This story from The Mahabharata is adopted from a 1883 translation, by Kisari Mohan Ganguli
SECTION CXXXVIII (where the mouse Palita contrives to save herself from deadly foes)
There was a large banyan tree in the forest. Covered with creepers, it was the home of many kinds of birds. It had a large trunk from which numerous branches extended in all directions. It was delightful to look at and the shade it afforded was very refreshing. It stood in the midst of the forest and many different species of animals lived in it.
A mouse of great wisdom named Palita lived at the foot of that tree, having made a hole there with a hundred outlets. In the branches of the tree lived a cat by the name of Lomasa, in great happiness, daily devouring a large number of birds.
It happened that a hunter came into the forest and built a hut for himself. Every evening after sunset he spread his nets made of leathern strings and went back to his hut to sleep, returning at dawn. Many animals fell into his traps every night.
One day, the cat, in a moment of heedlessness, was caught in the snare. The mouse Palita came out of her hole and began to roam about in search of food. After a while she saw the meat that the hunter had spread as lure for his trap. Palita did not hesitate to nibble on it, brazenly scrambling over Lomasa, trapped in the net.
In her delight at the situation, Palita failed to notice a deadly enemy arrive at the scene. The foe was none other than the mongoose Harita. Lured by the scent of the mouse, he stood on his haunches with his head upraised, licking the corners of his mouth in anticipation of a great meal. At the same time Palita saw that another one of her foes, the owl Chandraka, was also closing in on her.
The mouse, in great alarm, began to think thus: “Danger encompasses me on every side. If I were to descend from this trap on the ground, without adequate precautions, the mongoose would surely seize and devour me. If I remain on this trap, the owl will surely seize me. If that cat succeeds in disentangling himself from the net, he also is certain to devour me. It is not proper, however, that a person of my intelligence should lose his wits. I shall, therefore, strive my best to save my life, aided by proper means and intelligence. A person possessed of intelligence and wisdom and conversant with the science of policy never sinks, however great and terrible the danger that threatens him. The cat is my great foe, but the distress into which he has fallen is very great. Let me try whether I can succeed in making this foolish creature understand his own interests. In his helpless situation, he may make peace with me.”
“And furthermore,” continued to reflect Palita, “It is better to have a learned person for an enemy than a fool for a friend. As regards myself, my life now rests entirely in the hands of my enemy the cat. I shall now address the cat on the subject of his own liberation. Perhaps, at this moment, it would not be wrong to take the cat for an intelligent and learned foe.”
So the mouse, surrounded by her enemies said to the trapped cat: “O cat! Art thou alive? I wish thee to live! I desire the good of us both. O amiable one, thou hast no cause for fear. Thou shalt live in happiness. I shall rescue thee, if, indeed, thou dost not slay me. There is an excellent expedient in this case, which suggests itself to me, and by which you may obtain your escape and I may obtain great benefit. By reflecting earnestly I have hit upon that expedient for thy sake and for my sake, for it will benefit both of us. There are the mongoose and the owl, both waiting with evil intent. Only so long, O cat, as they do not attack me, is my life safe.
Thou hast lived on this tree and I have lived at its foot. Both of us have dwelt here for many long years. All this is known to thee. He upon whom nobody places his trust, and he who never trusts another, are never applauded by the wise. Both of them are unhappy. For this reason, let our love for each other increase, and let there be union amongst us two. Men of wisdom never applaud an endeavor when its opportunity has passed away. Know that this is the proper time for such an understanding amongst us. I wish that thou shouldst live, and thou also wishest that I should live. A man crosses a deep and large river by a piece of wood. It is seen that the man takes the piece of wood to the other side, and the piece of wood also takes the man to the other side. Thus I will rescue thee, and thou wilt rescue me”
Lomasa, reflecting upon his own state, praised the Words of the speaker and honored her by gentle words in return: “O amiable one! Blessed be thou that wishest me to live! Do that, without hesitation, which thou thinkest to be of beneficial consequences. I am certainly in great distress. Thou art, if possible, in greater distress still. Let there be a compact between us without delay. I place myself in thy hands. I am devoted to thee. I shall wait upon and serve thee like a disciple. I seek thy protection and shall always obey thy behests”
Thus assured, Palita trustfully laid herself under the breast of Lomasa as if it were the lap of her father or mother. Beholding the mouse thus ensconced within the body of the cat, the mongoose and the owl both gave up hope of seizing their prey and departed in wonder.
As she lay under the body of the cat, the mouse began to gnaw at the net, waiting for the proper time to finish his work. Distressed by the strings that entangled him, the cat became impatient upon seeing the work progress so slowly.
“How is it, O amiable one, that thou dost not proceed with haste in thy work? Dost thou disregard me now, having thyself succeeded in thy object?” Lamosa inquired of Palita.
“Wait in silence, O amiable one!” answered the mouse “Expediency is not necessary. Drive away all thy fears. We know the requirements of time. We are not wasting time. When an act is begun at an improper time, it never becomes profitable when accomplished. That act, on the other hand, which is begun at the proper time, always produces splendid fruits. If thou be freed at an improper time, I shall have to stand in great fear of thee. Therefore, do wait for the proper time. Do not be impatient, O friend! When I shall see the hunter approach towards this spot armed with weapons, I shall cut the strings at that moment of fear to both of us. Freed then, thou wilt ascend the tree. At that time thou wilt not think of anything else save the safety of thy life. And when thou, O Lomasa, wilt fly away in fear, I shall enter my hole and thou wilt climb upon the tree.”
“I rescued thee from a great danger with considerable promptness,” complained Lomasa, “Honest persons never do the business of their friends in this way. Thou shouldst do what is for my good with greater expediency. Or art thou remembering our former hostility and are only suffering the time to slip away? If I have ever unconsciously done thee any wrong, thou shouldst not bear it in remembrance. I beg thy forgiveness. Be gratified with me.”
Palita replied thus: “I have, O cat, heard what thou hast said in furtherance of thy own object. Listen, however, to me as I tell thee what is consistent with my own objectives. That friendship in which there is fear and which cannot be kept up without fear, should be maintained with great caution. The person who, having made a covenant with a stronger individual, does not protect himself finds the covenant productive of injury instead of benefit. Nobody is anybody's friend; nobody is anybody's well-wisher; persons become friends or foes only from motives of interest. For this reason, all acts should be so done that something may remain to be done. Behold, all the strings of this net have been gnawed through. Only one remains intact. I will cut that also with haste. Be comforted, O Lomasa!”
While the mouse and the cat were thus talking with each other, both in serious danger, the night gradually wore away. At dawn the hunter appeared and Palita, as promised, very quickly cut the remaining string. Freed from the net, Lomasa scrambled up the banyan tree. Palita, also freed from that situation of danger and from the presence of a terrible foe, quickly fled and entered her hole.
(actually this is not the end of this story. The cat and mouse, now safe, continue to converse for at least another 3 pages on the subject of the impossibility of friendship between the weak and the strong)
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