SHREEVISHNUSHARMAPRANEETAM
PANCHATANTRAM
श्रीविष्णुशर्मप्रणीतं
पञ्चतन्त्रं
SANSKRIT TEXT
WITH
ENGLISH COMMENTARY
by
TEJASVINI
FIVE COURSES OF ACTION
PRESCRIBED IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE SCIENCE
{ANCIENT WISDOM}
INTRODUCTION
This section of PanchaTantra deals with the foolishness of
human beings.
In this world everyone strives hard for attaining something
or other; some succeed and some fail. Failure of course means distress and
disappointment. But the pain of losing what is attained is more than the pain
of not attaining something. A man who cannot climb a mountain has to only
repeat his efforts till he succeeds. There is always a hope of effort fructifying
into success.
But suppose a man has climbed to the top of mountain and
just a second before the final step leading to success, stumbles and falls,
what pain could equal that?
All hopes lost and exhausted to the limit he collapses
mentally never able to rise up.
How to avoid this fall? What usually causes one to lose what
one has gained?
This is the lesson that is given in this section.
The characters of this section are mainly a monkey and
crocodile (and his wife).
Monkey here represents the ordinary man of the world, who is
happy in his own world of minimal comforts and easily shares whatever he has
with everyone. Guileless, he usually becomes the target for cheats and robbers.
‘Trust no one’ is the lesson the monkey learns after his
near-death encounter.
Crocodile represents the man of loose-character who gives no
value to friendship or morality but acts only to please his family and is the
slave of his wife.
Women without character, education do not prove good guides;
and lead a man towards his destruction through their unreasonable demands. It
is not a condemnation of women that is given here; but suggests that women if
are undisciplined can bring destruction to themselves and to their loved ones
for sure.
The one single story of the monkey and the crocodile
contains within it a number of smaller stories teaching many lessons for the three
princes, entertaining as well as educating them.
पञ्चतन्त्रं
चतुर्थं तन्त्रं
{FOURTH SECTION}
लब्धप्रणाशं
{LOSING WHAT IS GAINED}
Herein begins the fourth section named LABDHA-PRANAASHA (Loss of what is gained).
This is the first verse.
समुत्पन्नेषु कार्येषु बुद्धिर्यस्य न हीयते
स एव दुर्गं तरति जलस्थो वानरो यथा [1]
He alone,
whose intellect does not get blunt when facing any situation,
will cross over the insurmountable,
like the monkey which was trapped in the water.
Now the story gets told-
In some landscape situated in the vicinity of the sea, there
is one huge Jamun tree, which was always filled with fruits. There lived a
monkey on that tree named RaktaMukha (Red-faced).
Once a crocodile named KaraalaMukha (Horrid-faced) came out
of the sea waters and rested under that tree on the soft sandy beach.
RaktaMukha said-
“Ho! You are my guest who has arrived at my place. Please
eat these nectar-like Jamun fruits given by me.
It is said-
प्रियो वा यदि वा द्वेष्यो मूर्खो वा यदि पण्डितः
वैश्वदेवान्तमापन्नः सोsतिथि: स्वर्गसंक्रमः [2]
Whether liked or disliked,
whether a fool or a wise man,
the guest who arrives at the door
after the VaishvaDeva ceremony
is a path straight leading to heaven.
{Vaishvadeva: A religious
ceremony which is to be performed every morning and evening and especially
before the mid-day meal, followed by offering of food to the gods especially
the god of fire.}
न पृच्छेच्चरणं गोत्रं न च विद्यां कुलं न च
अतिथिं विश्वदेवान्ते श्राद्धे मनुरब्रवीत् [3]
‘One should not question the Charana
(branch of Vedas),
Gotra (the lineage of the ancestral Rishi),
education, family
of the guest who arrives after the
VishvaDeva ceremony’;
So says Manu.
दूरमार्गमश्रान्तं वैश्वदेवान्तमागतं
अतिथिं पूजयेद्यस्तु स याति परमां गतिं [4]
A person who worships the guest
who has arrived from far;
who is tired;
and who has arrived at the end of the VishvaDeva ceremony,
attains the Supreme state.
अपूजितोsतिथिर्यस्य गृहाद्याति विनिःशवसन्
गच्छन्ति विमुखास्तस्य पितृभिः सह देवताः [5]
If a guest goes away from a house breathing heavily disappointed and
sad,
not worshipped in a due manner,
the gods along with the ancestors of the family turn away from that
host.”
Having said these words, the monkey offered some fruits to
the crocodile.
The crocodile ate them to his heart’s fill; conversed for a
long time with the monkey and returned back to his home.
In this manner, both the monkey and the crocodile remained
happy daily discussing various interesting subjects sitting under the Jamun
tree. The crocodile took home the left over Jamun fruits and gave them to his
wife.
