The Blue Jackal
A jackal falls into a dyer's vat and comes out king of the forest — until one night his own voice gives him away.
A starving jackal crept into a village looking for food. The dogs chased him, and as he fled he tumbled into a washerman's vat of indigo dye.
When he climbed out, he was deep blue from nose to tail.
Back in the forest, nobody recognised him. The lion froze. The elephant stepped back. The monkeys fell silent. None of them had ever seen such a creature.
The jackal saw his chance. In a solemn voice he announced, "God himself has sent me. My name is Kakudruma. From today I am the king of this forest."
Every animal bowed. The lion became his commander, the tiger his guard, the elephant his mount. The jackal sat on a throne and ruled — and the first thing he did was banish all the other jackals from the forest, in case one of them knew him.
Months went by.
Then one night, far off, a pack of jackals began to howl together. Something in the blue king stirred at the sound. He fought it, held it in — and then, sitting right there on his throne, he threw back his head and howled.
The whole forest understood at once. The colour was blue, but the voice was jackal.
Moral: A change of colour can make anyone look grand for a while. But what is inside speaks up on some night or other — and staying who you are is far less work.
Continue learning
Related teachings
The Weaver Who Asked for Extra Arms
A tree-spirit offers a weaver any boon at all. His friend says ask for a kingdom; his wife has a far more sensible idea.
The Bird That Dropped Gold
A fowler catches a bird whose droppings turn to gold, and decides the safest thing is to give it to the king. Then a minister offers his opinion.
The Lion and the Cave That Talked
A jackal reads the pawprints at his own front door: a lion has gone in, and has not come out. So he stands outside and talks to the cave.
The Brahmins Who Revived the Lion
Three scholars find a dead lion's bones and decide it is the perfect chance to test their learning. The fourth friend, who has no learning, climbs a tree.
The Brahmin and the Crab
A mother will not let her son travel alone, so she fishes a crab out of the tank and sends it along in a camphor box. He humours her.