DIVISION : The Unmaking of an Alliance

Cursed are those evil beings, who, like Fox Damanak the brother of Fox Karatak, contrive to gain for themselves by dividing and destroying mutually dedicated allies _ , allies like Bull Sanjeev and Lion King Pingal. For, when leadership turns confused, deceipt jumps on to the front seat.

Once, a caravan of humans in bullock carts got stuck up while negotiating an inhospitable terrain inside a dense forest : one of the bullocks sprained a knee and turned immobile. And unyoking the bullock to fend for himself, the caravan of traders moved on, crunching, creaking and moaning along....

The abandoned bull, Sanjeev by name, not merely became normal again, but also gathered enormous strength by subsisting on the abundant forest fare available all around.

And then one day, in a mood of exultance at his own outstanding strength, he let out a loud bellow that burst out like a thunder, straight off the clouds.

The spine-chilling and blood curdling sound made the leaves shiver, the lesser animals run helter-skelter, and the birds take off from trees. And even Pingal, the Lion King of the forest out on the way for a drink at a pond— got him self frozen still with fright. His two ministers, Foxes Kautuck and Pautuck, shot straight off deep into their respective holes.

Fear and panic can unmake the rulers and bring forth leaders — good and bad alike. And fear can even drive a noble and valiant lion to take refuge in the leadership of a wily fox.

Fox Damanak saw his opportunity. He conveyed Fox Karatak, of his intention to approach King Pingal, with the apparent purpose of relieving the lion of his panic. Both the foxes were the sons of a late minister, and Fox Damanak wanted to become a successor to his father's post.

"It is not wise to get involved in delicate and unfamiliar matters, like the monkeys that

meddled in the lumber yard "Monkey Business in the Lumbar Yard", cautioned Karatak.

"One cannot thrive without the ruler's patronage. The wise one gets honoured by rulers and can even be made a minister himself. So, here I go", declared the adamant Damanak.

Fox Damanak then approached with utter humility Lion King Pingal and conveyed with great tact and diplomacy that one should not be frightened by strange sounds "The Fox and the Battle Drum", but should in stead, investigate the same.

"And I will, with the permission of Your Majesty, go forth to undertake that investigation myself," he offered, and was asked to proceed accordingly.

However, the accompanying Fox Karatak tried once again to ward off Damanak from a responsibility that was not his own, like that donkey "The Donkey Sense of Division of Labour" in the story.And brushing offfys persistent brother once again, Damanak approached Sanjeev the great bull and addressed him thus:

"Salutations, 0 Mighty Bull! This forest is the domain of the great Pingal the Lion King. And we have both come down here as the Representatives of His Majesty. It is against the law here to roam and rant at will. Since you are obviously a new coiner to this forest, we are conveying this information from the King himself—, who ordered us to fetch you forthwith, himself.

And if you follow us, we will make you a friend of His Majesty!"

The great bull Sanjeev, opting for an alternate-less protection of a lion from the beef-preferring tigers ever on the prowl, acceded readily.

As Fox Karatak was leading the bull, Damanak made a dash through a short-cut to the Lion King and submitted thus :

"I have just found out that the strange, fierce sound heard was but a bellow from the mighty bull Sanjeev — a very decent fellow with great brains — who befits a ministership, and is indeed seeking an audience with Your Majesty,
King Pingal readily agreed.

And it so proved out to be love at first sight for the noble bull and the noble lion. They became fast friends. The services of the ministers that failed — of Foxes Kautuck and Pautuck — were dispensed with, and Bull Sanjeev was made the prime-minister, in stead. The unexpected development aroused the jealousy of the Fox-brothers Karatak and Damanak against Bull Sanjeev.
"Look at these two! They are so thick in their camaraderie that they ignore our very existence altogether! Now, do think of me, brother Karatak. This Bull Sanjeev literally snatched away from me — by mine own foolish haste, no doubt — the very ministership upon which I had put mine own sights. I do find myself got literally trapped by the very ropes that I brought to bind another. I am now sharing the misery of the guru of Aashad Bhooti "Aashad Bhooti, the Ideal Disciple" greed brought me to the destiny of that unfortunate jackal that was caught betwixt the two fighting rams "The Day of the Jackal"

