The Blue Jackal: A Story About Staying True to Yourself. Hitopadesh Fables from India

The Blue Jackal

Once upon a time, in a dense and quiet forest near a bustling town, there lived a Jackal who roamed the woods, seeking food and shelter like any other. He was an ordinary creature, blending in with the rest of the wild animals around him. The Jackal was neither particularly large nor small, nor did he possess any special qualities that set him apart from others in his pack. However, one fateful day, as he wandered too close to the town, he happened upon a vat filled with blue dye that the townspeople had abandoned.

Curious and without caution, the Jackal ventured too close and, before he knew it, lost his footing and fell straight into the vat. The dye, thick and vibrant, covered his entire body from head to tail, turning him a brilliant shade of blue. Startled but unharmed, the Jackal clambered out of the vat and surveyed himself. He marveled at his new appearance. His once dull brown fur was now an unusual, radiant blue. He was certain that he now looked special, like no other creature in the forest.

For a moment, the Jackal felt a surge of pride. "I am different now," he thought. "This blue color must mean I am extraordinary!" The Jackal began to strut around, feeling superior to the other animals he encountered. But soon, he realized that his new color didn't seem to earn him the attention he had hoped for. The other animals didn't pay him any more mind than they did before. That was when he hatched a clever plan.

The Jackal knew that if he could convince the other Jackals that his blue color was a sign of divine favor, he could become their leader. He returned to his pack and gathered them together. With an air of authority, he proclaimed, "I am no ordinary Jackal! A forest goddess has bestowed upon me this magical blue color, making me her chosen one. She has made me king of all the animals, and I now hold great power!"

The other Jackals, seeing the Jackal's vibrant blue fur and hearing his confident words, believed him. They had never seen anything like it before, and they assumed that the color must indeed be a sign of special power. In awe of what they thought was divine intervention, they began to treat the blue Jackal with reverence, following his every command. They no longer saw him as one of their own; instead, they began to think of him as a king, someone who was meant to lead them.

The blue Jackal relished his newfound status. He walked proudly through the forest, no longer mingling with the other Jackals. Instead, he began to associate himself with much stronger, more fearsome animals, like tigers and lions. He acted superior to his own kind, flaunting his new position, while basking in the attention of the larger, more powerful creatures. He enjoyed his life as "king" and started to look down on the other Jackals who had once been his companions.

But not all of the Jackals were fooled. One wise and observant Jackal, who had always been a loyal friend to the blue Jackal, watched with growing concern. He saw how the blue Jackal was becoming arrogant, forgetting the friends who had supported him. This wise Jackal knew that the blue Jackal's pride was getting the better of him, and he had a plan to reveal the truth.

The wise Jackal decided that the best way to expose the blue Jackal was to remind him of his true nature, and the importance of staying humble. He gathered the rest of the Jackals together and came up with a clever strategy to unmask the blue Jackal's deception. The wise Jackal knew that the blue Jackal, no matter how much he pretended to be king, could never deny his natural instincts.

So, the wise Jackal instructed the others to begin howling together. All the Jackals, in unison, raised their voices in a great howl that echoed through the forest. The blue Jackal, hearing the familiar sound, felt a deep, uncontrollable urge stir inside him. It was in his very nature to howl with his pack, to join in their communal call. Despite his newfound status, the blue Jackal couldn't resist. He opened his mouth and let out a howl, just like every other Jackal.

The moment the howl escaped his lips, the other animals, including the tigers and lions who had once treated him like royalty, heard it. They recognized the howl instantly. It was the howl of a Jackal, just like any other. The tigers, who had thought the blue Jackal was special, now saw the truth. He was no more than a regular Jackal, wearing the guise of something greater than he was. The tigers and the other animals, angry at being deceived, realized they had been misled by the blue Jackal's false claims.

Furious at the Jackal's trickery, the tigers and other creatures chased him away, driving him from the forest. The blue Jackal, who had once basked in the attention and respect of the other animals, was now alone, humiliated, and ashamed. He had lost his friends, his pack, and his position of false power all because he had let pride take control and forgotten the importance of loyalty, honesty, and humility.

The Jackals, who had once revered him, returned to their rightful place, realizing that true worth was not found in appearances or deceit, but in the integrity of one's character. The wise Jackal, who had seen through the blue Jackal's arrogance, turned to the others and said, "Remember this lesson, my friends. It is not the color of our fur or the status we claim that makes us special. It is our loyalty to one another and our honesty that truly defines us."

The Story of the Blue Jackal underscores the dangers of arrogance and deceit, especially when they are based on superficial qualities like appearances. It reminds us that true friendship and respect come from who we are, not from what we look like or the lies we tell to make ourselves appear special. The story teaches the value of loyalty, honesty, and the importance of staying grounded, even when we are given something new or exciting.