Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 486

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THE PILGRIM AND THE CROCODILE
least fait 1
on
1
to the
their promises
words
of the
Thou
wicked
\
Can we ever
rely
ignorant of the
fact that this treacherous crow has already caused the
death of a host of innocent beings, and that if I now set
him free he will cause a still greater number to perish.
Wouldst thou like to know what good people gain by
obliging the wicked ?
Wouldst thou like to learn how the
latter ought to be treated when once they are in our power ?
The following fable will teach thee
?
art, of course,
:
The Brahmin,
the Crocodile, the Tree, the
Cow, and
Fox.
the
Once upon a time, in the Brahmin village of Agni-sthala,
situated on the banks of the river Jumna, there lived
a Brahmin named Astika. While on a pilgrimage to the
Ganges, he happened one day to reach a river in which he
intended to perform his ablutions. No sooner had he stepped
into the water than a crocodile approached him, and learn-
ing the purpose for which he had undertaken the journey,
entreated him most earnestly to carry it with him to the
waters of the sacred river, where it hoped to be able to live
more at its ease than in that river, which frequently ran
dry during the hot season and caused it the most terrible
'
The Brahmin, moved to compassion, allowed
the crocodile to get into his bag, and, hoisting it on his
On reaching the
shoulders, proceeded on his journey.
banks of the Ganges the pilgrim opened his bag, and point-
ing out to the crocodile the waters of the river, bade it
crawl in. The crocodile, however, replied that it felt tired
out by the long journey they had made together, and was
not strong enough to reach the water by itself. It there-
fore requested the Brahmin to carry it in to a certain
depth. The Brahmin, without the least suspicion of foul
He
play, complied with this last request of the crocodile.
advanced as far as he could into the bed of the river and
Just as he was
there deposited his travelling companion.
turning, however, the crocodile seized him by the leg and
Filled with dismay,
tried to drag him into deeper water.
O
and incensed at such perfidy, the pilgrim exclaimed
Is it thus that thou returnest
deceitful and wicked villain
evil for good ?
Is this the kind of honesty which thou
sufferings.
'
:
!