And now, we should destroy this friendship, like the crow which brought down the death of "An Air-lift for the Crab" that pincered off the neck of a crane," stated Damanak. the snake "The Crow and the Necklace". He continued his pitch thus :

"Remember, brother Karatak, there can be no resistance to be met with for one armed with a great brain, for mental power is stronger to physical prowess "The Lion Kin's Well-Being".

Now, my plan of action is like this. I find that the tare currying the favour of Premier Sanjeev to get back their posts. And I will utilise the opportunity presented by this situation to turn the tables and play off— by convincing talebearing and cool backstab — the Bull Sanjeev against Lion Pingal."

And thus concluded Damanak, much to the instinctual approbation of the admiring Karatak
for a change —, for there is honour among foxes. "Be careful however, brother Damanak, as you are dealing with two fast friends. For, when two close allies do choose to go in direct for a straight talk, it would indeed be the tale-bearer himself who receives the ultimate crush, cautioned Karatak.

Fox Damanak thereupon approached King Pingal, with that utter humility that characterises an outright deceiver, and submitted thus:

"Victory unto the King! As your most humble and dedicated devotee, I have come here on a matter of high security. I have learnt with disbelief—but in such a definite way as to believe indeed —, that a plot of high treason is being hatched surreptitiously against you, right under your very nose.

And it concerns Bull Sanjeev.

Believe it or not, the prime-minister has turned traitor and is actually trying to usurp your own very throne itself, no less!".

The Lion King was taken aback, but with outright disbelief.

"No, never. I can't imagine, even for a fleeting moment, that my dearest friend and ever-grateful ally Sanjeev is capable of turning treacherous unto me!" Pingal roared in disagreement.

Fox Damanak, pleading for patience and a dispassionate hearing, submitted with an utmost sincere tone, thus to King Pingal:

"It is quite elementary, Your Majesty —, for changes not ever the basic nature of a lowly being.wo ex-ministers Kautuck and Pautuck

Will a cobra resist its temptation to bite, even when carried honourably as a coiled crown one's own head itself?

Never trust an absolute stranger —, like this Bull Sanjeev who came from human territory.

Believe me, Sir. Sanjeev is now actually planning to wage war — war itself, no less — with you!"

The Lion King's regal temper shook to an extent.

"Then let us defeat and drive him off our domain", he roared.

"Not so fast, Your Majesty. For, a long-standing friend relieved peremptorily, is bound to wreak revenge by inflicting irreperable damage", submitted Fox Damanak.

"Is Bull Sanjeev that strong and capable himslef?" enquired hesitantly King Pingal.

"He is not alone in this nefarious enterprise. He is being ably aided and abetted by those two disgruntled former ministers and sinister schemers, Foxes Kautuck and Pautuck, together with their coterie and followers," replied Damanak.

"Their sole aim is to kill you off, and their sole goal is to replace you by Sanjeev" he added.

And there-upon, King Pingal the lion became rather frightened — and thus lost his self-confidence. The confused lion there upon placed his faith in Damanak and thus turned dependent on the fox's leadership.

"You better go to Sanjeev and find out his mind yourself," he requested Damanak. "And bring him back to me", he ordered.

The wily fox wasted not a moment in pursuing his sinister plot and reached fast the bull.

And on seeing Damanak, Bull Sanjeev greeted him with great cordiality and made solicitous enquiries regarding the welfare of King Pingal, Fox Karatak and others.

"All are faring quite safe and well — all, except you, my dear Sanjeev", replied Damanak.

And after a significant pause to allow his words to sink in, he continued thus :

"You are now under a very great, dangerous situation. And I do grieve at your impending fate, my dear friend.

