contd. from previous chapter

Palit squeaked  to the trapped cat: 'Lomasha, I will help you get out of net before the hunter arrives to skin you. I am willing to sacrifice my life for you, as long as you give me protection from Harika the mongoose and Chandraka the owl- I am not safe dangling on top of this net. We are after all neighbours on the same tree, I in my humble basement, under the roots and you in your airy penthouse, on its branches. Let us be friends and help free each other from the clutches of impending death.'

The grand-sire grinned, describing the cat's response: 'At this conciliatory offer by the mouse, the cat's eyes gleamed all shades of chrysoberyl, and its steely claws shone sharp, as it purred 'I will give you my word not to kill you if you help me out of this dire situation, and helping each other let us be friends. But please ...make haste, dawn breaks soon!' 

The mouse replied  'It is not unusual for ones in your situation to speak such words. Listen carefully O feline, let me nestle under your fur, safe from the mongoose and the owl, and from there I shall emerge to gnaw a hole through the noose that holds the net.'

Seeing the mouse protected by the cat, mongoose Harika and owl Chandraka retreated but kept their eyes on the game.

Palita began sloooowly to gnaw away at the noose -Lomasha mewling impatiently at the pace.

Unperturbed Palit said to the cat, 'Oh amiable one, haste is waste - one must also act according to time and place. Curb your impatience. If you are set  free at the wrong time, you will be a danger to me. On the other hand, it will be  exactly the right time if I sever the noose, just as the hunter arrives  - for then you will wish to save yourself and rush up the tree, and when you are thus terrified and off, I shall safely return to my hole.'

The eloquent Lomasha mewed: 'O immensely wise rodent! This is not the way virtuous and affectionate friends should treat each other.  I sheltered you without hesitation, safe from the clutches of the  mongoose and the owl. Now why are you delaying? Are you remembering my past behaviour towards you? I have repented and assured you of my repentance and seek your forgiveness!'

The mouse was wise, and knowledgeable about the sacred texts; it felt honoured by the cat's words, and spoke these most excellent words to Lomasha: Oh gem-eyed one! I have given ear to all your words uttered from self-interest.  You should also be aware of mine. If there is friendship resulting from fear, or if there is friendship full of fear, one must make great efforts to preserve that, for it is like putting one's paw near a snake's mouth.  If a weak one has an agreement with  a strong one, and does not protect himself, he will find it injurious, like eating something unwholesome. Listen, there is no one who is truly a well-wisher, just as there is no one who is truly an enemy.  It is all about interest being bound to interest, like a tame elephant employed to  draw in a wild elephant - once the task is accomplished, nobody looks to see who achieved it.  Therefore all tasks should be left with a little undone - and so I will make the final bite at the very last moment, when your task will be determined by fear. So Lomasha - restrain yourself till then!'

Thus both creatures conversed, both overcome by fear.

The night ended, the cat's fur stood on end in terror.  The hunter was approaching.

The owl and the mongoose had not retreated far, hoping still to get the mouse- but seeing the hunter and seeing the pact between the mouse and the cat, they gave up waiting and were gone.

In a flash Palit bit through the final strand, the cat dashed out of the net and up the tree. And Palita the mouse scooted into the tree roots. 

Seeing the net empty and torn, the hunter went away.

'Was that the end of the crooked tale?' asked Yuddhishthira.

'No' said Bhishma, ' there is more for the morrow.'

[freely adapted from MB/BORI CE/transl.Debroy]

to be contd.