THE MONKEY AND THE CROCODILE
INTRODUCTION TO PANCHATANTRA, BOOK FOUR

ARTHUR W. RYDER

Here, then, begins the fourth book, called the Loss of Property, The first verse runs:

Blind folly always has to pay

For giving property away

Because of blandishments and guile

The monkey tricked the crocodile.

"How was that?" asked the princess. And Vishnusharman told this story.

On the shore of the sea was a great rose-apple tree that was never without fruit. In it lived a monkey named Redface.

Now one day a crocodile named Uglymug crawled out of the ocean under the tree and burrowed in the soft sand. Then Redface said: "You are my guest, sir. Pray eat these rose-apples which I throw you. You will find them like nectar. You know the proverb:

A fool or scholar let him be,
Pleasant or hideous to see,
A guest, when offerings are given,
Is useful as a bridge to heaven.

Ask not his home or education,
His family or reputation,

But offer thanks and sacrifice:

For so prescribes the law-book wise.

And again:

By honoring the guests who come
Wayworn from some far-distant home
To share the sacrifice, you go

The noblest way that mortals know.

And once again:

If guests unhonored leave your door,
And sadly sighing come no more,
Your fathers and the gods above
Turn from you and forget their love."

So he spoke and offered rose-apples. And the crocodile ate them and enjoyed a long and pleasant conversation with the monkey before returning to his home. So the monkey and the crocodile rested every day in the shade of the roseapple tree. They spent the time in cheerful conversation on various matters, and were happy.

Now the crocodile went home and gave his wife the rose-apples which he had not eaten. And one day she asked him: "My dear husband, where do you get such fruits? They are like nectar."

And he said: "My dear, I have an awfully good friend, a monkey named Redface. He gives me these fruits in the most courteous manner."

Then she said: "If anyone eats such nectar fruit every day, his heart must be turned to nectar. So, if you value your wife, give me his heart, and I will eat it. Then I shall never grow old or sick, but will be a delightful companion for you."

But he said: "In the first place, he is our adopted brother. Secondly, he gives us fruit. I cannot kill him. Please do not insist. Besides, there is a proverb:

To give us birth, we need a mother;
For second birth we need another:
And friendship's brothers seem by far
More dear than natural brothers are."'

But she said: "You have never refused me before. So I am sure it is a she-monkey. You love her and spend the whole day with her. That is why you will not give me what I want. And when you meet me at night, your sighs are hot as a flame of fire. And when you embrace me and kiss me, you do not hug me tight. I know some other woman has stolen into your heart."

Then the crocodile was quited dejected, and said to his wife:

"When I am at your feet
And at your service, sweet,
Why do you look at me

With peevish jealousy?''

But her face swam in tears when she heard him, and

she said:

"You love her, you deceiver;

Your wishes never leave her;

Her pretty tricks have crept into your heart.

My rivalry is vain, sir;

And so I pray abstain, sir,

From service that is only tricky art.

Besides, if you do not love her, why not kill her when I ask you? And if it is really a he-monkey, why should you love him? Enough! Unless I eat his heart, I shall starve myself to death in your house."

Now when he saw how determined she was, he was distracted with anxiety, and said: "Ah, the proverb is right: Remember that a single grab Suffices for a fish or crab,

For fool or woman; and 'tis so

For sot, cement, or indigo.

Oh, what shall I do? How can I kill him?" With these thoughts in mind, he visited the monkey.

Now the monkey had missed his friend, and when he saw that he was afflicted, he said: "My friend, why have you not been here this long time? Why don't you speak cheerfully, and repeat something witty?"

The crocodile replied: "My friend and brother, my wife scolded me today. She said: 'You ungrateful wretch! Do not show me your face. You are living on a friend every day, and make him no return. You do not even show him the door of your house. You cannot possibly make amends for this. There is a saying:

The Brahman-murderer or thief,
Drunkard or liar, finds relief;

While for ingratitude alone
No expiation will atone.

So bring

I regard this monkey as my brother-in-law. him home, and we will make some return for his kindness. If you refuse, I will see you later in heaven.' Now I could not come to you until she had finished her scolding. And this long time has passed because I was quarrelling with her about you. So please come home with me. Your brother's wife has set up an awning. She has arranged her garments and gems and rubies and all that, to pay you a fitting welcome. She has hung holiday garlands on the door-posts. And she is waiting impatiently."

The monkey said: "My friend and brother, your lady is very kind. It is quite according to the proverb:

Six things are done by friends:

To take, and give again;

To listen, and to taik;

To dine, to entertain.

But we monkeys live in trees, and your home is in the water. How can I go there? Rather bring your lady here, brother, that I may bow down and receive her blessing."

The crocodile said: "My friend, our home is on a lovely sand-bank under the water. So climb on my back and travel comfortably with nothing to fear."

When the monkey heard this, he was delighted and said: "If that is possible, my friend, then hasten. Why delay? Here I am on your back."

But when he was there and saw the crocodile swimming in the bottomless ocean, the monkey was terribly frightened, and said: "Go slow, brother. My whole body is drenched by the great waves.

And the crocodile thought when he heard this: "If he fell from my back, he could not move an inch, the water is so deep. He is in my power. So I will tell him my purpose, and then he can pray to his favorite god.”

And he said: "Sir, I have deceived you and brought you to your death, because my wife told me to. So pray to your favorite god."

The monkey said: "Brother, what harm have I done her or you? Why have you planned to kill me?"

The crocodile said: "Well, those nectar fruits tasted so sweet that she began to long to eat your heart. That is why I have done this."

Then the quick-witted monkey said: "If this is so, sir, why didn't you tell me on shore? Then I might have stuffed my heart into a rose-apple and brought it along as something really sweet. As it is, I am quite forlorn at being taken to her in vain, without having my heart sweetened."

When he heard this, the crocodile was delighted, and said: "If you feel so, then give me your heart. And my cross wife will eat it and give up starving herself. And I will take you back to the rose-apple tree."

So he turned back and swam toward the rose-apple tree, while the monkey murmured a hundred prayers to every kind of a god. And when at last he came to shore, he hopped and jumped farther and farther, climbed up the rose-apple tree, and thought: "Ah, my life is saved. Surely, the saying is a good one:

We dare not trust a rogue; nor must
We trust in those deserving trust:

For danger follows, and we fall
Destroyed and ruined, roots and all.

So today has proved a second birthday for me."