Medicine for the Tiger

THE animals in a particular jungle considered the tiger their king because as long as he prowled the forest, it was safe from man.

Once, the Great Tiger ate too much and developed a stomach ache. The pain was so terrible that he thought the end had come. A hyena passed by his den just then and the tiger called out to him.

“Come here, you! I’m making you my dewan (minister). I want you to summon all the animals to pay their last respects to me!”

The hyena, filled with pride at his new position, told a crow in imperious tones to pass on the message.

All the animals arrived promptly at the tiger’s den, but of the jackals there was no sign. The hyena paced up and down nervously, cursing the jackals under his breath. When the jackals finally showed up, it was late afternoon. The hyena bared his teeth in anger after drawing himself up.

“Didn’t you hear about the king’s Why are you late?” he demanded.

The tiger’s brow furrowed with disapproval as he glared at his errant subjects.

The chief of the jackals thought to himself, “This upstart of a hyena is giving himself too many airs. Puffed up, arrogant fellow!”

Aloud, he said, “Sorry, Your Highness! We’ve spent the entire morning scouring the forest for herbs to cure you.”

“Well, then, give it to me! Can’t you see the agony I’m in?” said the tiger, his growl ending in a moan.

“The jackal.

“Just watch me teach that striped rascal a lesson,” he told his mates in a whisper.

“Your Highness,” continued the jackal loudly. “You have to sit on the skin of a hyena that has been flayed alive, while eating the medicine.” The tiger glanced meditatively at his minister. “No, no! Not me!” yelped the hyena fearfully. By the time the ritual was half-complete, the tiger’s stomach ache had vanished of its own accord, but he thought it was the effect of the jackal’s wonder medicine. And you can guess who became the new minister!

4326 Bharati, Bharatiya medicine special one,” illness? said

Vidya the

Bhavan