Banyan-tree; and the Brahman said to it, 'Banyan-tree, Banyan-tree, hear and give judgment.' 'On what must I give judgment?' asked the Banyan-tree. 'This Tiger,' said the Brahman, 'begged me to let him out of his cage to drink a little water, and he promised not to hurt me if I did so; but now that I have let him out he wishes to eat me. Is it just that he should do so, or no?'
The Banyan-tree answered, 'Men often come to take refuge in the cool shade under my boughs from the scorching rays of the sun; but when they have rested, they cut and break my pretty branches, and wantonly scatter the leaves that sheltered them. Let the Tiger eat the man, for men are an ungrateful race.'
At these words the Tiger would have instantly killed the Brahman; but the Brahman said, 'Tiger, Tiger, you must not kill me yet, for you promised that we should first hear the judgment of six.'—'Very well,' said the Tiger, and they went on their way. After a little while they met a Camel. 'Sir Camel, Sir Camel,' cried the Brahman, 'hear and give judgment.'–'On what shall I give judgment?' asked the Camel. And the Brahman related how the Tiger had begged him to open the cage-door, and promised not to eat him if he did so; and how he had afterwards determined to break his word, and asked if that were just or not. The Camel replied, 'When I was young and strong, and could do much work, my master took care of me and gave me good food; but now that I am old, and have lost all my strength in his service, he overloads me, and starves me, and beats me without mercy. Let the Tiger eat the man, for men are an unjust and cruel race.'
The Tiger would then have killed the Brahman, but the latter said, 'Stop, Tiger, for we must first hear the judgment of six.'
So they both went again on their way. At a little distance they found a Bullock lying by the roadside. The Brahman said to him, 'Brother Bullock, brother Bullock, hear and give judgment.' 'On what must I give judgment?' asked the Bullock. The Brahman answered, 'I found this Tiger in a cage, and he prayed me to open the door and let him out to drink a little water, and promised not to kill me if I did so; but when I had let him out he resolved to put me to death. Is it fair he should do so or not?' The Bullock said, 'When I was able to work, my master fed me well and tended me carefully, but now I am old he has forgotten all I did for him, and left me by the roadside to die. Let the Tiger eat the man, for men have no pity.'
