The Cat’s Judgment
Panchatantra
A partridge lived in a hollow beneath a tree, beside the nest of his friend, an old crow. One day the partridge flew to distant rice fields and stayed away much longer than expected.
Believing the hollow abandoned, a rabbit moved in. When the partridge returned, both claimed the little home. Their voices rose until neither could hear the other.
“Let us find a judge,” said the rabbit. By the river they saw a striped cat standing very still, speaking grandly about kindness and fairness. The cat invited them closer, saying his ears were weak.
The crow, who had followed, noticed the cat’s tail twitch and paws tighten. “A fair judge does not need both sides within pouncing distance,” he called. The rabbit and partridge stepped back just as the cat sprang.
They escaped together. Ashamed that their quarrel had made them careless, they returned to the tree and asked several neighbors to listen. The neighbors agreed that the partridge owned the hollow, but the rabbit deserved time and help to find a new shelter.
Together they built the rabbit a snug burrow nearby. Their disagreement ended fairly because they chose advisers with no hidden appetite. From then on, they examined a judge’s character before trusting impressive words.
“Seek fair advice from someone who has nothing to gain from your quarrel.”