Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 478

438
PLOTTING A RIVAL'S DOWNFALL
Returning to the lion, the two foxes began to make the
most of their services. In their opinion the bull Sanjivaka
was all that he was supposed to be and moreover he had
;
the reputation of being passionate, hot-tempered, distrust-
by dint of skill
But,' added they,
ful, and obstinate.
and persuasion we have succeeded in inducing him to be
your intimate friend and faithful ally.' The bull was at
this stage introduced to the lion, who deemed himself
extremely fortunate in having, by the mediation of his two
ministers the foxes, gained the alliance of so powerful
a friend.
Sanjivaka was not long in gaining the favour of his royal
master, whose full and unbounded confidence he soon won
by his gentleness, obedience, and other good qualities.
Accordingly the two foxes were once more forsaken by
their master, and found themselves obliged to live in
obscurity and dishonour, as formerly. Sanjivaka, without
even aspiring to any such honour, had become the channel
and medium through whom all favours were bestowed by
the king. Thereupon Karataka and Damanaka perceived
that they had made a great mistake in introducing this
The ruin of their rival was
stranger to the lion's court.
evidently the only means by which they could hope to
But rinding themselves too
regain their former influence.
weak to get rid of their enemy by force, they resolved to
'
'
achieve their object by artifice and intrigue. Accordingly
they prepared themselves for the task by telling each other
a great many fables, the main purpose of which was to
show what one could accomplish by bringing into play at
the proper season the active powers of an intriguing mind.
Having skilfully devised a plan of attack, they succeeded
and
in finding their way once again into the king's court
concealing their wicked intentions under a guise of zeal
and attachment to their master's interests, they succeeded
by dint of slander and other machinations in poisoning the
mind of the lion with a deep distrust of the bull Sanjivaka,
At last the king, really persuaded that his quiet and well-
behaved favourite cherished the design of secretly getting
rid of him, in order that he might usurp the dominion of
the forest, fell upon the unfortunate Sanjivaka and tore
;
him
to pieces.