Jackal and Crow’s Deceit: A Tale of Flattery and Ruin

In a time long past, the Bodhisatta was not a human, but a spirit of nature—a tree fairy—residing within a tall and sturdy rose apple tree. His home was lush with fruit, and the tree itself stood as a sentinel in the forest, bearing sweet and juicy offerings for all who passed.

One day, as the Bodhisatta watched from his perch, a cunning jackal prowled nearby. The jackal, seeing a crow perched on the branches above, eyed the fruits and thought to himself, How can I get some of that without effort?

With a sly grin, the jackal called up to the crow, “Your voice is as enchanting as a peacock’s call. Surely, you must be the most noble of creatures.”

The crow, flattered by the jackal’s praise, puffed up his chest and replied, “And you, my friend, are as majestic as a young tiger—strong and fearless!”

Delighted by the exchange of compliments, the crow shook the tree’s branches, and several fruits tumbled down to the ground. The jackal eagerly seized them, his plan a success. But this exchange of false flattery did not go unnoticed.

The Bodhisatta, seeing these two carrion-eaters—one known for its greed and the other for its trickery—spoke in his mind, These two deceitful creatures deserve no kindness or rewards. With this thought, he assumed a fearsome shape, his form expanding and growing terrifying, his presence like a storm cloud that darkened the sky. The jackal and the crow, startled and frightened, fled in panic, abandoning the fruit and their empty words behind.

From that day on, the two creatures never returned to the rose apple tree, and the Bodhisatta resumed his peaceful existence, guarding the tree from those who sought to deceive and trick.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha

Many years later, during the Buddha’s time, there were two disciples—Devadatta, once a close companion of the Buddha, and Kokalika, a devoted follower of Devadatta. However, Devadatta had fallen from grace, becoming infamous for his actions and misdeeds. Despite his tarnished reputation, he and Kokalika began to flatter each other in an attempt to restore their honor.

As they went out on their alms rounds, they exchanged praises of each other’s lineage and spiritual knowledge, each falsely inflating the other’s virtue. My wisdom surpasses all, they both claimed in whispered tones, hoping to fool those around them.

The Buddha, upon hearing these idle and deceitful praises, called his disciples together. He told them of the time when the jackal and the crow, in their past lives, had also used flattery and false words to gain favor. “Even in previous births,” he said, “they lied to one another for selfish gain. Such is the nature of deceit: it feeds on vanity and pride, and those who indulge in it are bound to fall.”

The Buddha’s words carried a deep lesson: True honor comes not from the praise of others, but from sincerity and humility.

Moral: Flattery and deceit may win short-term rewards, but in the end, they lead to nothing but ruin. Only through honesty and genuine virtue can one find true respect and peace.