17. The Jackal and the Bullock

Laura Gibbs · 17. The Jackal and the Bullock

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A jackal once noticed the big balls that dangled from a bullock's behind, and they made his mouth water.
"What a delicious meal those would make!" the jackal thought. "And his balls are so heavy and so big. Surely they will fall down soon!"
So the jackal began following the bullock everywhere, waiting for the balls to fall down.
But they didn't fall down.
"Such big balls!" the jackal thought. "Why don't they fall down?"
Ever hopeful, he kept following the bullock.
Finally, though, he gave up.
"You can keep your balls!" he shouted. "They probably wouldn't taste good anyway."

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Inspired by: Tales and Parables of Sri Ramakrishna
Notes: This is story 7 in the book; it's also a story in the Panchatantra. I borrowed the idea for the final line from the traditional Aesop's fable about the fox and the grapes.