Hitopadesha 1.72

1.72

yathā cāyaṃ mṛgo mama bandhus tathā bhavān api | mṛgo 'bravīt kamanena uttarottareṇa ? sarvair ekatra viśrambhālāpaiḥ sukham anubhavadbhiḥ sthīyatām | yataḥ-
na kaścit kasyacin mitraṃ na kaścit kasyacid ripuḥ |
vyavahāreṇa mitrāṇi jāyante ripavas tathā //

And just as this deer is my kinsman, so are you.' The deer said: 'What is the point of this rejoinder upon rejoinder? Let everyone dwell in one place, enjoying happiness with confidential talks. For— / No one is anyone's friend; no one is anyone's enemy; / friends are made through conduct, and so are enemies.'

'Oh!' broke in the Deer, 'why so much talking? We'll all live together, and be friendly and happy—

The Deer is my friend; condescend, sir, to be my friend also."

1.72.p1

kākena uktam-evam astu | atha prātaḥ sarve yathābhimata-deśaṃ gatāḥ | ekadā nibhṛtaṃ śṛgālo brūte-sakhe mṛga ! etasminn eva vanaika-deśe sasya-pūrṇaṃ kṣetram asti | tad ahaṃ tvāṃ tatra nītvā darśayāmi | tathā kṛte sati mṛgaḥ pratyahaṃ tatra gatvā sasyaṃ khādati | tato dina-katipayena kṣetra-patinā tad dṛṣṭvā pāśās tatra yojitāḥ | anantaraṃ punar āgato mṛgaḥ tatra caran pāśair baddho 'cintayat-ko mām itaḥ kāla-pāśād iva vyādha-pāśāt trātuṃ mitrād anyaḥ samarthaḥ ?

The crow said: 'So be it.' Then in the morning they all went to their desired places. One day the jackal said in secret: 'Friend deer! In this very part of the forest there is a field full of grain. So I will take you there and show it to you.' When this was done, the deer went there every day and ate the grain. Then after a few days, the owner of the field, seeing that, laid snares there. Afterwards the deer, returning and grazing there, was caught in the snares and thought: 'Who other than a friend is capable of rescuing me from this hunter's snare, which is like the snare of Death?'

"Very good," said Sharp-sense; "as you will;" and in the morning each started early for his own feeding-ground (returning at night). One day the Jackal drew the Deer aside, and whispered, 'Deer, in one corner of this wood there is a field full of sweet young wheat; come and let me show you.' The Deer accompanied him, and found the field, and afterwards went every day there to eat the green corn, till at last the owner of the ground spied him and set a snare. The Deer came again very shortly, and was caught in it, and (after vainly struggling) exclaimed, 'I am fast in the net, and it will be a net of death to me if no friend comes to rescue me!' Presently Small-wit, the Jackal, who had been lurking near, made his appearance, and standing still, he said to himself, with a chuckle, 'O ho! my scheme bears fruit! When he is cut up, his bones, and gristle, and blood, will fall to my share and make me some beautiful dinners,' The Deer, here catching sight of him, exclaimed with rapture, 'Ah, friend, this is excellent! Do but gnaw these strings, and I shall be at liberty. How charming to realize the saying!—

1.72.p2

atrāntare jambukas tatrāgatya upasthito 'cintayat-phalitas tāvad asmākaṃ kapaṭa-prabandhaḥ | manoratha-siddhir api bāhulyān me bhaviṣyati | yataḥ etasya uktṛtyamānasya māṃsāsṛg-liptāni asthīni mayā avaśyaṃ prāptavyāni | tāni ca bāhulyena mama bhojanāni bhaviṣyanti | sa ca mṛgas taṃ dṛṣṭvā ullāsito brūte-sakhe ! chindhi tāvan mama bandhanam | satvaraṃ trāyasva mām | yataḥ-

In the meantime, the jackal came there, drew near, and thought: 'Our scheme of deceit has borne fruit! The fulfilment of my desire will also come to me in abundance. For when he is being carved up, bones smeared with flesh and blood will surely be obtained by me; and they will provide me abundant meals.' And seeing him, the deer joyfully said: 'Friend! First cut my bonds! Rescue me quickly! For—