The Jackal Between the Fighting Rams
Two rams back away and charge head-on, over and over. A jackal sees free blood on the ground between them and trots in.
Devasharma and his new disciple were on the road when, near a shepherd's flock, they saw two rams locked in a fight. Both were powerful — they would back away, then charge at full speed and crash forehead against forehead. The blows split their heads, and blood ran down onto the ground.
A jackal was prowling nearby. At the sight of fresh blood his tongue came out — "Today, food without any work!" He trotted into the ground between the two of them and began lapping it up with relish. Where he was standing never crossed his mind.
The rams drew back once more and hurled themselves together harder than before. The dull-witted jackal, standing between, came between their skulls and was crushed dead on the spot.
Devasharma watched it happen — and then, with that lesson on greed fresh before him, handed his bundle to his disciple and walked away. He had seen the sight; he had not read it.
लोभाद् बुद्धिः प्रचलति लोभः सर्वानर्थकारणम् । मेषयोर्युद्धमध्यस्थो जम्बुको निधनं गतः ॥
Moral: Greed unsettles judgement, and greed is the root of every ruin — the jackal who stood between two fighting rams was destroyed.
From the Panchatantra, Book I — The Loss of Friends.
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