In a certain place there lived a large bullock by the name of Tikschnabrischana, which means “having substantial balls.” Because of his excessive pride, he left his herd and wandered about in the forest, tearing up the banks as he pleased and devouring the emerald-colored grass.

In this same forest there lived a jackal by the name of Pralobhaka, which means “the greedy one.” One day he was sitting pleasantly with his wife on an island in the river. Tikschnabrischana came up to this island to have a drink of water. When the jackal’s wife saw the balls, she said to her husband, “Master, just look! This bullock has two pieces of meat hanging down. They will be falling off immediately, at the least in a few hours. Take heed of this, and follow him.”

The jackal answered, “Loved one, there is nothing certain about their falling off. Why do you ask me to set forth on such a futile task? Let me stay here with you, and together we can eat the mice that come here to drink. This is their pathway. If I leave you to follow the bullock, then someone else will come here and take over this spot. It is not a good idea.”

The jackal’s wife said, “Oh, you are a low-spirited creature. You are satisfied with the worst things that you can find. For this reason a good man must always be active. It is thus not appropriate for you to say, ‘It is uncertain, whether or not they will fall off.’ Furthermore, I am mightily tired of eating mouse meat. These two pieces of meat look as though they will soon fall off. You must follow him. Nothing else will do!”

After hearing all this, the jackal left his mouse catching, and followed after Tikschnabrischana.

Thus, together with his wife, he followed the bullock a long time, but the two balls did not fall off.

In the fifteenth year, the jackal finally said wearily to his wife, “Fifteen years, my love, I have kept my eyes on those hanging things to see whether or not they are going to fall off, but they still hold fast. Nor will they fall off in the future. Let us return to catching mice!”

❖ He who gives up a sure thing for an uncertainty will lose the sure thing, and the uncertainty will remain just that.

❖ It is easy to fill a little brook and also the paws of a little mouse. Ordinary people are easily satisfied. They are pleased with the smallest things.

❖ With every beginning there is a will to act. Avoid idleness, and join the community of the intelligent and the powerful. Think not that fate alone rules. Cease not to work. Without effort the sesame seed will not give up its oil.

❖ A foolish man is happy with little. His heart is satisfied just thinking of wealth.

❖ Active people deserve praise. Those with pride will be praised. What sort of scoundrel will wait until Indra brings him water?

❖ A man is master in all things, until he lets his will be turned by a woman’s words. And further: The impossible seems possible, the unachievable easily achieved, and the inedible edible to the man who is spurred on by a woman’s words.