Hitopadesha 2.19.p1

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 |

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?'