King Pingal is no longer the same person you have known. Egged on by conspirators, he is actually planning to kill you — and to drink your own blood!

The Lion King has actually ordered me to bring; you to him, forthwith!

And that, mine own cherished friend, is the grave situation I do find you in" The steadfast ally Sanjeev couldn't be that easily convinced against his friend, the King.

"Go away. I don't believe you. It is incredible that my trusting and noble friend Pingal would ever conceive such an idea", he rebuffed.

The fox laughed and laughed at the words of the bull — and said thus :

"It is a true fool indeed that trusts in the everlasting loyalty of a ruler.

An obstinate ruler insists that the hare he had caught was born but with three legs only — and brooks no contradiction.
Once aroused, there is no containing of a ruler's mood and effulgence, either in friendship or anger. They can sacrifice their own lives — or with equal ease —, take off the very lives of others, on but mere whim and fancy.

Is there a greater hell than service under a ruler?

Show me one single being who can confidentially attest that he was indeed benefited by serving under a ruler!

And even if there was some benefit derived, it would have been but temporary and transcient.

And under the service of a ruler, the only benefit that one can be ever sure of is the benefit of the ultimate axe indeed!"
Bull Sanjeev gathered his wits from the shattering opinions delivered by Damanak, and said at last thus:

"I suspect foul play. Some one had indeed brainwashed and prevailed upon Pingal that I am conspiring with those wily foxes Kautuck and Pautuck.

Otherwise, how else could the Lion King think thus of me —, me with an unblemished record as a true friend and unshakable ally!

I know not of what crime I had committed.

I know not of what gain those conspirators are aiming for.

Anyway, I am resigned to my undeserved fate.

And in any case, why fear death — death the definite evantuality for all beings once born?

Fox Damanak declared thus:

"King Pingal has resolved to kill you, without an iota of doubt. He is good, and there is no doubt about it. But he is now in bad company, like a river that turns bitter in the company of the sea."
Bull Sanjeev said, "Some have hatched a sinister plan against me, eventhough I haven't harmed any one in any fashion. I am going to be: sacrificed by them the same way the camel "A Camel's Service" was killed off in that story. I should have deserted the lion in bad company in good time, like that carpenter "The Carpenter and the Lion" who ran away from that lion, once found in bad company.

One should be choosy in selecting his company: it is but the self- same Fire God, who in alliance with his friendly Wind God, develops the power to destroy everything to ashes, who in the

company of iron does receive blows from the blacksmith's hammer and who, in the company of water, gets himself destroyed."

Thereupon, Fox Damanak thought within himself thus:

"I pulled off my trick wisely thus far. His resignation to fate does suit ideally my purpose. But I shouldn't forget for a single moment his enormous strength. And he can dispatch me off at the slightest suspicion of my betrayal.

It is not advisable to get oneself considered suspect or adverse by the mighty and the powerful. Hence, I must change my tack here."

And then turning to Bull Sanjeev, he stated thus, convincingly:

"You must be careful where rumours are concerned. But you must, at the same time, listen scrupulously to the words of your well-wishers too—unlike that tortoise "The Flying Tortoise" warning of its friendly swans, or those two big fish "The Foresight Saga"who brushed off the advice of their friendly frog.

However, the bullish mood of Sanjeev, brooking, no circumvent counsel, plumped in for direct action in stead. "There is but one single course for the mighty ones to follow, when it comes to resolve precipitated issues — a straight fight to settle strengths", declared Bull Sanjeev.

And there-upon, Fox Damanak hurried to Lion Pingal and conveyed him thus:

"My counsel has proved out to be very correct, Your Majesty!

Bull Sanjeev's arrogant eyes have ascended on, straight to the very top of his head.

He had had the cheek to call you a witless being, and stated that you are wanting in discrimination.
He called you an unstraight crook and a circumvent traitor.

He stated that he hates to bow down his head to you any more.

His words do confirm the old adage that a doomed being's thoughts do get fantastically addled.
He declared his determination to dispatch you to kingdom come.

