Great things may be effected by wise counsel, when a sovereign enemy
may be too powerful. Certain Rabbits were enabled to live in comfort,
through the policy of one of their brethren.
Once upon a time, for want of rain in due season, a troop of Elephants
being greatly distressed for water, addressed their chief in these
words: "What resource have we, except in that hollow sinking ground
inhabited by those little animals! but deprived of that too, whither,
sir, shall we go? What shall we do?"
Upon hearing their complaints, their chief, after travelling with them
a great way, discovered a fountain of clear water. But, as many
Rabbits who happened, to be in their burrows were crushed to death
under the feet of so many Elephants trampling over their warren, at
length, one of them, reflected in this manner: "This troop of
Elephants, oppressed with thirst, will be coming here every day to
drink, and, at length, our whole race will be destroyed!" But an old
buck said to him, "Brother, don't be uneasy; for I am going to prevent
what thou dreadest." Saying which, he set off to try how he could
oppose them; but as he went along, he began to consider how he should
approach so formidable a troop; "for," observed he, "they say:
"'An elephant killeth even by touching, a serpent even by smelling, a
king even by ruling, and a wicked man by laughing at one.'
"Wherefore, I will mount the summit of a rock to address the head of
the troop."
This being put in execution accordingly, the chief Elephant asked him
who he was, and whence he came. "I am," he replied, "an ambassador
sent here by the god Chandra." "Declare the purport of thy
commission," said the Elephant. "Sir," replied the Rabbit, "as
ambassadors, even when the weapons of war are lifted up, speak not
otherwise than for the benefit of their State; and although they speak
boldly according as it is their advantage, they are not to be put to
death; then I will declare what are the commands of the god Chandra.
He bade me say, that in driving away and destroying the Rabbits who are
appointed to guard the fountain which is consecrated to that duty, you
have done ill; 'for,' said he, 'they are my guards and it is notorious
that the figure of a Rabbit is my emblem.'"
The head Elephant, upon hearing this became greatly alarmed, declared
that they had offended through ignorance, and would never go to the
fountain again.
"If this be your resolution," said the ambassador, "go this once, and
make your submission before the diety himself, whom you will see in the
fountain, quite agitated with anger; and when you have pacified him,
you may depart."
Accordingly, as soon as it was night, the ambassador Vijaya having
conducted the chief of the Elephants to the fountain, there showed him
the image of the moon, trembling, as it were, upon the smooth surface
of the water and when he had made him bow down to it, in token of
submission, he said: "Please your divinity! What hath been done having
been done through ignorance, I pray thee pardon them!" and upon saying
this, he caused the Elephant to depart. I repeat, therefore, "Great
things may be effected by wise counsel, when a sovereign enemy may be
too powerful."