In the forest of Champakavati lived two old friends — Chitranga the deer and Subuddhi the crow. Their days passed happily, until a jackal named Kshudrabuddhi caught sight of the plump, glossy deer and licked his lips. “If I win his trust,” thought the jackal, “the feast will follow.” So he came up humbly and said, “Friend deer, I am a lonely stranger here. Let me be your friend.” The kind, simple deer agreed, and brought him home to the great banyan tree.
“Chitranga!” warned the crow. “One should never give friendship to a stranger whose family and nature are unknown. Remember Jaradgava, the old vulture, who lost his life for sheltering a cat!” But the jackal answered sweetly, “The day you two first met, you were strangers also.” The trusting deer would not listen, and so the three lived together — though the crow stayed watchful.
One day the jackal led the deer to a field heavy with ripening grain. “Eat, friend! Why chew dry grass when such sweetness grows here?” The deer returned to the field every day, until the angry farmer laid a snare of strong cords, and the deer was caught fast. “Only my friend the jackal can save me now!” he cried. The jackal came — and stood at a distance, thinking, “When the farmer deals with him, my feast is sure.” Aloud he said, “Friend, these cords are made of sinew, and today is my holy fast — I may not touch them with my teeth. Tomorrow, surely!” And he hid himself in the bushes to wait.
That night the worried crow searched until he found his friend, and heard all that had happened. “Listen,” said wise Subuddhi. “When the farmer comes, lie stiff and still, as if dead. The moment I caw, leap up and run.” At dawn the farmer saw the motionless deer, thought it long dead, and loosened the cords. The crow cawed — the deer sprang up and fled like the wind! The furious farmer hurled his heavy club after it, and it struck not the deer but the jackal lurking in the bushes — a fitting end for a false friend.