Karataka and Damanaka

In a certain forest lived a lion named Pingalaka, who ruled as king of the jungle. He had two jackal ministers, Karataka and Damanaka, who had once served under his father but now found themselves with little real responsibility — a situation that left the ambitious Damanaka deeply dissatisfied.

One day, King Pingalaka heard a loud and unfamiliar bellow echoing through the forest. The sound came from a bull named Sanjivaka, who had wandered away from his owner and ended up in the jungle, bellowing loudly. The lion had never heard such a sound before and grew afraid, though he was careful not to show his fear to his ministers.

Damanaka noticed the king's unease and recognized a golden opportunity to prove himself indispensable. He told the lion, "Your Majesty, allow me to investigate this sound and determine whether it poses any threat to us."

Damanaka approached the bull, struck up a conversation, and eventually brought him to meet the lion. The lion and the bull soon became close friends, spending more and more time together. As a result, the lion grew less interested in hunting, which meant less food remained for the other forest creatures who depended on his leftovers, leaving many of them hungry and resentful.

Damanaka grew jealous, watching the lion now favor the bull's company over his own counsel. He devised a wicked plan. He went to the lion and lied, "Your Majesty, I have learned that Sanjivaka is plotting against you. He intends to kill you and claim the throne of the forest for himself."

Then Damanaka went to the bull and told an equally false story. "Friend," he warned, "the lion is planning to kill and eat you. You must be very careful." In this way, Damanaka planted seeds of suspicion and fear between two friends who had once shared genuine affection and trust.

The next time the lion and the bull met, both carried deep suspicion toward one another. The bull feared the lion would attack him, and the lion feared the bull intended to gore him. Driven by fear and misunderstanding, a terrible battle broke out between them, and in the end, the lion killed the bull.

Through his lies and manipulation, Damanaka had destroyed both a genuine friendship and an innocent life — while securing his own position once again as the lion's most trusted advisor.

Moral: One should never blindly trust the words of gossips and those who spread false rumors. Such people, driven by self-interest, are capable of destroying even the truest friendships and relationships.