Some day she asked her husband-
“Lord! Where do you get such nectar like fruits?”
He said-
“Good lady! I have a monkey-friend named RaktaMukha. He
gives me these fruits out of affection for me.”
Then she said-
“He who eats daily such nectar-like fruits will surely have
a nectar-filled heart. If you think your wife is important to you, then fetch
me his heart. I will eat that heart; be freed of old age and death; and enjoy
life with you for an eternal time.”
KaraalaMukha said-
“O Good Lady! No, do not say like that! For, he is our
brother by an oath. And also he gives us fruits. He should not be killed. So
discard this obstinacy.
It is said-
एकं प्रसूयते माता द्वितीयं वाक् प्रसूयते
वाग्जातमधिकं प्रोचुः सोदर्यादपि बान्धवात् [6]
Mother gives birth to the first one. Words give birth to the second
one.
The wise commend the one who is bound by brother-ship through words
than the one bound by blood relation.
Then the female crocodile said-
“You never have refused to do what I asked for! That must be
surely a female monkey.
That is why you go to visit her every day without fail. I
now understand the true nature of affairs.
Because –
साह्लादं वचनं प्रयच्छसि न मे नो वाञ्चितं किञ्चन
प्रायः प्रोच्छ्वसिषि द्रुतं हुतवहज्वालासमं
रात्रिषु
कण्ठाश्लेषपरिग्रहे
शिथिलता यन्नादराच्चुम्बसे
तत्ते धूर्त हृदि स्थिता प्रियतमा
काचिन्ममेवाsपरा [7]
You do not answer me cheerfully nor
do you get me what I want!
At nights you breathe heavily like
the blazing fire.
When embraced by the neck, you
loosen your limbs and do not kiss me with love.
Therefore O you wicked one!
There is another female like me in
your heart!”
KaraalaMukha fell at her
feet; made her seated on his lap; like a wretched person, spoke lovingly to his
wife who had reached the extreme peak of her anger.
मयि ते पादपतिते किङ्करत्वमुपागते
त्वं प्राणवल्लभे कस्मात्कोपने कोपमेष्यसि
[8]
“I have fallen like a slave at your
feet.
You are dearer to me than my life!
O Angry one! Why are you so angry?”
Hearing his words, she
started shedding tears and said to him-
सार्धं मनोरथशतैस्तव धूर्त
कान्ता सैव स्थिता मनसि कृत्रिमभावरम्या
अस्माकमस्ति न कथञ्चिदिहावकाशस्तस्मात्कृतं चरणपातविडंबनाभिः [9]
“Hey wicked one! Holding hundreds of
dreams in her heart,
that pretty woman of pretense has
made her place in your heart,
using all her charms to attract you.
There is no place for me in your
heart any more.
That is why you are doing all this
drama of falling at the feet and so on!
Again, if she is not your
lover, then why do you not want to kill her even when told by me? If that is
really a monkey as you say, what need is there for you to make friendship with
a monkey? What is the use of saying any more? If I do not eat his heart, then
know me as dead for I will starve myself to death.”
Apprehensive by her
decision to starve, the worried crocodile thought-
“Alas! It is well-said-
वज्रलेपस्य मूर्खस्य नारीणां कर्कटस्य च
एको ग्रहस्तु मीनानां नीलीमद्यपयोस्तथा [10]
“The hardening cement, a fool,
women, crab, fish, the blue dye, a drunkard-
all these get stuck to one thing
adamantly and never ever let go of it!
So what shall I do? How
can I kill my friend ruthlessly?”
Thinking like this he
went to meet the monkey. The monkey who was waiting for him from quite a long
time approached him with apprehension and said-
“Hey Friend! Why are you
late today? Why are you not cheerful today? Why are you silent? Why are you not
quoting some good sayings?”
KaralaMukha said-
“Friend! Your sister-in-law
(your brother’s wife) spoke to me harsh words today.
She said- “Hey ungrateful
wretch! Do not show your face to me again. Daily you live on your friend’s
kindness. Yet you do not express back your gratitude even by inviting him to
our house! There is no atonement for your wickedness.
It is said-
ब्रह्मघ्ने च सुरापे च चौरे भग्नव्रते
शठे
निष्कृतिर्विहिता सद्भिः कृतघ्ने नास्ति निष्कृतिः [11]
The wise have prescribed atonement
acts for
the killer of a Brahmin, a drunkard,
a thief,
a person who breaks his austerities, and a rogue;
but not for an ungrateful man.
So today you will bring
my brother-in-law to our house definitely and pay back his hospitality.
Otherwise I will see you in the next world”.
That is why I came here
because of what she said.
Arguing with her about
you, I got delayed.
So come to my house. Your
sister-in-law is wearing expensive garments; covered herself with gold and
diamond jewelry; decorated the roof with hanging garlands; waits for you
eagerly at the door-step.”
