We’re at an important juncture in the tiger-fox story being narrated by Bhishmachaarya, wherein the former is in a great rage over the “Dharmatma fox” owing to the allegations from the other animals that the latter had stolen his prey. As the tiger walks towards the Dharmatma fox’s house, the mother tiger stops him and asks a few questions – Did the tiger verify the details given by the fellow animals? Are the fellow animals “Dharmatmas”? Or, did the tiger see the “Dharmatma fox” stealing the prey? Or, is there substantial evidence with the fellow animals to support their claim that the “Dharmatma fox” has stolen the prey? With her son having no answers to all these questions, the mother tiger questions the rationale behind her son inflicting corporal punishment on the “Dharmatma fox”. Adding to this, the mother tiger advises her son to be more calm and patient when it comes to decision-making. Without a proper investigation and evidence, how can one conclude that something has happened? Saying thus, the mother tiger calms down her son.
Moving forward thus, the tiger pays heed to his mother’s words and finds them reasonable. He immediately launches a full-fledged investigation and goes to the house of the “Dharmatma fox”. The prey which was stolen, was still lying there at the residence of the “Dharmatma fox”. Upon questioning the “Dharmatma fox”, the tiger comes to understand that the other fellow animals had hatched a conspiracy plan to break this nexus between the tiger and the “Dharmatma fox”. Since the tiger questioned the “Dharmatma fox”, the latter became completely upset. He has been feigned for no fault of his! At that time of questioning, the tiger maintained his calm, and even then, the fox wasn’t happy! Anyways, now the investigation comes to a close, and it is now clear that the fellow animals were the culprits, and not the “Dharmatma fox”. With this, the tiger announces that he is going to execute all the fellow animals for hatching such a conspiracy and disrupting the entire proceedings of the kingdom.
Meanwhile, realizing his mistake, the tiger once again goes straight to the “Dharmatma fox” in a bid to seek unconditional apology. Initially, the tiger had insulted the “Dharmatma fox” for being on the wrong side, and now after realizing that he was fooled by the fellow animals in the forest, the tiger doesn’t know what to say here! He is in tears! The tiger speaks to the “Dharmatma fox” thus, “Oh “Dharmatma fox”! My sincere apologies to you for casting a doubt on your integrity and “Dharma”! I had been completely misled by these fellow animals in this regard. Now that the air is cleared, I humbly wish that we should continue with our original relationship again. You should again discharge your duties like earlier, as my able minister!” Saying thus, the tiger falls on the feet of the “Dharmatma fox”.
As the tiger seeks unconditional apology and falls on his feet, the “Dharmatma fox” accepts it. However, this comes with a catch! The “Dharmatma fox” replies thus, “Oh tiger! Till today I’ve been an able and an efficient minister for you in all regards. However, you should understand that my ministerial acceptance came at the backdrop of a set of twin conditions. You might remember that one of the twin conditions was that, you will never ever doubt my integrity at any point in time. If you do so, I will immediately resign! Now that you had doubted my integrity, I will no longer be able to continue as your minister! Oh tiger! You might ask me for an apology and say that the air is cleared of all allegations now, but let me tell you one thing – The moment you start having a doubt on someone, it marks the end of a relationship, no matter how much ever you try and apologize. You might say that the air is cleared between us now, but it might again throw up doubts in the future as well. Just because someone had said something, you started doubting me, and that shows the trust you’ve had on me! You did not want to stand up with confidence and tell your fellow animals that I wouldn’t have done such an “Adharmic” act. Instead, you chose to believe their words. What is the guarantee that you wouldn’t believe the words of outsiders and doubt me again in the future? Hence, it is better that we are good friends without any professional relationship. I’ve had enough!”
Saying thus, the “Dharmatma fox” puts down his papers and walks away from that place! This leaves the tiger in complete shambles! He realizes his mistake, but it is too late now! Once a relationship is ruptured, it is ruptured forever! There is no way in which it can be stuck again! Once the trust is broken, it is broken forever! This is an extremely important lesson for all of us here! Through this story, Bhishmachaarya tries to highlight how breach of trust can lead to disastrous consequences, and for today, let us understand up to this point. We shall analyze this story and the lessons behind it in the next episode! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 