Damanaka bowed and entered the forest in the direction of the sound. He went until he came to the bank of the Yamuna. There he saw Sanjivaka cropping grass. His bellow was the sound Pingalaka had heard.

Damanaka returned to Pingalaka.

Pingalaka asked, "What did you see?"

Damanaka said, "My lord, I saw the creature. It is a bull named Sanjivaka. He claims to be the vehicle of Maheshvara."

Pingalaka said, "Vehicle of Maheshvara? What does he say?"

Damanaka said, "He says that this forest was formerly the abode of Maheshvara, and that he has been sent here. He waits on the bank of the river."

Pingalaka said, "What is to be done with such a one? He is powerful."

Damanaka said, "It is not wise to fight at once. First one should try conciliation. He appears gentle. If my lord desires, I will make friendship between you."

Pingalaka said, "Make friendship, if you are able."

Damanaka went again to Sanjivaka.

Damanaka said, "Sanjivaka, I am Damanaka, minister of Pingalaka, lord of this forest. My lord has sent me to you."

Sanjivaka said, "What message has your lord sent?"

Damanaka said, "My lord Pingalaka desires friendship with you. He offers you his protection and invites you to dwell in this forest without fear."

Sanjivaka said, "I will come, if safety is granted."

Damanaka said, "Safety is granted. Come."

Then Damanaka led Sanjivaka to Pingalaka.

Pingalaka said, "Welcome, friend. Dwell in this forest without fear. You have my protection."

Sanjivaka said, "As my lord commands."

Thus friendship was established between the lion and the bull.

Friendship and Neglect

After that, friendship grew between Pingalaka and Sanjivaka. Pingalaka took pleasure in Sanjivaka's conversation. He sat always with him and spoke of many matters. He no longer went out to hunt. He no longer attended to the affairs of the forest.

His servants suffered. They were without food and without occupation. They grew thin. They assembled at a distance and spoke among themselves.

Karataka came to Damanaka and said, "Friend, see what has been done by you. Our lord has abandoned his duty. He delights only in Sanjivaka. The court is neglected. His servants have no livelihood. This is the fruit of your counsel."

Damanaka said, "It is true. Our lord has become attached to Sanjivaka and has forgotten his duty. Yet I will set it right. I will create dissension between the two."

Karataka said, "How can you separate two who have become such great friends? Their friendship is firm."

Damanaka said, "Even a firm friendship may be broken by the words of the treacherous. I shall bring about dissension between them."

Karataka said, "This course is not worthy of a minister. If it fails, you will lose your life."

Damanaka said, "So long as Sanjivaka remains in the king's favour, there is no place for us."

Having spoken thus, Damanaka left Karataka and went in search of Sanjivaka.

Damanaka Sows the First Seed of Distrust

Having left Karataka, Damanaka went to where Sanjivaka was. He sat at a little distance and sighed as though burdened with sorrow.
Sanjivaka saw him and said, "Friend Damanaka, why do you sit apart? Why do you sigh? You seem sorrowful."

Damanaka said, "Friend, what shall I say? What I have heard is painful. I ought not to speak it. Yet I am distressed for your sake."

Sanjivaka said, "Tell me without fear. What has happened?"

Damanaka said, "Friend, our lord Pingalaka is in a difficult state. His servants are starving. In secret he said to his attendants, 'This bull has become fat. He will make a good meal for my hungry followers. I will kill him.' I heard these words with my own ears."

Sanjivaka was startled. He said, "How can this be? My lord granted me protection and made friendship with me. How can he wish to kill me? Kings do not kill those to whom they have granted protection."

Damanaka said, "Friend, do not place complete trust in kings. Their friendship endures only so long as it serves their purpose. When the purpose is gone, the friendship is forgotten."

Sanjivaka said, "Is it truly so?"

Damanaka said, "It is so. Listen, and I will tell you the story of The Monk and the Swindler."