The crow spoke loudly so that Chitrakarna might hear him, “Sir, I haven’t found any food in the forest, though I have searched for so long. Please accept my body as your food now, as I cannot bear to see you hungry.” The King Lion refused. Then the jackal came up and offered himself as food, and again the king refused. The same thing was repeated with the tiger and again the lion refused. Chitrakarna had been listening to this. So, he dutifully went up to the lion and said, “Sir, why don’t you eat me? It is the least I can do to repay your kindness to me.” The tiger, the jackal and the crow were waiting for this. The tiger immediately leapt on to him and killed Chitrakarna. The lion and his followers had a feast. So, Meghavarna told the King how even a noble lion could be fooled by wicked and cunning words!
The Grateful Camel
