The Monkey, the Fly and the King
A king's pet monkey fans him while he sleeps. A fly keeps settling on the royal chest, and the monkey reaches for a sword.
A certain king had a pet monkey who was his devoted attendant and bodyguard. The creature had the run of even the inner apartments and was reckoned entirely trustworthy.
One day the king lay asleep on his couch and the monkey stood fanning him. Just then a fly settled on the king's chest. The monkey drove it off with the fan, but again and again it came back and settled in the same place.
No amount of fanning would move it. At that the foolish monkey lost his temper. He picked up a sharp sword lying nearby and struck at the fly with his whole strength.
The fly flew off — and the sword's edge came down on the king's chest, splitting it in two, and the king died on the spot.
So it is said: a king who wants to keep his life must not keep fools about him. Worse than a learned enemy is the fool who is determined to do you good.
यत्पण्डितादपि वरं शठमूर्खो हितकारकः । वानरेण हतो राजा विप्रा भ्रामरितो यथा ॥
Moral: A learned enemy is better than a well-meaning fool — a monkey killed his king, and a rogue led learned brahmins by the nose.
From the Panchatantra, Book I — The Loss of Friends.
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