The Blue Jackal

Dadi: "Guddu beta, today I'll tell you a story from the Panchatantra about a jackal who pretended to be something he wasn't."

Guddu: "A jackal? Like a sneaky fox?"

Dadi: "Yes, jackals can be very clever. This one was named Chandarava, and he lived in a forest where he was often hungry. One day, desperate for food, he wandered into a nearby village."

Guddu: "Was that dangerous for a jackal?"

Dadi: "Very! A pack of dogs saw him and started chasing him. Poor Chandarava ran and ran until he found an open door and rushed inside. It was a washerman's house."

Guddu: "What happened inside?"

Dadi: "In his panic, he slipped and fell right into a big tub of blue dye! The washerman used this dye to color clothes. When Chandarava climbed out, he was completely blue - from head to tail!"

Guddu: "A blue jackal! That must have looked so strange!"

Dadi: "The dogs certainly thought so! When they saw this blue creature emerge, they didn't recognize him at all. Scared of this unknown animal, they ran away howling."

Guddu: "So the dye saved him?"

Dadi: "It did! But when Chandarava went back to his forest, the other animals were terrified too. Lions, tigers, elephants - they all fled when they saw this never-before-seen blue creature."

Guddu: "Oh no! His own friends were scared of him!"

Dadi: "But here's where the jackal got greedy, beta. Instead of explaining the truth, he saw an opportunity. He stood tall and announced, "Do not be afraid! Lord Brahma himself created me with his own hands. He has sent me to be your king and protector!""

Guddu: "He lied to become king?!"

Dadi: "Yes. The innocent animals believed him. They had never seen anything like him before - surely he must be divine! The jackal appointed the lion as his minister, the tiger as his chamberlain, and the wolf as his gatekeeper."

Guddu: "But what about the other jackals?"

Dadi: "Ah, this is the sad part, beta. The blue jackal was afraid that other jackals might recognize him. So he banished all jackals from the forest! He drove away his own kind - his own family and friends - just to protect his lie."

Guddu: "That's terrible! He betrayed his own people!"

Dadi: "And for a while, his trick worked. The lions and tigers would hunt and bring food to him. He would distribute it among the animals like a proper king. Everyone lived in peace under his rule."

Guddu: "But something went wrong, didn't it?"

Dadi: "One evening, beta, the blue jackal heard something in the distance. A pack of jackals - far away - were howling at the moon, as jackals do."

Guddu: "Did that remind him of who he really was?"

Dadi: "More than remind him. Something deep inside him stirred. It was his nature, his true self. Before he could stop himself, tears of joy filled his eyes, he sat up... and howled back!"

Guddu: "He howled like a jackal!"

Dadi: "Exactly! The moment that familiar sound came from his throat, all the other animals realized the truth. Their "divine king" was nothing but an ordinary jackal covered in dye!"

Guddu: "Were they angry?"

Dadi: "Furious! They felt fooled and betrayed. In their rage, they all attacked him at once. The lion, the tiger, the wolf - all the animals he had lied to. And that was the end of the blue jackal."

Guddu: "That's a sad ending, Dadi."

Dadi: "It is, beta. But there are important lessons here. What do you think they are?"

Guddu: "Hmm... don't pretend to be something you're not?"

Dadi: "That's the first one. No matter how clever your disguise, your true nature will eventually reveal itself. You can't hide who you are forever."

Guddu: "And he shouldn't have driven away the other jackals?"

Dadi: "Exactly! The Panchatantra says, "One who abandons one's own folk will perish." The jackal betrayed his own kind, and in the end, he was completely alone. He had no one to help him when things went wrong."

Guddu: "It's like if I pretended I wasn't part of my family..."

Dadi: "That would be foolish, wouldn't it? Your family, your community, your true friends - these are the people who know the real you and love you anyway. The jackal threw all that away for temporary power."

Guddu: "Dadi, the story also shows that lies eventually get exposed, right?"

Dadi: "*smiles* Very wise observation, beta. The blue jackal's lie worked only as long as he could control everything. But one unguarded moment, one instinctive howl, and his whole fake kingdom collapsed."

Guddu: "Better to just be yourself from the start!"

Dadi: "Much better. Being yourself might seem less exciting than pretending to be a divine king, but it's honest, and it lasts. The jackal could have explained about the dye, laughed about it with his friends, and lived a normal, happy life. Instead, his greed for power destroyed him."

Guddu: "I'll always remember this story, Dadi. Be yourself, don't lie, and never abandon your true friends."

Dadi: "That's my smart boy. Now, shall we howl together for fun?"

Guddu: "*laughs* Dadi! We're not jackals!"

Dadi: "*winks* No, but we can still enjoy a good howl now and then! Awooooo!"

Guddu: "*giggles and howls* Awoooooo!"