The monkey said-
“Hey Friend! My
sister-in-law has said the right thing!
It is said-
वर्जयेत्
कौलिकाकारं मित्रं प्राज्ञतरो नरः
आत्मनः संमुखं नित्यं य आकर्षति लोलुपः [12]
A wise man should avoid a friend who
behaves like a weaver.
The wicked one greedy for money, will pull his
friend towards him always.
(A weaver pulls the cloth towards him always while
weaving; he does not move forward.)
And also-
ददाति प्रतिगृह्णाति गुह्यमाख्याति
पृच्छति
भुङ्क्ते भोजयते चैव षड्विधं प्रीतिलक्षणम् [13]
‘Gives; accepts; confides secrets;
enquires about welfare; eats; offers food.’
These six acts are the expressions
of true friendship.
But we are
forest-dwellers. You people live under the water. So how can I come there?
Therefore you bring my sister-in-law here itself; I will salute her and get her
blessings.”
The crocodile said-
“Hey Friend! Our house is
situated in a beautiful island in the middle of the ocean.
You sit on my back and come
there without any fear.”
The monkey heard this and
happily said-
“O Good one! If that is
the case, why delay any more? Hurry! Let us go immediately!
I will now sit on your
back.”
It was done so.
As the crocodile moved
fast in the deep waters with the monkey on the back, the monkey
Was frightened and cried
out-
“Brother! Go slowly! The
waves are wetting my body!”
The crocodile heard his
words and thought-
“I have reached the deep
waters now. The monkey is completely under my control. Seated on my back, he
cannot move even slightly. So I will reveal my real intention to him. He will
at least offer his last prayers to his favorite deity.”
He said-
“Friend! You are carried
by me so that I can kill you. I made you trust me and brought you here as my
wife told me. You better offer your deity your last prayers.”
The monkey said-
“Friend! What have I done
to offend you or her that you both have decided to kill me off?”
The crocodile said-
“Ho! She has a longing
for eating the sweet heart of yours filled with the juice of the nectar-like
fruits you consume; that is why I did
like this.”
The clever monkey
immediately thought of an idea to escape from that perilous situation.
He said-
“O Good one! If that is the case, why didn’t you tell me so before
we left the tree?
I always keep my heart safe inside the hollow of the Jamun
tree. I would have brought it along to give your wife, if I had known earlier
what you wanted. Why did you bring me with you without the heart?”
Hearing his words, the crocodile happily said-
“O Good one! If that is the case, then give that heart to
me. My wicked wife will eat that and stop her starvation drama. I will take you
to that very same Jamun tree.”
The crocodile took the monkey back to the Jamun tree.
RaktaMukha kept on reciting prayers to all the gods he knew
and at last reached his tree safely. The moment they both came under the tree,
he jumped on to the highest branch instantly and thought-
“Aha! My lives are back again safely.
Or it is well-said,
न विश्वसेदविश्वस्ते विश्वस्तेsपि न विश्वसेत्
विश्वासाद्भयमुत्पन्नं मूलान्यपि
निकृन्तति [14]
One should not trust a person who is not to be trusted.
One should not trust a person who should be trusted also.
Trust is always accompanied by fear of trust getting broken.
Such a fear destroys the very root of the friendship.
Today has turned out to be my second birthday.”
As he was lost in such thoughts, the crocodile shouted at
him-
“Hey Friend! Give me that heart so that your sister- in-law
will eat it and break her fast.”
The monkey laughed aloud and said-
“Fie on you! Fie on you O fool! You ungrateful wretch!
Can anyone have a second heart any time? Get away from the
base of this tree.
Never show yourself again here.
It is said-
सकृद्दुष्टं च यो मित्रं पुनः संधातुमिच्छति
स मृत्युमुपगृह्णाति गर्भमश्वतरी
यथा [15]
He who tries to conciliate with a
friend who has turned out to be an enemy
accepts death as the consequence,
like the mule which is pregnant by
mating with a horse.
The crocodile heard
monkey’s words and felt highly embarrassed.
He thought-
“Alas! I am the greatest
fool ever! Why did I reveal my intentions to him? I will again talk in such a way that he
starts trusting me again.”
He said-
“Friend! Whatever I told
you was just a joke. What use do I have for your heart? Therefore visit our
house and be our guest. Your sister-in-law is waiting for you eagerly.”
The monkey said-
“Hey wicked wretch! Get away I will not come now.
It is said-
बुभुक्षितः किं न करोति पापं क्षीणा
नरा निष्करुणा भवन्ति
आख्याहि भद्रे प्रियदर्शनस्य न गङ्गदत्तः
पुनरेति कूपं [16]
What sin will a hungry man not commit?
The hungry men have no kindness.
O Good lady! Tell that handsome lover of yours that
GangaDatta will not enter the well again.”
The crocodile said-“How is that so?”
