The jackal began the tale of The Crane and the Crab.

On the bank of a certain lake there lived a crane. Overtaken by old age and no longer able to catch fish as he once had, he desired an easier means of sustaining himself. Therefore he devised a plan. Standing upon one leg with his eyes half closed, as though absorbed in austerity, he remained motionless upon the shore. Even the fish that came close enough to be seized he left untouched, presenting himself as one weighed down by sorrow.

Among the creatures dwelling in that lake was a crab. Observing the crane's unusual conduct, he approached and asked, "Sir, why do you stand upon one leg like an ascetic? Why have you abandoned your former habit of feeding and wandering?"

The crane sighed deeply and replied, "Dear one, old age has overtaken me. I no longer feed upon fish. I have taken to a life of austerity and renounced such pleasures. Yet I have heard grave news, and because of it my heart is filled with sorrow."

Hearing this, the fish gathered around him and asked, "What is this news?"

The crane answered, "This lake in which you all dwell will soon dry up. The rains will fail, the waters will disappear, and every one of you will perish. I too shall meet my end in due course, but it is your fate that fills me with grief."

These words struck terror into all the creatures of the lake. Gathering around the crane, they pleaded, "O protector, O friend, O wise benefactor! If there is any means of escape, rescue us."

The crane replied, "I am old and cannot contend with fate. Yet there is another lake not far from here, deep, cool, and never failing in water. If you place your trust in me, I shall carry each of you there, one by one, in my beak."

Deceived by his cunning words, they all pleaded, "Take me first! Take me first!"

The wicked crane laughed inwardly. "By cunning," he thought, "I have won the confidence of these creatures. Henceforth they shall become my food without effort."

From that day onward he carried away one fish at a time. But instead of taking them to another lake, he flew to a broad slab of rock upon a nearby hill, where he devoured them at leisure. Their bones he cast aside until a great heap of white bones lay scattered upon the rock. Having satisfied his hunger, he returned to the lake and falsely assured the remaining creatures that their companions had safely reached their new home. Thus, day after day, he continued his deception.

At length a crab, fearing for his own life, approached him and said, "Sir, pray save me also from the mouth of death."

The crane thought within himself, "For many days I have fed upon nothing but fish. Today I shall taste the flesh of a crab, which I have never before eaten."

Thinking thus, he lifted the crab in his beak and rose into the sky. Avoiding every body of water, he flew toward the same rock where he had consumed the fish. As they drew near, the crab looked below and saw a great heap of fish-bones scattered across the stone.

At once the crab perceived the crane's deceit. Gazing upon the countless bones, he reflected, "Alas! These are indeed the remains of those who trusted him. Some wear the guise of friendship only to serve their own ends. Better to dwell among open enemies, or even among serpents, than to place one's trust in a false friend. What should now be done?"

Then another thought arose in his mind: "Fear should be feared only so long as it has not arrived. But when danger stands before one, it must be met without hesitation. Even a teacher who has strayed from the path of righteousness is corrected by punishment."

Resolving to act before it was too late, the crab clasped the crane's long neck firmly with his powerful claws. Before the crane could cast him upon the rock, the crab severed his neck.

Holding fast to the crane's severed neck, slender as a lotus stalk, the crab slowly returned to the lake. The remaining fish, astonished to see him alive, gathered around and asked, "Brother, why have you returned?"

Displaying the crane's head before them, the crab replied, "Every creature whom that deceiver carried away was cast upon a rock and devoured. Those heaps of bones are all that remain of them. By the little span of life that was left to me, I discovered his treachery and slew him. Therefore, cast aside your fear. Henceforth the creatures of these waters have nothing to dread."

Therefore it is said: "Having devoured many fish, a certain crane, overcome by greed, met his own death at the claws of a crab."

The crow then asked, "Friend, tell me, how shall that wicked serpent be destroyed?"

The jackal replied, "Go to a place where the king's attendants gather. There seize a golden necklace from some careless wealthy person and drop it into the hollow where the serpent dwells. While recovering it, they will slay the serpent."

The male and female crows immediately set out. In time the female crow came to a lake where the women of the royal household were sporting in the waters, having laid aside their golden necklaces, pearl ornaments, and fine garments upon the bank. She seized one of the golden necklaces and flew toward her own tree.

Seeing the ornament carried away, the royal guards seized their staffs and hastened after her. Reaching the tree, the crow dropped the necklace into the hollow where the black serpent dwelt and flew to a place of safety.

When the king's men climbed the tree to recover the ornament, the serpent emerged from the hollow with its hood spread wide. They struck it repeatedly with their staffs until it was dead. Recovering the necklace, they returned to their duties, and from that day onward the pair of crows dwelt in peace.

Therefore it is said: "An enemy is overcome by strategy."

Damanaka continued, "Therefore, my friend, an enemy whose strength has diminished should never be neglected. Like a disease that is easily cured at first but becomes incurable when ignored, such an enemy grows dangerous through carelessness. Hence, nothing is impossible for the intelligent.

He whose strength is wisdom alone possesses true strength. For in the forest, a lion intoxicated with pride was brought down by a mere hare."

Karataka asked, "How did that happen?"

Damanaka then began the tale of The Lion and the Hare.