A monkey lived in a rose-apple (jamun) tree on a riverbank and ate its sweet fruit every day. One day a crocodile came by and the monkey offered him some jamuns too. The two became friends.
The crocodile came every day, ate jamuns and took some home for his wife. She loved them. She thought, “If he eats such sweet fruit every day, how sweet his heart must be!” and insisted that her husband bring her the monkey’s heart.
The crocodile was deeply troubled, but gave in to his wife’s insistence. He said to the monkey, “Friend, my wife wants to meet you. Sit on my back and I will take you to our home.”
In the middle of the river the crocodile told him the truth. The monkey did not panic. He said cleverly, “Oh friend, why did you not tell me earlier? My heart is kept on the tree. Take me back and I will fetch it.”
The crocodile brought the monkey back to the bank. The monkey leapt up the tree at once and said, “Fool, does anyone keep their heart apart from their body? One who betrays a friend does not deserve friendship.” This is how the monkey saved his life.