stood there absorbed in thought, the jackal Mukhara came up to them and said, “O nephews, why are you so absorbed in thought?”

“O uncle, we have caught some fish.”

“Why do not you divide them?”

“O uncle, for fear of acting unrighteously.”

Then Mukhara said to himself, “As they both hesitate I will undertake the division.”

After looking at a tortoise which regularly waited upon the two otters, he went to one of them and said, “O nephew, what have you done in this matter?”

“O uncle, I dived into the water, and after diving into it, I frightened the fish, which were driven on land and killed by my companion here.”

“O nephew, however little was to be got by going into the water, yet Mukhara would certainly go into the water. The otter who has to be on the dry land is exposed to danger from fissures, tree-stumps, thorns, wild beasts, and men. Besides, if he were not to kill the fish, of what use would your frightening them be? In short, as the whole catch is entirely the other otter’s work, you must take what he gives you and raise no objection.”

The otter did not utter a word in reply, smitten to the heart and overawed by the jackal.

Then the jackal went to the other otter, and said, “O nephew, what was your share in this matter?”

“O uncle, I kept on the dry land, and killed the fish which were driven ashore.”

“O nephew, however little was to be got by going upon dry land, yet Mukhara would always keep to the dry land. The otter who has to go into the water is in danger from waves and waters, from tortoises, alligators, and crocodiles. Besides, if he had not frightened the fish, how could you have killed them? In short, all the take of the fishing is the other otter’s work; and therefore you must be content with what your companion gives you.” The otter, heart-smitten and overawed by the jackal’s words, sat there without saying a word. Then Mukhara said, “O nephew, there is a means of accomplishing the division without injustice, by means of the utterance of a śloka.”

Then the two otters said despondingly, “O uncle, undertake the division.”

So Mukhara divided the heap into three parts, one containing the heads of the fish, and another their tails, and the third the rest of their bodies. And he uttered this verse:—

“The goer on land receives the tails, and the goer into the depths the heads; he who is conversant with the law receives the middle parts.”

Moreover, Mukhara said to himself, “Having deluded these two, I will secure the booty.” So he seized the middle part of a large fish, and went off to his mother. She joyfully addressed him in a śloka,

“Mukhara, whence dost thou come that thou hast brought a large fish without head or tail? whence dost thou come so highly blessed?”

“Even as the king’s cat,” he replied, “that knows neither right nor wrong, in that fools strive with one another, gains thereby, so shall we obtain food in plenty.”

The mother also uttered this śloka, “O Mukhara, fine and fair exceedingly art thou who hast been too much for the otters. They twain are content, and thou hast secured a rich booty.”