{1}
गङ्गदत्तप्रियदर्शनयोः कथा
{THE STORY OF
GANGADATTA AND PRIYADARSHANA}
“In some well, there lived king of frogs named GangaDatta
(Born in theGanges).
Some day, he fought with his co-brothers and got out of that
well, climbing the rope (tied to a pot to lift the water) attached to the
pulley at the top.
Then he thought-“How shall I avenge my co-brothers?
It is said-
आपदि येनापकृतं येन च हसितं दशासु
विषमासु
अपकृत्य तयोरुभयोः पुनरपि जातं नरं
मन्ये [17]
A person who has not been helped by
any one when facing problems,
and ridiculed by any one when in
difficult situations,
he will be born again only by
avenging them both.”
As he was thinking like
this, he saw a black serpent named PriyaDarshana (good-looking) entering a hole
in the ground.
Seeing him GangaDatta
again thought-
“Why not I lead him to
the well and get my co-brothers killed?
It is said-
शत्रुणा योजयेच्छत्रुं बलिना बलवत्तरं
स्वकार्याय यतो न स्यात्काचित् पीडाsत्र तत्क्षये [18]
One should make a stronger enemy fight the weaker enemy and get him
killed.
One need not go through much pain in that case, to get his enemy
destroyed.
And also-
शत्रुमुन्मूलयेत्प्राज्ञस्तीक्ष्णं
तीक्ष्णेन शत्रुणा
व्यथाकरं सुखार्थाय कण्टकेनैव कण्टकं [19]
One should uproot a cruel enemy
through another more cruel enemy.
When a thorn is removed by using another thorn,
though the process is painful, it ends in the final good
Having thought like
this, he went near that hole and called out to the snake-
“Come Out! Come out PriyaDarshana! Come out!”
Hearing the unusual call, the snake thought-
“Whoever is calling does not belong to my species. This does
not sound like a serpent.
I am not acquainted with any one else in this human world.
So I will stay safely inside the hole and find out who is calling out to me.
Who could be that, I wonder!
It is said-
यस्य न ज्ञायते शीलं न कुलं न च संश्रयः
न तेन सङ्गतिं कुर्यादित्युवाच बृहस्पतिः [20]
Brihaspati has said-
One should not keep the company of a
person
whose character, family and abode
are unknown.
Probably some clever
person who knows some magical chant, or musical charm or medicine is here to
catch and imprison me or some man has come here to use me to bite some enemy of
his.”
He said loudly –
“Ho! Who are you?”
The frog said-
“I am GangaDatta, the
king of frogs. I have come to you make friends with you.”
The snake heard his words
and said-
“Ho! This fact cannot be
trusted, like the grass meeting the fire.
It is said-
यो यस्य जायते वध्यः स स्वप्नेsपि कथञ्चन
न तत्समीपमभ्येति तत्किमेवं प्रजल्पसि [21]
A person who is to be killed by the other, will not approach him
even in a dream!
What are you prattling?”
GangaDatta said-
“Ho! It is true indeed! You are our enemy by nature.
But I have come to you because I am harassed by my own
enemies.
It is said-
सर्वनाशे च सञ्जाते प्राणानामपि संक्षये
अपि शत्रुं प्रणम्यापि रक्षेत्प्राणान् धनानि च [22]
If everything is going to be
destroyed, if life is also in danger,
One should save his life and wealth
even by falling at the feet of the enemy.”
The snake said-
“Tell me, by whom are you
getting harassed?”
The frog said-
“By my co-brothers!”
The snake said-
“Where is your abode- in
the well, water hole, tank or lake?
Tell me where your abode
is?”
The frog said-
“Inside the well made of
stones.”
The snake said-
“Aha! We do not have legs
at all. I cannot enter that place. Even
if I enter inside the well, I cannot hide anywhere and kill your co-brothers.
So go away. It is said-
यच्छक्यं ग्रसितुं शस्तं ग्रस्तं
परिणमेच्च यत्
हितं च परिणामे यत्तदाद्यं भूतिमिच्छता [23]
One should only such food which
suits his body,
which when eaten gets digested
properly
and is conducive to his health in
the end,
if he ever desires any well-being.”
GangaDatta said-
“Ho! You come with me. I will get
you inside that well easily. Inside the well, next to the water level, there is
a small hole on the wall. You hide there and easily kill off my co-brothers.”
The snake heard his words and
thought-
“I have become old now. I rarely
get a mouse in many days. This frog is indeed the ember setting fire to his own
family. He is showing me a way to live happily the rest of my life. So I will
go with him and eat of all the frogs.
Or, it is well said-
यो हि प्राणपरिक्षीणः सहायपरिवर्जितः
स हि सर्वसुखोपायं वृत्तिमारचयेद्बुधः [24]
A wise man who is weakened by age, and who has no one to take care of
him
should plan some easy way of
leading his life.”
