Chapter XXXVIII: The Jackal in the Elephant’s Footprints. 179

An elephant came long ago to the Himalayas to drink water. In its track followed a jackal, which saw the elephant’s footprints, and began to measure its own stride with them.

“These footprints are mine,” it said to itself.

Then springing forwards it set its foot in one of the footprints, and tripped over a broken piece of wood. [180]

A deity uttered this verse—

“In a word, O fool, thy footprints and those of the elephant are not alike. Give up this useless attempt. Thou wilt only derive weariness therefrom.”