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470
PHILOSOPHY OF SOUL
and apprehension of death, then better come over here and stay. Graze green grass and sip cool clear water of this lake."
Chitranga said, “I extend my compliments for your hospitality. I wish the world abounds in good fellows like you. But I am a stranger here. I would enjoy this place if you make friends with me.”
Mantharaka said, "Friend, you are very frank hearted and sincere. I would certainly enjoy friendship with you. From today onwards you are my friend." Thus the crow, the crab, the deer and the rat became close friends and passed their days happily.
One day Chitranga, the deer did not return even late after sunset and all the three began to worry about him. Laghupatanaka, rose high up in the sky in search of the deer. He found the deer trapped on the bank of the lake. The crow asked, "Friend, how is it that you are so trapped."
Chitranga said, "There is no time to explain all this. You call over here Hiranyaka without delay and he would soon relieve me from this trap."
Laghupatanaka returned to carry the rat in his beak. Mantharaka also arrived on the spot. Hiranyaka said, "Mantharaka, you should not have left your place, as on trap being cut the deer will run off, crow shall top the tree and I shall creep in the hole, but it will be very hard task for you to escape."
Mantharaka said, "When I found our friend in difficulty I could not but keep patience and came over here to help the friend to my utmost. Now let me face my fate."
Hiranyaka began to gnaw the trap very speedily but in the meanwhile, the hunter approached. The rat crept into the hole, the crow flew away in the sky and the deer with all his might ran away. Only the crab could not escape. The hunter found the crab and thought, "Good that I lost the deer but I found a crab." The hunter caught the crab tied it with a string and began walking with the crab hanging at the end of his bow on his shoulder. All the rest of the friends decided to save their Mantharaka. They made out a plan and according to the plan Chitranga kept himself lieing dead on the bank of the lake. Laghupatanaka posed as if it was wheedling out his eyes. The hunter seeing the sight threw aside
