Once there lived two partridges (quail-like birds) in a certain tree in a jungle. Jungle was very deep and many animals lived there. One of the partridges lived on the branches of the tree while the other lived inside a hole, at the foot of the tree. The partridges were good friends of each other, spend many hours with each other. They enjoyed the company of each other, shared many stories and events of their lives. In this way both were lived happily with each other. Time passed away in this way.

One day one of the partridges went out with other friends in the jungle in search of food. When he did not return back home even at sunset the other partridge started worrying about him. He thought, “Why has the partridge still not returned home today? He did not ever do this. Has he been trapped by some hunter or may be killed? What happened with him? How can a lived without him? Definitely there is some reason behind his not returning home even at sunset.”

The partridge did not return home even the next day and the day after. Many days passed away but he did not return home. The other partridge kept worrying about him for many days and then he also gave up hope of his friend’s return.

One night a rabbit came to the same tree and saw an empty hole at the foot of the tree, so he decided to take shelter inside. He entered the hole and rest there. As the partridge had given up hope of his friend’s return, he did not say anything to the rabbit on occupying the hole.

After few days the partridge returned home. When the other partridge saw him, he asked him reason for not returning to home. He said him that he had gone to a place where there was plenty of food to eat. I lived there many days and had grown fat but he missed his friend very much, so he returned home back.

When the partridge saw a rabbit had taken over his house, he shouted on him, “O Rabbit! This hole is my home, and you have taken over during my absence. It’s not right to occupy some other home in his absence. I warn you to leave my home immediately.”

But the rabbit disagreed with him and said, “When I reached this place, I found it empty and so I made it my home. Now this is my home and I am not leaving from my home.” Then the partridge and the rabbit started to quarrel. After some time the partridge understood that there was no point in arguing with the rabbit, he said to the rabbit, “O Rabbit! You appear that you did not know the basis rights. Let us approach someone knowledgeable and holy person, who have well knowledge about holy books. Then he will decide who is right and who is wrong, and therefore who have the right to live in the hole.”

This time the rabbit agreed with him and as decided they went to look for a holy man to solve their problem.

At the same time a wild tomcat became aware somehow that they wanted to solve their problem through a holy person. So he immediately pretended as a well knowledgeable animal. Then he held a blade of holy Kusha grass in his paw and planned to stand at a place where he will be observed quickly. He immediately stood on the bank of a river with his eyes closed and started praying.

After some time the partridge and the rabbit reached the bank of the river, the rabbit noticed the tomcat and said, “This person looks holy and knowledgeable. Let us go and seek his advice.”

After heard this the partridge agreed with him and replied, “Yes, let us seek his advice but we should be very careful with him as he is a wild cat by birth and a natural enemy of both of us. He may harm us so we speak only from a distance not come near to him.”

As decided, they approached to the wild cat, but stood at a distance. They said, “O Holy person, please help us. We have a dispute between us, please solve our dispute. And advice us who is right in view of the holy books. If you consider one of us has done crime then you can eat him as well.

The wild tomcat replied, “O my friends, I have left the furious life of killing anyone as it leads to hell. Now I am in the path of reaching the God by non-violence. Non-violence is the very essential for reaching the heaven. I shall not harm any of you. However, I will hear both of you and solve your problem with the knowledge I have.”

Both the partridge and the rabbit impressed with him. Then the wild tomcat continued pretending, “But I am old, and cannot hear you from that distance. Please don’t fear! I do not harm even a mosquito or a bug. Please come close to me, and explain the whole matter. I will try to solve for problem.”

By all his saying the wild tomcat won the confidence of both of them. Both the partridge and the rabbit came near him and sat close to him. They started to explain the reason of their dispute. As they started explaining the wild tomcat began to thought that this the opportunity, I am waiting for. Within no time he jumped and captured on of them in his teeth and the other with his claws. He killed both of them and made a meal out of them. 
 

The wise indeed say:

Beware of a scoundrel who pretends to be holy.