He thought like this and said-
“Ho GangaDatta! If that is so, then lead on; I will follow
you behind. We will go there.”
GangaDatta said-
“Ho PriyaDarshana! I will take you there through an easy
route and show you where it is. But you should not harm my family people. You
should eat only those whom I point out.”
The snake said-
“Now you have become my friend. So do not fear any more. I
will eat only your co-brothers as you said.”
Having said these words, he came out of the hole; embraced
the frog; and went along with him.
They both reached the well. The snake entered the well along
with him through the rope of the pulley going down the well. GangaDatta hid the
snake in the hole in the inside wall of the well. He pointed out to him his
co-brothers who were to be eaten by him. They were all eaten by the snake
slowly one by one.
When the frogs became less in number, the snake said-
“O Good one! All your enemies have been destroyed
completely. So give me some food because you have brought me here.”
GangaDatta said-
“O good one! You have done your duty as a friend. So please
go away now through the same rope back to your hole.”
The snake said-
“Ho GangaDatta! You are not saying the right thing. How can I go there?
Some other creature would have taken over my hole. Therefore
give me one by one, your own family members as my food. Otherwise I will eat
off all the frogs at once.
Hearing his words, GangaDatta became anxious and thought-
“Aha! What have I done bringing this snake in here? If I
oppose him, he will eat off all the frogs.
Or it is rightly said-
योsमित्रं कुरुते मित्रं वीर्याभ्यधिकमात्मनः
स करोति न संदेहः स्वयं हि विषभक्षणं [25]
He who makes friendship with a person who is stronger than him
is doubtless consuming poison by
his own hands.
So I will daily give him one frog from my own family.
It is said-
सर्वस्वहरणे शक्तं शत्रुं बुद्धियुता नराः
तोषयन्त्यल्पदानेन वाडवं सागरो यथा [26]
Men who are intelligent
please the enemy who is capable of destroying them completely,
with some gifts like the ocean gives water to the vadava fire.
And also-
यो दुर्बलोsणूनपि याच्यमानो
बलीयसा यच्छति नैव साम्ना
प्रयच्छते नैव च कर्षमात्रं खारीं च चूर्णस्य पुनर्ददाति [27]
A weaker person who refuses even a little flour to a stronger person in
the beginning,
ends up giving not only one measure but sixteen cups of floor at the
end.
And also-
सर्वनाशे समुत्पन्ने अर्धं त्यजति पण्डितः
अर्धेन कुरुते कार्यं सर्वनाशो हि दुःसहः [28]
If everything is to be lost, then a wise man gets rid of half of it.
He manages somehow with the other half.
Complete loss is unbearable.
न स्वल्पस्य कृते भूरि नाशयेन्मतिमान्नरः
एतदेव हि पाण्डित्यं यत्स्वल्पाद्भूरिरक्षणं [29]
A wise man should not lose a lot to save a little.
If one can lose a little and save a lot,
that is an act of wisdom.”
Having made this decision, he ordered one frog to be killed
by the snake daily. The snake ate that one and also others when he was not
looking.
Or it is well said-
यथा हि मलिनैर्वस्त्रैर्यत्र तत्रोपविष्यते
एवं चलितवित्तस्तु वित्तशेषं न रक्षति [30]
A person wearing a dirty cloth will sit anywhere and everywhere.
A person who has lost most of his wealth
never tries to save what little s left over.
On another day the snake ate all the frogs and also ate off
YamunaDatta, the son of GangaDatta. GangaDatta came to know of it and wept
aloud cursing himself and could not stop his crying at all.
Then his wife said-
किं क्रन्दसि दुराक्रन्द स्वपक्षक्षयकारक
स्वपक्षस्य क्षये जाते को नस्त्राता भविष्यति [31]
You screaming idiot! You alone caused the death of all your people.
Why are you crying now?
If all our people are dead, who can protect us any more?
At least now think of ways of escaping from here and killing
that snake.”
In course of time, the entire frog clan was eaten off by the
snake. Only GangaDatta was left back. Then PriyaDarshana said-
“Ho GangaDatta! I am hungry! All frogs are dead. Give me some food. You alone have brought me
here.”
GangaDatta said-
“Hey Friend! When I am here, you need not worry any more. If
you allow me to go out, I will go to another well, convince the frogs living
there and send them to you.”
The snake said-
“You are my brother. So I cannot kill you. If you do what
you say, you will be respected by me as a father. So do the same.”
GangaDatta heard this and climbed through the rope hanging
inside the well. He offered prayers to all the Gods he knew; and came out of
the well. PriyaDarshana remained in that well and waited for him to come; a
long time elapsed.