And besides, he uttered many, many words that my tongue hates to repeat."

And thereupon, the fuse of the ruler was thus lit at long last, by the demonic Damanak.
Pingal the Lion King of the forest let out a rampaging roar of uncontrollable fury — and of outright challenge.
And in turn, he could hear the responding thunderous bellow, replete with the thumping sound of approaching hoofs, of the mighty bull on the run.

Then the two giants clashed.

The roaring Lion King attempted a left hook with his paw.

The snorting Prime Minister dodged it dexterously and then deftly gored the ribs of His Majesty, broadside on. -
The Lion King thereupon was knocked out and fell unconscious, down on the dust below.

Thereupon, the noble bull refrained to press forth his fatal attack on his fallen ex-ally and waited for him to come back.

And thus came an interval in the fateful fight.

Fox Karatak, who was watching, said thus to his brother:

"Do look Damanak, and find for yourself to what i. sad pass your greed has brought our noble king to — and to what a critical moment you brought our gentlemanly friend, the great and noble bull Sanjeev!

My words of caution to ward you off your sinful endeavour, at the very beginning itself, proved out to be useless — and if pressed on further, would have turned out to be counterproductive and self-destructive to me, like that bird's advice to the monkeys trying to warm themselves by the fire-flies "The Power of Unsolicited Advice" or such indeed was your blindness in ambition. You wouldn't have hesitated to dispose off your own brother, the same way that that deceiptful merchant tried to use his own father! "The Talking Tree."

I do blame mine own self now, for two negatives will not make a positive "Two Negatives may not make a Positive" in the higher realities of earthly existence.

You are a deceiver, who is bound to get deceived ultimately—"Iron and Mice" like that merchant who claimed that the mice ate off the entire iron that was entrusted to his safe custody. Your divisionistic tactics will now lead to the end of one of these two noble, staunch allies. Enjoy, do enjoy yourself that spectacle presently!"

And such was the sarcastic jeer of his brother Karatak at Damanak.

Quite soon, the expected climax occurred.

Rousing himself from his reverie, the wounded lion pounced upon the bull's neck and killed him outright, by breaking the neck and plunging his canine teeth into the jugular vein of the bovine.

And then descended the stark anti-climax. The Lion King was overtaken by remorse.

"I have killed indiscriminately my beloved friend and ally Sanjeev — and have thus earned for myself eternal infamy from both my conscience and from the kingdom as well," he was wailing and wailing in continuous growls, for long....

"Why did you do it?" demanded Karatak of his brother.

"Perfidy is the principal weapon to victory of the inferior being. The mighty lion and the noble bull just lacked the bigness to be ever alert against the ever-scheming foxes," clarified Damanak.

"You had sunken to the lowest depths of even foxkind!" remarked the brother fox.

"Demand not greatness ever from others, including your own brothers," stated Damanak.

"What did you gain?" rebuked Karatak.

"Power!" declared Fox Damanak.

"And why at all did you go in for power, you sneaking schemer?" persisted Karatak.

"People gravitate to centres of power in order to destroy their enemies or to protect their friends, MINISTER Karatak," replied Damanak.

There-upon, Fox Karatak fell silent.

And then Damanak gently approached the Lion King Pingal, still grieving for having had killed his own noble prime minister.

"A king shouldn't cry —, much more so when he had but just discharged his normal duty as a great monarch," conveyed Fox Damanak; "And a wise king should never forget his duty for the welfare of his own kingdom and subjects," he added —, as he roused up and led the Lion King, in his self-achieved and hard-earned high office as the new prime minister of the beasts of the jungle.

And as the dark shadows of the night were closing in fast over the brightness of the day, an emotionally overwhelmed Fox Karatak there upon dashed up to a near by hillock. Then, he let out continuous, ecstatic hoots heralding that under a witless king in that jungle polity, integrity was displaced by a treacherous administration that offered death for the great.