Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c5.611

c5.611

Once Dharmagupta went to the forests, hunting. Deeply interested in the game he never knew when it became dusk. It was late to go back to the palace and so deciding to stay in the forest for the night he climbed upon a tree and made a seat there to rest. After some time a bear followed by a lion came running and took refuge on the top of the same tree. The lion stood growling below. Seeing a man on the same tree the bear said “Oh, Prince, we are both in the same sad plight now. Believe me as a friend. We can spend the night on this tree safe. Therefore, go to sleep till midnight and I will keep watch over. After that I will go to sleep and you keep watch”. Gladly accepting the proposal the prince went to sleep and the bear kept vigil. Then the lion suggested to the bear to push down the prince. The bear replied that he would never cheat a friend and that it was a great sin also to do so. After midnight the bear slept and the prince kept watchover. The lion then suggested to the prince to push down the bear. Thinking that he would be saved if the bear is given to the lion the unfaithful prince pushed the bear down. But the bear escaped catching hold of the branches lower down. Embittered at this the bear cursed Dharmagupta and made him mad.