Hitopadesha 2.19

2.19

nābhiṣeko na saṃskāraḥ siṃhasya kriyate mṛgaiḥ |
vikramārjita-rājyasya svayam eva mṛgendratā //

No consecration, no ceremonial rite is performed for a lion by the beasts; / to him whose kingdom was won by valor, lordship over the beasts belongs by nature.

2.19.p1

sa caikadā pipāsākulitaḥ pānīyaṃ pātuṃ yamunā-kaccham agacchat | tena ca tatra siṃhenānanubhūta-pūrvakam akāla-ghana-garjitam iva saṃjīvaka-narditam aśrāvi | tac chrutvā pānīyam apītvā sa-cakitaḥ parivṛtya sva-sthānam āgatya kim idam ity ālocayaṃs tūṣṇīṃ sthitaḥ | sa ca tathāvidhaḥ karaṭa-kadamanakābhyām asya mantri-putrābhyāṃ dṛṣṭaḥ | taṃ tathāvidhaṃ dṛṣṭvā damanakaḥ karaṭakam āha-sakhe karaṭaka ! kim ity ayam udakārthī svāmī pānīyam apītvā sacakito mandaṃ mandam avatiṣṭhate |

And once, distressed by thirst, he went to the bank of the Yamunā to drink water. And there the lion heard the bellowing of Saṃjīvaka, never experienced before, like an unseasonal clap of thunder. Hearing it, without drinking the water, startled, he turned back, returned to his lair, and remained silent, pondering, 'What is this?' And seen in that state by Karaṭaka and Damanaka, the two sons of his minister, seeing him in such a condition, Damanaka said to Karaṭaka: 'Friend Karaṭaka! Why does our master here, seeking water, remain standing timidly, slowly, without having drunk the water?'

One morning, his Majesty, being exceedingly thirsty, had repaired to the bank of the Jumna to drink water, and just as he was about to lap it, the bellow of Lusty-life, awful as the thunder of the last day, reached the imperial ears. Upon catching the sound the King retreated in trepidation to his own lair, without drinking a drop, and stood there in silence and alarm, revolving what it could mean. In this position he was observed by the sons of his minister, two jackals named Karataka and Damanaka, who began to remark upon it.

'Friend Karataka,' said the last, 'what makes our royal master slink away from the river when he was dying to drink?'

2.19.p2

karaṭako brūte-mitra damanaka ! asman-matenāsya sevaiva na kriyate | yadi tathā bhavati tarhi kim anena svāmi-ceṣṭānirūpeṇāsmākam | yato 'nena rājñā vināparādhena ciram avadhīritābhyām āvābhyāṃ mahad-duḥkham anubhūtam |

Karaṭaka says: 'Friend Damanaka! In my opinion, his service should not be performed at all. If it is so, then what concern of ours is this investigation into the master's conduct? For we two, neglected for a long time by this king without any offense, have experienced great misery.'

'Why should we care?' replied Karataka. 'It's bad enough to serve him, and be neglected for our pains—