The Blue Jackal

In a dense jungle, there lived a jackal named Chandaraka. One day, while searching for food near a village, he was chased by a pack of hungry dogs. To save himself, he jumped into a large vat of indigo dye outside a dyer’s house. When he climbed out, he was shocked to see that he had turned completely blue from head to toe! He returned to the forest, and all the other animals—the lions, tigers, and elephants—were terrified of him. They had never seen such a strange, blue creature before. The jackal realized he could use this to his advantage. He stood on a high rock and announced, "Do not fear! I have been sent by the heavens to be your king and protect this forest." The animals believed him and began to serve him, bringing him the best food every day. One evening, while the "Blue King" was sitting in his court, a pack of jackals nearby began to howl at the moon. Out of habit, Chandaraka forgot his disguise. He threw back his head and started howling, "Awoo! Awoo!" just like the others. The animals immediately realized they had been tricked. "He is just an ordinary jackal!" they cried. Feeling foolish and angry, they chased the blue jackal out of the forest. Chandaraka learned that you cannot hide your true nature for long with a lie.