The Jackal Cub Raised Among Lions
A lioness nurses an orphaned jackal cub as her own third son. He grows up between two lion brothers, never told what he is — until an elephant appears.
In a forest region lived a lion and a lioness. In time she gave birth to two cubs, and the lion killed deer each day and brought them to her.
One day, roaming, he found nothing at all. As the sun was setting and he was heading home, he came upon a jackal cub. "This is only a child," he thought, and picked it up alive and brought it to the lioness.
She said: "My lord! Is this a meal for us?" The lion said: "My dear, I found nothing else today; and this is a child, so I did not kill it. Even in distress one must not strike a woman, a brahmin or a child. Now you eat it, and tomorrow I shall bring something."
The lioness said: "My lord, if you spared it because it is a child, how am I to kill it for my own belly? Not even to save one's life should one do what should not be done, nor abandon pity — that is the ancient law. So this shall be my third son."
And she raised him on her own milk. The three grew up together, knowing nothing of the difference between them, sharing the same habits and the same games.
One day a wild elephant came into that forest. Seeing it, the two lion cubs charged at it in anger. But the jackal cub said: "That is an elephant, the enemy of our family; do not go near it" — and he ran for home. Discouraged by their elder brother's flight, the two cubs also came back without fighting.
Afterwards the jackal cub taunted them for retreating and boasted about himself. The cubs told their parents.
The lioness took him aside and said gently: "Son, do not talk like that again; these are your younger brothers." He flared up and answered insolently: "Am I their inferior in courage, in looks, in learning or in skill, that they should mock me? I shall kill them both!"
Hearing this the lioness — wanting to save his life — said with a smile: "Son, you are brave and learned and good to look at; but in the family you were born into, elephants are not killed. Listen: you are a jackal's son. I raised you on my own milk out of pity. So while these cubs are still young and do not know you are a jackal, go quickly and join your own kind — or you will die at their hands."
At that he was seized with fear, and slipped quietly away to join his own people.
शूरोऽसि कृतविद्योऽसि दर्शनीयोऽसि पुत्रक । यस्मिन्कुले त्वमुत्पन्नो गजस्तत्र न हन्यते ॥
Moral: You are brave, my boy, and learned, and good to look at — but in the family you were born into, elephants are not killed.
From the Panchatantra, Book IV — Loss of Gains.
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