Chitravarna demanded how it was, whereupon the minister thus related - There is, in the Malaya (Malwa) country, a lake, Padmagarbha by name. There is a certain crane who was old and decrepit stood showing himself to be sad at heart. He was observed by a crab and asked - Why do you stand thus without looking for food! The crane said - Friend, listen. The fish are the means of my sustenance. And they are certain to be killed by fishermen coming here. (For) such a talk I heard near the city. So, for want of means of subsistence my death is imminent. Aware of this I am not thinking of eating even. Now all the fishes thought to themselves - This time at least he appears to be our benefactor. So let us just consult him as to what is best to be done. For it is said - An alliance should be formed even with an enemy disposed to do a service, and not with a friend doing injury, for a deed of benevolence and injury should be known to be the signs of these (i.e., a man being a friend or foe).