The Blue Jackal
Adapted from The Panchatantra, Book 1, translated by Arthur W. Ryder
In a certain forest region, there lived a jackal named Fierce-Howl. One day, driven by extreme hunger, he wandered into a nearby town in search of food. As he entered the outskirts, a pack of dogs spotted him. With their sharp teeth bared and barking furiously, they surrounded him and began to attack.
Fierce-Howl was badly bitten in the pursuit and barely escaped with his life. Bleeding and in pain, he fled toward the forest, thinking, “This is a terrible disaster! What should I do now? How can I possibly survive this ordeal?”
As he limped along, he came across a dyer’s workshop at the edge of town. In his desperation to escape the dogs, he leaped into a large indigo vat that was full of blue dye. When he emerged and continued his flight into the forest, he was completely dyed blue from head to tail.
The forest animals—lions, tigers, panthers, wolves, and all others—saw this strange blue creature and were filled with terror. They had never seen such a being before. Even the lions, kings of the forest, fled in different directions, thinking, “Who knows what powers this extraordinary creature might possess?”
Fierce-Howl noticed the effect his appearance had on the other animals. He realized that his unusual blue color gave him a unique opportunity. Standing on his hind legs, he called out to the frightened animals, “Why do you flee in terror? There is no need for fear. I have been sent by the creator himself as the ruler of the forest. From this day forward, I shall be your king, and you shall live under my protection.”
The animals, impressed by his extraordinary appearance and confident manner, gathered around him and bowed respectfully. “We await your commands, O mighty one,” they said. “Tell us what we must do to serve you.”
“What shall we call you, divine one?” asked an old tiger, bowing low.
Fierce-Howl thought for a moment and replied, “I am Fierce-Blue, appointed by the creator himself to rule over all forests.”
The lion, traditionally the king of the forest, approached cautiously. “Great Fierce-Blue,” he said, “what are your commands for us?”
Fierce-Howl, now seeing his deception succeed, appointed the lion as his prime minister, the tiger as his chamberlain, and the wolf as his doorkeeper. But to all jackals, his own kind, he gave a swift kick and banished them from his court, fearing they might recognize him for what he truly was.
Having established his rule, Fierce-Howl enjoyed a life of luxury. The lions and other powerful animals hunted and brought their prey to him first. Only after he had taken his choice portion did they eat what remained.
Each day, Fierce-Howl would sit on a throne-like rock, surrounded by the lion, tiger, and other powerful animals who served him. He made laws for the forest and settled disputes among the animals, all while maintaining his regal blue appearance.
A young leopard who had recently joined the court whispered to a fox, “Have you noticed that our king never bathes? The blue color never fades or washes away.”
“Hush,” replied the fox. “Those are divine mysteries we should not question. His blue color is clearly a sign of his celestial origin.”
For many months, Fierce-Howl ruled the forest. The animals accepted his authority without question, and he grew increasingly confident in his role. He became accustomed to the finest food, brought to him by the strongest hunters, and to the respect and fear shown by all the forest creatures.
One evening, as Fierce-Howl sat on his royal seat surrounded by various animals paying him homage, he heard a pack of jackals howling in the distance. The sound stirred something deep within him—a memory of his true nature and his own kind.
At first, he tried to resist the natural instinct to join in their howling. He cleared his throat and attempted to maintain his regal composure. But the howling continued, growing louder and more enticing.
Unable to control himself any longer, Fierce-Howl lifted his snout toward the sky and let out a long, loud howl—the unmistakable cry of a jackal.
When the lions and other animals heard this sound, they immediately recognized it as the cry of a jackal. They looked at each other in shock and dismay, realizing they had been deceived.
The lion stepped forward, his eyes blazing with anger. “This creature is nothing but a jackal!” he roared. “He has tricked us all with his blue coat. He is no divine being, but a common jackal who fell into a dye vat!”
Fierce-Howl, seeing the anger in their eyes, tried to flee, but it was too late. The animals, furious at being deceived, fell upon him. The lion struck the first blow, followed by the tiger and the others.
In his final moments, Fierce-Howl realized the truth of the ancient wisdom: “He who abandons his own nature and pretends to be what he is not will meet destruction when his true nature is revealed.”
This tale teaches that deception may bring temporary gain, but eventually one’s true nature will be revealed. Those who pretend to be what they are not will ultimately face the consequences of their deception. It is better to be honest about who you are than to live a life built on lies, no matter how tempting the rewards may seem.
