The Brahman, the Tiger, and the Six Judges

ONCE upon a time a Brahman, who was walking along the road, came upon an iron cage, in which a great tiger had been shut up by the villagers who caught him.

As the Brahman passed by, the Tiger called out and said to him: “Brother Brahman, brother Brahman, have pity on me, and let me out of this cage for one minute only to drink a little water, for I am dying of thirst.” The Brahman answered: “No, I will not; for if I let you out of the cage you will eat me.”

“Oh, father of mercy,” answered the Tiger, “in truth that I will not. I will never be so ungrateful; only let me out, that I may drink some water and return.” Then the Brahman took pity on him and opened the cage door; but no sooner had he done so than the Tiger, jumping out, said: “Now, I will eat you first and drink the water afterwards.” But the Brahman said: “Only do not kill me hastily. Let us first ask the opinion of six, and if all of them say it is just and fair that you should put me to death, then I am willing to die.”

“Very well,” answered the Tiger, “it shall be as you say; we will first ask the opinion of six.”

So the Brahman and the Tiger walked on till they came to a Banyan tree; and the Brahman said to it: “Banyan Tree, Banyan Tree, hear and give judgment.” “On what must I give judgment?” asked the Banyan Tree. “This Tiger,” said the Brahman, “begged me to let him out of his cage to drink a little water, and he promised not to hurt me if I did so; but now, that I have let him out, he wishes to eat me. Is it just that he should do so or no?”

The Banyan Tree answered: “Men often come to take shelter in the cool shade under my boughs from the scorching rays of the sun; but when they have rested, they cut and break my pretty branches and wantonly scatter my leaves. Let the Tiger eat the man, for men are an ungrateful race.”