When GangaDatta did not return after a long time,
PriyaDarshana told the lizard who lived in another hollow of that well-
“O Good lady! Please do me a favor! You are well-known to
GangaDatta. Search for him in some nearby water hole; give him my message –
‘Even if other frogs refuse to come here, you at least come off
quickly. I cannot live without you here. I take an oath that I will not harm
you in any way.”
The lizard went in search of GangaDatta; found him and said
to him-
“O Good one! Your friend PriyaDarshana is waiting for you.
Quickly come. He has vowed never to harm you. So without any apprehension go
and meet him.”
GangaDatta heard these words and said-
बुभुक्षितः किं न करोति पापं क्षीणा नरा निष्करुणा भवन्ति
आख्याहि भद्रे प्रियदर्शनस्य न गङ्गदत्तः पुनरेति कूपं [32]
“What sin will a hungry man not commit?
The hungry men have no kindness.
O Good lady! Tell that handsome lover of yours that
GangaDatta will not enter the well again.”
Having said this, he sent her away.”
{END OF GANGADATTA’S STORY}
The monkey continued-
“Therefore, O you wicked aquatic creature, like GangaDatta I
will also never enter your house anymore.”
The crocodile heard this and said-
“Hey Friend! This is not right! Please remove the sin of my
ungratefulness by coming to my house. Or, I will give up my life here in front
of you by starving.”
The monkey said-
“Fool! Do you think I am the foolish LambaKarna, who – even
after he foresaw the danger, went there and killed himself?
आगतश्चैव गतश्चैव दृष्ट्वा सिंहपराक्रमं
अकर्णहृदयो मूर्खो यो गत्वा पुनरागतः [33]
He went and saw the valor of the lion and came back.
But the fool, who had no ear or heart, never came back after he went
again.”
The crocodile said-
“O Good one! Who is that LambaKarna? How did he die when he already
foresaw danger? Tell me all about it.”
The monkey said-
{2}
सिंहलम्बकर्णयोः कथा
{THE STORY OF THE
LION AND LAMBAKARNA}
“In some forest-land there lived a lion named KaraalaKesara
(One with terrifying mane).
A fox named Dhoosaraka (Dust-colored) served him and always
kept him company. Once the lion fought with an elephant and got heavily
wounded. He was not even able to walk a single step. As the lion was unable to
move or hunt, Dhoosaraka went without food and became very weak. One day he
told the lion-“Master! I am very hungry. I can’t even walk. How can I serve you
in this condition?”
The lion said-
“Ho! Go! Find some animal and bring him here. Even though I
am in this wounded condition, I can easily kill him.”
The fox heard his words and went in search of an animal as
the lion had said, and soon reached a nearby village. He saw there a donkey
named LambaKarna (One with hanging ears) who was eating the tender sprouts of
Durva grass spread out here and there.
The fox approached him and said-
“Uncle! Accept my salutations! I am seeing you after a long
time. Why have you become so weak?’
LambaKarna said-
“Hey nephew! What shall I say! That cruel washer man
torments me by making me carry heavy loads. He does not feed me even a handful
of grass. I eat only these dusty Durva sprouts. How can my body be fat?”
The fox said-
“Uncle! If that is the case, I will show you a beautiful
land next to the river which is abundantly filled with emerald like grass. Come
along with me and live happily there discussing various interesting topics with
me.”
LambaKarna said-
“Hey Nephew! You have said the right thing. But we are
village animals. Forest
animals always attack us. So what use is that beautiful grassland?”
The fox said-
“Uncle! Do not say like that! That land is protected by my
shoulder cage. No one can enter that land without my permission. But by the
play of cruel fate, three orphaned female donkeys longing for male company are
staying there. They are well-grown and are in their peak of passionate youthful
state. They told me –‘If you are really
our uncle then go to some village and bring us a suitable husband’. That is why
I want to take you there.”
LambaKarna was immediately filled with passion when he heard
the words of Dhoosaraka. He said-“O Good one! If that I the case, lead me
there. Let us hurry.”
Or it is well said-
नामृतं न विषं किन्चिदेकां मुक्त्वा नितंबिनीं
यस्याः सङ्गेन जीव्येत म्रियेत च वियोगतः [34]
Nothing else contains both the natures of nectar and poison except a
beautiful woman.
One lives by her company; dies by her separation.
And also-
यासां नाम्नापि कामः स्यात्सङ्गमं दर्शनं विना
तासां दृक्सङ्गमं प्राप्य यन्न द्रवति कौतुकं [35]
If passion rises by hearing the name itself of the pretty maiden
without even seeing her or uniting with her,
then what wonder is there if that man melts away by just looking at her
eyes!
The donkey followed the fox and soon reached the lion’s
abode. The lion who was waiting there suffering from hunger got up as soon as
he saw the donkey. The donkey also saw him and started running away. The lion
stuck him with his paw as the donkey was running. But his effort was wasted and
the donkey escaped.
