In long-past times there lived on the bank of a river two otters, which
from time to time used to enter the water and bring fish ashore. But
while the otters were on the dry land, the fish used to get back into
the water.
Finding there was nothing left, the otters took counsel together one
day, and determined that in future one of them should go into the water
while the other remained on land, and that they should share the spoil
in common. So one of them went into the water while the other remained
on land. The one which went into the water frightened the fish, and
drove them ashore, while the one which remained on land killed them;
the fish also which remained in the water were killed by the otter
which had gone into the water.
Now when the heap of fish had become great, one of the otters said,
“Divide the heap.”
The other replied, “I will not divide it.”
“Why not?”
“I should not like to make a mistake.”
Then the other said, “For the matter of that, I too might make a
mistake.”
While they stood there absorbed in thought, the jackal Mukhara came up
to them and said, “O nephews, why are you so absorbed in thought?”
“O uncle, we have caught some fish.”
“Why do not you divide them?”
“O uncle, for fear of acting unrighteously.”
Then Mukhara said to himself, “As they both hesitate I will undertake
the division.”
After looking at a tortoise which regularly waited upon the two otters,
he went to one of them and said, “O nephew, what have you done in this
matter?”
“O uncle, I dived into the water, and after diving into it, I
frightened the fish, which were driven on land and killed by my
companion here.”
“O nephew, however little was to be got by going into the water, yet
Mukhara would certainly go into the water. The otter who has to be on
the dry land is exposed to danger from fissures, tree-stumps, thorns,
wild beasts, and men. Besides, if he were not to kill the fish, of what
use would your frightening them be? In short, as the whole catch is
entirely the other otter’s work, you must take what he gives you and
raise no objection.”
The otter did not utter a word in reply, smitten to the heart and
overawed by the jackal.
Then the jackal went to the other otter, and said, “O nephew, what was
your share in this matter?”
“O uncle, I kept on the dry land, and killed the fish which were driven
ashore.”
“O nephew, however little was to be got by going upon dry land, yet
Mukhara would always keep to the dry land. The otter who has to go into
the water is in danger from waves and waters, from tortoises,
alligators, and crocodiles. Besides, if he had not frightened the fish,
how could you have killed them? In short, all the take of the fishing
is the other otter’s work; and therefore you must be content with what
your companion gives you.” The otter, heart-smitten and overawed by the
jackal’s words, sat there without saying a word. Then Mukhara said, “O
nephew, there is a means of accomplishing the division without
injustice, by means of the utterance of a śloka.”
Then the two otters said despondingly, “O uncle, undertake the
division.”
So Mukhara divided the heap into three parts, one containing the heads
of the fish, and another their tails, and the third the rest of their
bodies. And he uttered this verse:—
“The goer on land receives the tails, and the goer into the depths the
heads; he who is conversant with the law receives the middle parts.”
Moreover, Mukhara said to himself, “Having deluded these two, I will
secure the booty.” So he seized the middle part of a large fish, and
went off to his mother. She joyfully addressed him in a śloka.
“Mukhara, whence dost thou come that thou hast brought a large fish
without head or tail? whence dost thou come so highly blessed?”
“Even as the king’s cat,” he replied, “that knows neither right nor
wrong, in that fools strive with one another, gains thereby, so shall
we obtain food in plenty.”
The mother also uttered this śloka, “O Mukhara, fine and fair
exceedingly art thou who hast been too much for the otters. They twain
are content, and thou hast secured a rich booty.”