The Musical Donkey

In a small village, there lived a washerman who owned a donkey named Uddhata. During the day, the donkey worked hard carrying heavy loads of clothes, but at night, the washerman would let him loose to graze in the fields. During one of these nightly wanderings, the donkey met a jackal, and they soon became the best of friends. Every night, they would sneak into nearby farms to feast on fresh crops. One night, they discovered a field full of ripe, juicy cucumbers. They ate until their stomachs were full. The donkey, feeling extremely satisfied and happy under the bright full moon, said to the jackal, 'My friend, look how beautiful the night is! The air is so fresh, and my heart is full of joy. I feel a sudden urge to sing a melodious song.' The jackal, sensing danger, warned him, 'Friend, do not be foolish. We are here as thieves. If you start braying, the farmer will wake up and beat us mercilessly. Please stay quiet.' But the donkey was arrogant and replied, 'You are just a wild animal who knows nothing about the beauty of music. My voice is divine.' The jackal tried one last time, 'Your voice is harsh, not musical. It will only bring trouble.' Seeing that the donkey would not listen, the jackal said, 'Fine, if you must sing, wait until I go outside the fence to keep a watch.' As soon as the jackal left, the donkey began to bray at the top of his lungs. Hearing the loud noise, the farmers woke up and rushed to the field with heavy sticks. They caught the donkey and thrashed him severely. To ensure he didn't run away easily next time, they tied a heavy stone mortar around his neck. When the donkey finally limped out of the field, the jackal looked at the heavy stone and remarked sarcastically, 'Well friend, it seems you received a grand prize for your musical performance!' The donkey realized his mistake, but it was too late.