Meanwhile the fox got angry and shouted at the lion-
“Ho! Is that all the power of your blow that even a donkey
that is just in front of you is able to escape unhurt? How can you fight an
elephant then? I now know how much strength you have!”
The lion gave a silly grin of embarrassment and said-
“Ho! What can I do? I was not prepared for all this.
Otherwise even an elephant cannot escape my attack.”
The fox said-
‘I will bring that donkey once again here. But be prepared
to pounce on it.”
The lion said-
“O Good one! He has seen me already. How can you bring him
again here? Find some other animal.”
The fox said-
“Why do you bother? Just be ready to attack. That is all.”
The fox went in search of the donkey and found him grazing
at the same place in the village.
The donkey saw the fox and said-
“Hey nephew! Very good place you showed me! I was almost
killed! Tell me which animal was that from whose violent diamond -hard blow I
escaped?”
The fox laughed aloud and said-
“O Good one! That was the female donkey who saw you coming
and became excited with passion towards you. You were a coward and ran away.
She cannot remain without you. Because you were running away she extended her
hand to embrace you; that is all. There was no other reason. So come on! She is
ready to give up her life by starving. She says-“If LambaKarna does not become
my husband, I will enter the water or fire and die. I cannot anymore live
without him.” So please come there and grace her with your company. Otherwise
you will bear the sin of killing a woman. And also Manmatha, the Lord of
passion will get angry with you.
It is said-
स्त्रीमुद्रां मकरध्वजस्य जयिनीं सर्वार्थसंपत्करीं
ये मूढाः प्रविहाय यान्ति कुधियो मिथ्याफलान्वेषिणः
ते तेनैव निहत्य निर्दयतरं नग्नीकृता मुण्डिताः
केचिद्रक्तपटीकृताश्च जटिलाः कापालिकाश्चापरे [36]
The fools - who
disregard the ‘command of the God of Love’ which
always brings victory and all prosperities,
and which is in the form of a woman,
- are stupid and go after unfulfilling fruits.
They get killed by him ruthlessly.
Some are made naked.
Some get their heads shaven.
Some wear red garments.
Some grow matted locks.
Some become Kaapaalikas.”
The donkey trusted the words of the fox and again went with
him to the forest.
Or it is well said-
जानन्नपि नरो दैवात्प्रकरोति विगर्हितं
कर्म किं कस्यचिल्लोके गर्हितं रोचते कृतं [37]
Though aware of what is happening,
the man does forbidden actions as prompted by fate.
Who in the world will willfully perform a prohibited action?
Meanwhile, the lion who was ready to attack this time,
pounced on the donkey and killed him. He left the dead donkey in the care of
the fox and went to bathe in the river. The fox unable to bear his greed ate of
the heart and ear of that donkey.
Meanwhile, the lion took bath, offered prayers to the god,
offered oblations to the manes, and came back ready to eat the donkey. Then he
saw the dead donkey without the ears and the heart.
Immediately he got angry and shouted at the fox-
“Sinner! Why did you do such a heinous act? You have
polluted the food by eating off the ears and the heart.”
The fox replied politely-
“Master! Do not say like that! This donkey had no heart or
ears. That is why he came back even though he had seen you.”
The king believed his words and shared the food with him and
ate of his portion happily.
That is why I say-आगतश्चैव गतश्चैव…
(He went and saw the valor of the lion and came back…)
{END OF LAMBAKARNA’S
STORY}
The monkey continued-
“Therefore O fool, I know you cheated me. Another
Yudhishtira (a potter) also perished by saying the truth.
Or it is well said-
स्वार्थमुत्सृज्य यो दंभी सत्यं ब्रूते सुमन्दधीः
स स्वार्थाद्भ्रश्यते नूनं युधिष्ठिर इवापरः [38]
The idiot who for the sake of prestige tells the truth without
selfishness,
does not get what he wanted,
like another Yudhishtira.
The crocodile asked-“How is that so?”
The monkey said-
{3}
युधिष्टिरकुम्भकारकथा
{THE STORY OF ANOTHER
YUDHISHTIRA, THE POTTER}
“In some village, there lived a potter. Once he was drunk;
and running fast, mistakenly stepped on a sharp piece of a broken pot; and fell
down on the ground. His forehead was hit
by the edge of the broken pot and blood started pouring out. He somehow got up
with much difficulty and went home. As he did not treat the wound properly, the
wound got infected. He had to go through a lot of difficulties before it got
healed completely. But the ugly mark of the wound remained on the forehead
making him look terrifying.
Once, famine stuck at his place. The potter suffered from
hunger and thirst. He followed some soldiers who were traveling to another
country and with their help got employed as a soldier in the king’s
palace. The king saw the ugly mark on
his forehead and thought-“This person must be very brave. He must have got wounded while fighting the
enemy in a war.”
