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A King named Paurigan ruled the Kingdom of Puriga. He was a tyrant and caused a great deal of agony to his people. Due to all the sins committed, he had to take birth as a fox. But due to divine grace, the fox remembered its previous birth. Out of immense regret for its past deeds, the fox gave up eating flesh. It took up to consuming only the fruits fallen from trees and lived like a recluse in the forest. The others in the fox-folk could not tolerate this kind of behaviour of the fox. Even after repeated requests, the fox refused to change its pious course of life.

Coming to know of a fox with such strength of mind residing in his forest, the tiger, King of the forest, desired to have this fox as his minister for the counsel in his court. Knowing the desire of the King, the fox replied thus- “Such office as a minister's will not suit my nature. I am not attracted to the life and pleasures of a palace. I would like to be independent; eating the fruits falling from trees and drinking water from this river. I am certain that the pleasure of this life can be no match to the life in a palace. Hence, I am not inclined to accept this post.”

But the tiger was bent upon making the fox accept the post. The fox replied-“O King! I accept to be your minister as you force me to be so, under certain conditions. You must promise that you will abide by them. The other ministers, out of envy, may falsely allege me and under such conditions, you must not lose your confidence in me. All my counseling will be done only in privacy. You must not ask me for advice in your personal and family matters. Moreover, my suggestion must be taken only as a warning and based on that alone, nobody must be executed. If you accept these conditions, I shall be your minister.” The tiger too accepted these terms.

The fox, having taken charge as the minister, disposed its duty very loyally. The other animals working for the king, were indulging in several malpractices. But under the loyal administration they were unable to continue thefts and were in distress. They tried in vain to bring the fox to their lines. So all these ministers planned to do some thing to create a bad opinion in the mind of the tiger about the fox. Accordingly, one day they carried away the special mutton kept for the lunch of the tiger and kept it at the Fox’s residence. On knowing this, the fox planed to check whether the King tiger adheres to his words and not suspect him. The Fox thought that even in case he suspects, it will be for good, since he could relinquish this luxurious princely life. Hence, the fox did not inform about this to the King.

At the time of lunch, finding its usual share of meat missing, the tiger got greatly annoyed. The ministers who were questioned about the missing meal, replied -“The fox in whom you hold deep confidence has taken away the food kept for you. It is a bluff that he does not eat meat.” The tiger sent his soldiers to check if the meat was is the fox’s house. The soldiers on returning informed that the meat was indeed in the minister’s house. The tiger was extremely enraged and set out to kill the fox.

At that moment the tiger’s mother stopped him and advised - “In haste, don’t doubt the fox. He refused to accept even the royal pleasures offered to him by you. He could not have certainly indulged in such an activity. This must be only a conspiracy by the other ministers who are jealous of him. You have promised that at no cost you will doubt the fox. Moreover, it is common to find a miser being jealous of a magnanimous person. So also, the weak envy the strong, the poor envy the rich, the fools envy the wise, an ugly man envies a handsome man and an unrighteous man envies a man in the path of righteousness. Hence it is natural that these treacherous ministers are envious about the good-natured fox. So, don’t take any decision in haste.”

Even while the mother of the king was speaking so, a fox from the gang of animals came out and confessed their mistake and explained what had actually happened. Knowing the truth, the tiger was extremely ashamed and felt sorry for doubting his loyal minister.

He approached the fox and sought apology. But the fox replied-“ It was not right on your part as a king to blindly believe in what others said. Moreover, you failed to keep up the promise you made me. Henceforth, come to conclusions only after analysis and know who is a cheat under the garb of goodness and who, though honest, appears to be a cheat due to circumstances.” Saying so, the fox, considering it as great insult to his loyal self, gave up his body!

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