Classic story

The Tiger, the Brahman, and the Jackal

A Indian tale
2 chapters
about 5 min

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A hungry tiger finds himself trapped in a cage, desperately seeking freedom from his confinement. When a kind Brahman happens by, the tiger pleads for help with many promises of gratitude. The Brahman’s heart softens, and he opens the cage door, only to be immediately seized by the beast. The tiger declares that hunger justifies eating his savior, leaving the poor man terrified and helpless. To save his life, the Brahman proposes they ask three witnesses if the tiger’s action is just. He first consults a pipal tree, which complains about how ungrateful people are for its shade. Next, he asks a buffalo, who laments being mistreated after it can no longer provide milk. Finally, the road itself tells him that everyone tramples upon those who serve them best. Heartbroken by these cynical answers, the Brahman meets a jackal and recounts his tragic fate. The jackal pretends to be confused and asks to hear the story again from the beginning. Together they return to the spot where the tiger waits impatiently for his meal. The jackal spins out a long, confusing tale to buy time while acting utterly baffled. He insists that he cannot understand how the tiger got into the cage in the first place. Annoyed by the jackal’s apparent stupidity, the tiger jumps back into the trap to demonstrate. Seizing the moment, the jackal locks the door, trapping the tiger once more.

How it begins

The Tiger, the Brahman, and the Jackal Once upon a time, a tiger was caught in a trap. He tried in vain to get out through the bars, and rolled and bit with rage and grief when he failed. By chance a poor Brahman came by. "Let me out of this cage, oh pious one!" cried the tiger. "Nay, my friend," replied the Brahman mildly, "you would probably eat me if I did." "Not at all!" swore the tiger with many oaths; "on the contrary, I should be for ever grateful, and serve you as a slave!" Now when the tiger sobbed and sighed and wept and swore, the pious Brahman's heart softened, and at last he consented to open…

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The Tiger, the Brahman, and the Jackal

How it begins

Every story, fully told

A voice for every character

The mood of every line

Pictures of every place

Read along

Your AI voice, for any character

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