Brahmin and the tiger

Once there was a tiger who was trapped in a man made cage. The tiger was helpless and he wanted to come out of it as soon as possible, thinking that the hunter who owns this cage will arrive at any moment. The tiger did not realize that he will be caught in a cage. He just crept into it thinking that the door on one side will be kept open.

"Oh what a foolish tiger I am," thought the tiger.

"I never thought I will be caught in a trap like this. But I am lucky I was not killed, but the hunter will come now and kill me or take me away to a place to exhibit me. So the power of mine will be lost and whole generation of tigers will be put to shame! What am I to do now?"

As he was thinking and walking hither and thither inside the cage, he saw a Brahmin walking along the forest path who happen to be approaching the cage. When the Brahmin passed the cage in which the tiger was trapped, he heard the wailing tone of a tiger. Then the Brahmin looked at the cage to see a tiger caught in it.

"I see you are a pious Brahmin," said the tiger in the wailing tone. The Brahmin was silent once again.

"Will you please help me, I am trapped."

Then the Brahmin thought:

"If I am to let loose this tiger he will pounce on me and eat me instantly, he looks rather hungry. A tiger is a fierce animal. He is not a good friend of the humans. So I should not show any kindness to the tiger and let him be there."

Then said the tiger:

"Oh the kind Brahmin, please open the cage and let me out of this disaster. You look a kind hearted human being." The tiger went on requesting in a pleading tone.

"Please allow me to come out," but the Brahmin was thoughtful and could not decide as to what he should do.

"If you let me out I will give you a handsome present"

"But I do not want any presents from you. I am a Brahmin."

"If you allow me to come out I will be your slave for ever."

"But I do not want any slaves," said the Brahmin.

"I am fainting, please let me come out," said the tiger. Then the Brahmin felt sorry for the tiger and wanted to let him out of the cage. The Brahmin pulled out the latch of the cage and allowed the tiger to come out. The tiger felt a sense of release. But he looked at the Brahmin and said:

"Don't you know that I am a tiger? Tigers and humans are enemies!"

"Yes I know, that is why I did not want to let you out in the first instance."

"Don't you know you may be pious, but a foolish Brahmin?"

"What are you going to do with me now?"

"I think I have to attack you and kill you as you are my enemy!"

"But understand that even the animals should have some sense of honour for themselves. We need to go before a good judge."

As they were discussing the issue, a fox happened to pass by. The fox stopped for awhile and asked the Brahmin what had befallen. The Brahmin told him what he had done and the consequences he has to face as a result of the same. Then the fox wanted to play the role of the judge and asked the tiger.

"Please, Mr Tiger, let me know for certain how you got into the cage."

"It happened so suddenly without much of my knowledge," said the tiger. Then the fox looked at the Brahmin and asked him.

"How did you let this tiger out?" Then the Brahmin showed the fox how he pulled out the latch of the cage.

"What made you release this tiger?" asked the fox.

"Out of sheer kindness towards living beings," said the Brahmin. The fox asked both parties whether they need his judgment. Both of them said:

"Yes we have heard of your sound judgments over the years."

"So then I am going to be your judge right now in this very spot."

"Do you also agree to that?" asked the fox from the tired tiger.

"Yes certainly" said the tiger.

"In that case I would like to see how you, the intelligent Mr. Tiger got into the cage."

The tired tiger had to obey the words of the fox as he was the judge unanimously elected.

"This is how I got into the cage," said the tiger entering the cage.

"Now I understand the case well," said the fox and looked at the Brahmin.

"Now I would like to know how you use the latch of a trap of this sort,"

The Brahmin felt he is playing the role of a man. The Brahmin walked slowly to the cage and locked the door of the cage and looked smilingly at the face of the fox.

"Now look! You are a good hearted human being misunderstood by this ungrateful tiger.

Let him stay there and learn a good lesson until someone comes and rescues him." Brahmin thanked the fox and went away.