Panchatantra Tale: Saved by a Question

Once upon a time, in the dense and fearsome woods, there lived a formidable demon known as Chandakarma. His very name sent shivers down the spine of all the forest dwellers. One fateful day, while prowling through the shadows of towering trees, Chandakarma stumbled upon a Brahmin wandering alone. With a sinister grin and a flash of his eyes, the demon leapt upon the Brahmin’s shoulders, commanding in a voice that rumbled like thunder, “March!”

The Brahmin, quivering with terror, could do nothing but comply. As he trudged through the underbrush, carrying the weight of fear on his shoulders, he couldn’t help but notice the demon’s feet – they were as gentle and lovely as the tender insides of a lotus flower. “How can your feet be so tender and exquisite?” the curious Brahmin asked, his voice barely hiding his fright.

Chandakarma laughed, a sound that echoed through the trees, and said, “I observe a sacred vow. I never tread on the earth with wet feet. It is because of this my feet have been granted such beauty.” The Brahmin, his mind whirring with thoughts, silently praised the heavens for this piece of information.

They soon approached a serene lake, where the demon announced, “I shall bathe here and offer my prayers to the Gods. Wait for me, and do not dare to stir from this spot.” The monster descended into the lake’s embrace, leaving the Brahmin to contemplate his fate.

As Chandakarma submerged himself for his ritual bath, an idea sparked in the Brahmin’s mind. “Certainly, this vile creature will consume me after he has finished with his prayers,” he thought. “I must make a run for it now! Given his sacred vow, he shall not step onto the earth with his feet still wet, thus he will not chase after me!” With this thought, the Brahmin bolted.

Sure enough, as the Brahmin dashed desperately away, he heard the outraged howls of Chandakarma. However, bound by his own promise, the demon remained stranded within the waters – allowing the clever Brahmin to vanish into the safety of the forest’s embrace, where no demon’s shadow could ever reach him again.

This is the tale of wit over might, a story for the ages – a testament to the enduring wisdom found in the Panchatantra Tales.

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