Panchtantra’s”Three Cunning Friends” story is a very touching story. There lived a lion in a jungle called Madhupur who had three friends who were very selfish. They were a jackal, a wolf and a crow. These three had best friends of the lion because the lion was the king of the jungle. Because they were friends of the king, no enemy could even look at them. This was the reason why they used to be very subservient and flatter the lion all the time.
Once a camel got separated from his companions and came to this forest. He was unable to find any way out of this dense forest. The camel was wandering in a bad state due to thirst and hunger. By chance, the lion’s three friends spotted the camel. The jackal was not matchless in cunning and trickery. When he saw this strange, fat and healthy camel wandering alone in the jungle, his mouth started watering. He said to the wolf and the crow, “Friends! If the lion kills this camel, we can sit comfortably and fill our stomachs for many days.
The wolf and the crow agreed with the jackal and praised his intelligence.Wolf said “Yes.. friend, what an idea, the lion will kill this big camel in two minutes and can’t eat all its meat, whatever is left will be ours.”The jackal, the wolf and the crow started laughing mischievously.
The three conspirators, united in their malicious plot, approached their friend the lion, saying, “Your Majesty, we have excellent news for you.” The lion eagerly inquired, “What is this news, my friends? Share it with me quickly.” “Your Majesty, a plump camel has wandered into our forest, likely straying from a caravan. If you hunt it, you will surely be satisfied. Imagine the succulent, tender meat that awaits! In this jungle, only elephants possess such a bounty of flesh, but they are always accompanied by their herd, making them a formidable challenge to hunt.” The lion listened intently to their proposal, his whiskers twitching with displeasure. He growled, “You fools! Do you not understand that I am the rulers of this jungle? A king’s duty is to uphold justice, to punish wrongdoers after carefully weighing their sins and virtues, and to treat all subjects with respect.”
How can I kill that camel that has come to my kingdom? It is a sin to kill any guest. “Go and bring this guest to me with respect.”The three friends were heartbroken to hear King’s words. They had envisioned a future filled with camel meat, but the lion’s decision had shattered their dreams. They felt betrayed by their friend, who had succumbed to the temptations of sin and virtue. Knowing that, they were powerless without the lion’s friendship, they reluctantly agreed to deliver his message. The camel was terrified when it heard the lion’s invitation. As a carnivorous king, the lion posed a grave threat. The thought of death filled the camel with fear. Howevwer, realizing that disobedience would lead to certain doom, the camel decided to face the lion. Perhaps, against all odds, the lion would befriend and protect it.
Thinking this, Camel went with them.The lion welcomed the guest like a friend, and the camel’s fear also vanished. The camel thanked him a lot for giving him shelter. The lion said- “Friend! You are very tired due to wandering for a long time. So you can rest in my cave, I and my companions will arrange food for you and bring it.
But Fate intervened one day, the lion and the elephant engaged in a fierce battle over the leaves of a tree, resulting in severe injuries to both.”The lion was badly injured. How could the injured lion hunt now? Many days passed. The lion’s servants could not bring any prey. Those Three cunning friends had their eyes on the camel’s meat. They wanted to get the camel killed by the lion and then have a feast. After the lion was injured, they made a different plan.One day they went to the lion and said, “O King of the Jungle! Why are you dying of hunger? Look, we have this camel, let us kill it and eat it in such a situation. if you fill your stomachs with it, you will also be fine.”No… no… I cannot kill someone who has come seeking refuge.” That the lion would not listen to him. Now he Fox decided to go ahead with his new plan.
Next day three of them reached the camel. When the camel asked about their well-being, the clever jackal said, “Brother! It is becoming difficult for us to survive, perhaps after a day or two we and our king lion will die of hunger.”Why..what happened? The camel asked. “I am indebted to the king, I am ready to make any sacrifice to save him.” The Crow said “The King is wounded and hungry too and we are unable to gather that much meat. So we have decided to go to the lion and tell him to eat us and fill his stomach. In this regard, I have a request to you that you will have to take full care of our master after us.”
The camel spoke in excitement “Friends! How can Kings hunger be satiated by you people? It would be better if he eats me.” “But first we will surrender ourselves. If he doesn’t accept us then you can also try.”Crow said cleverly .
The jackal gestured to the wolf with his eyes and said softly – ‘You are trapped fool.’ Now all four of them got together and reached the injured lion, inside the lion’s cave.He was hungry and thirsty, there were numerous wounds on his body. He was in a very bad state due to pain. “Come my friends, come, tell me whether any arrangement has been made for our food or not?””No, Your majesty! We are very sad that we could not arrange food, but now we will not let you remain hungry either….” The crow moved forward and said – “O King! You can satisfy your hunger by eating me.” “Hey crow! Back off, will the king’s stomach be filled by eating you? It would be better if the king eats me and fills his stomach” said the jackal.The jackal had not even finished his words when the wolf got up from his place and said- “Brother jackal! There is not enough meat on your body to fill the stomach of the king So eat me first.”
Seeing all this, the camel also thought that I should also follow my duty. The lion is a good-hearted person, why would he kill a guest who has come to his house? The camel came forward and said- “The king’s stomach won’t be full even with the flesh of all of youI. I will pray that he may fill his stomach with the flesh of my body.
“Woow….Woow…… A friend should be like this, a true friend is one who helps his friend in times of trouble. His Highness! Now don’t delay.You should accept the advice of your true friend.”said the jackal.The lion got up with great difficulty and after killing the camel, first filled his stomach and then the three cunning friends kept filling their stomachs with the remaining meat for many days.