THE STORY OF THE FROGS AND THE BLACK SNAKE

Near Varuna mountain, there lived an old snake named Mandavishya. One day, he pondered, 'I am getting too old to hunt for food. How can I manage to sustain myself without having to work hard for it?' Then he devised a plan. He went to a pond teeming with frogs and began to act as though he were a Tapasvi, renouncing the world. A curious frog emerged from the water and inquired, 'Why aren't you moving about in search of food as usual?'

"Ah," replied the snake, "unfortunate fellow that I am! I no longer have any desire for food. Let me explain. Last night, while wandering in search of food, I spotted a frog. When I attempted to catch him, he leaped into a group of Brahmins reciting the Vedas and disappeared. Unable to reach him there, I waited. In the meantime, I noticed a Brahmin's sandal and bit him. He died instantly. His father, grief-stricken, cursed me: 'Wicked demon of a serpent! You have bitten my son unjustly. Henceforth, you shall serve the frogs, and they will ride upon you. You will live off whatever they offer.'"

"And so," continued the snake, "I have come to serve you."

Upon hearing the snake's tale, the frog relayed it to the others. Eventually, the king of frogs learned of the story. Finding it peculiar, he visited the snake himself, accompanied by his ministers, to verify the account. After the snake assured him of his safety, the king climbed onto his back. Other frogs followed suit, taking turns according to age. Those who couldn't find space on the snake's back hopped along behind. To entertain the frogs, the snake displayed various types of crawling.

The next day, the snake deliberately crawled slowly. When the king frog noticed, he asked, "Friend, why aren't you crawling as usual?"

"I've had nothing to eat," replied the snake. "I'm too weak to crawl properly."

So the frog king suggested, "Alright then, you can eat small frogs."

Upon hearing this, the snake pretended surprise, saying, "Well, well! This is exactly the second part of the Brahmin's curse coming true. Your Majesty, your kindness makes me very happy."

Subsequently, the snake began consuming small frogs daily and soon regained strength.

Delighted with the arrangement, the frog king Jalapada remained oblivious to the snake's true intentions.

After some time, a large black snake arrived at the pond. Astonished to see frogs riding on Mandavishya, he questioned, "Mandavishya, these frogs are our food! Why are you carrying them on your back? It is beneath you!"

"I agree," Mandavishya replied, "but I am playing it cool and waiting patiently." He then explained the situation.

On one occasion, Mandavishya chuckled, "Eating all these frogs, I have discovered different tastes."

Dumbfounded, Jalapada questioned, "My good fellow, what kind of talk is that?"

To cover his slip, the snake replied, "Oh, nothing at all," skillfully putting the frog king at ease.

Over time, the snake began devouring even larger frogs until eventually, he consumed the frog king and eradicated the entire population.

Sthirajeevi concluded his tale, drawing parallels to his own actions against the owls. Pleased, the king acknowledged the necessity of total annihilation of enemies.

Reflecting on Sthirajeevi's wisdom, the king agreed on the importance of skill in addition to bravery. He emphasized the need to protect subjects and rule justly for enduring happiness.

Sthirajeevi urged the king to govern with justice and awareness of the transient nature of power, advising him to find true happiness in benevolent rule.