On the edge of the forest was a small village. One day, a Jackal from the forest, entered the village looking for some food. The village was guarded by some ferocious dogs to protect them from the wild animals.

The dogs smelling the jackal immediately started chasing him. Escaping from the dogs, the jackal tripped and fell into a vat of blue dye kept outside one of the houses.

He kept himself hidden inside the vat until the dogs moved away. On finally escaping, he saw his whole body was blue in colour from head to toe.

When he entered the forest, he saw that nobody recognized him. Instead, he saw all the animals running away from him.

“Why are you running away from me?” he asked stopping a rabbit that was trying to escape.

“B..b.because we are frightened of you. We have never seen an animal like you before,” replied the rabbit timidly.

“The creatures do not recognize me,” the jackal mused. “I can lord over all the animals including the lions.”

“Listen to me,” he shouted at the top of his voice to the fleeing animals. “I am a special creature who is a gift from God. Do not be afraid. God has merely sent me to protect you and be your King.”

All the animals immediately accepted him as their King. The Jackal had everyone obeying his commands. He was very happy and spent his days in luxury.

One day, a group of jackals were passing by the forest when they started howling. Hearing this, the blue Jackal, as was his habit, howled back.

When they heard the howling, all the animals knew he was only a Jackal and not God’s special gift.

In anger, the animals attacked him. The jackal escaped with his life and ran away, never to be heard again.

Author’s Note:

All Panchatantra Stories have Morals associated with them.

This story teaches us that we should be true to ourselves and never pretend to be something we are not.