In a certain country there is a river. At the river there is a Rat;
in that river there is a Turtle. Every day when this Turtle rises to
the surface this Rat is here. The Turtle said, "Friend, what are you
[doing] there?" he said.
"I am keeping the Precepts" (of Buddha).
"Is it good for me also to come?" the Turtle said.
This Rat said, "It is very good." After that the Turtle came.
At the time when these two are keeping the Precepts a Deer came to
the river for drinking water. Having seen these two here, "What,
friends, are you [doing] there?" [he said].
"We are keeping the Precepts."
"Is it good for me to come?"
"Ane! It is very good," they said. After that, the Deer came.
At the time when these three are keeping the Precepts a Crow came
flying. The Crow said, "What, friends, are you [doing] there?"
"We three are keeping the Precepts."
"Would it be good for me to come, too?" he said.
"You [Crows] are not trustworthy."
"It is true, friend, [regarding the others]; nevertheless there is
trustworthiness in me," he said. Thereupon they said, "Come." The
Crow came.
At the time when these four are keeping the Precepts a Jackal
came. Having seen these four the Jackal said, "What, friends, are you
[doing] there?"
"We are keeping the Precepts."
"Would it be good for me to come, too?" he said.
"Your kind are not trustworthy," they said.
"Yes, it is true [regarding the others]; nevertheless I am
trustworthy," he said.
"If so, come," they said. Afterwards the Jackal came.
At the time when the five are keeping the Precepts, when the Jackal
went for food and went to the Gamarala's chena, he saw that there is
good corn there, and he said to the Deer, "Friend, there is a good
food for you in the Gamarala's chena," he said.
The Deer said, "[For you] to tell me the road let us go together,"
he said. The Jackal and Deer, both, having gone, the Deer ate food
and filling his belly returned.
On the following day, when the Jackal was going alone to the Gamarala's
chena the Gamarala was [there].
This Jackal said, "Doesn't the corn disappear in this chena? The Deer,
indeed, has eaten it. You can't find the gap [by which he came];
shall I find and show (lit., give) you it?"