The king honored him with many gifts and showed special
interest in him though there were many princes in his army braver than him. The
princes felt offended by the special favor shown to the new soldier; but were
afraid to speak out anything against him.
Some day, the king had to fight a war with his enemy king.
All the soldiers were tested and recommended for the battle and honored with
gifts. Elephants and horses were getting prepared for the battlefield through
various decorations. The soldiers were all collected at one place.
The king casually questioned the potter when no one was
there-
“O Prince! What is your name? What caste are you? In which
battle did you get wounded on the forehead?’
The potter said-
“Lord! This wound was not caused by any weapon. I am by
caste a potter named Yudhishtira. In my house there were many pots. Once I had
become drunk and fell on the pots. Then I got wounded like this and my
fore-head bears an ugly mark.”
The king felt embarrassed and said-
“Aha! I have been cheated by this potter who pretended to be
a prince. So give him the half-moon treatment immediately.”
The potter immediately was held by the neck and thrown out.
He cried out-
“Lord! Do not do like that! See my talent of fighting in the
battle field!”
The king said-
“Ho! You have all the good qualities, I know. But please get
away from here.
It is said-
शूरोsसि कृतविद्योsसि दर्शनीयोsसि पुत्रक
यस्मिन् कुले त्वमुत्पन्नो गजस्तत्र न हन्यते [39]
My son! You are brave, learned and handsome!
But in the family where you were born, the elephant does not get
killed.
The potter asked-“How is that so?”
The king said-
{4}
सिंहशृगालपुत्रयोः कथा
{THE STORY OF THE
LION CUBS AND THE FOX CUB}
“There lived a lion couple in some forest. The lioness gave
birth to two sons. The lion hunted for animals and gave them to the lioness.
Once he could not find any animal. As he wandered in search of food, the sun
set and it became dark. As he started to walk towards his home, he saw a fox
cub. As he was too young to be killed, the lion carried him with his teeth and
gave him alive to the lioness.
The lioness said to the lion-
“O my dear husband! Did you bring us any food?”
The lion said-
“Dearest! I could not get any other animal today except this
fox-cub. Because he was too young to be killed and also he belongs to our class
(who use nails as weapons).
It is said-
स्त्रीविप्रलिङ्गिबालेषु प्रहर्त्तव्यं न कर्हिचित्
प्राणात्ययेsपि संजाते विश्वस्तेषु विशेषतः [40]
Women, Brahmins, children and celibates should never be killed,
even at times of perils;
especially if they have approached you with trust.
For now you eat him and satiate your hunger. I will bring
you some other animal early morning.”
The lioness said-
“My dear husband! You did not kill him because he is still a
child. How do you think that I can kill him and fill my stomach?
It is said-
अकृत्यं नैव कर्तव्यं प्राणत्यागेsप्युपस्थिते
न च कृत्यं परित्याज्यमेष धर्मः सनातनः [41]
Even if one’s lives are in danger, one should not do a wrong act.
If any good act is possible, then one should not avert from it.
This is the ancient Dharma.
This one will become my third son.”
She fed him her own breast milk and gave him nourishment.
The three cubs not aware of the differences between them played and ate
together in the same place and spent time together.
Once, a forest elephant came to that area when they were playing.
The two lion cubs went towards the elephant with their faces red with anger.
The fox cub then said-
“Aha! This elephant is an enemy of your family. Do not go
near it.”
So saying, he ran towards his home.
The lion cubs also lost interest in the attack as their
elder brother was against it.
Or it is well said-
एकेनापि सुधीरेण सोत्साहेन रणं प्रति
सोत्साहं जायते सैन्यं भग्ने भङ्गमवाप्नुयात् [42]
Even if one courageous person shows enthusiasm about the battle,
the entire army will get the same enthusiasm.
If he escapes like a coward, they also will escape in the same manner.
And also-
अत एव हि वाञ्चन्ते भूपा योधान् महाबलान्
शूरान् वीरान् कृतोत्साहान्
वर्जयन्ति च कातरान् [43]
That is why the kings select soldiers
who are strong, valorous, courageous, enthusiastic
and remove the cowards from service.
The two lion cubs reached home and made fun of the fox cub
in front of their father telling him what happened when they saw the elephant
and how their brother ran way in fear. The fox cub became enraged; his lips
started trembling; his eyes became red; his eye brows were knitted together. He
scolded the other two and spoke harsh words.
The lioness took him to a solitary place and said-
“Son! Do not say such things. They are your younger
brothers.”
When consoled by her, the fox cub got angrier and said-
“In what way am I lesser than them? Valor, Beauty, education
or talent? Why should they make fun of me? I will surely beat them up.”
The lioness stopped him from getting killed by the lion
cubs; laughed in her mind; and said-
शूरोsसि कृतविद्योsसि दर्शनीयोsसि पुत्रक
यस्मिन् कुले त्वमुत्पन्नो गजस्तत्र न हन्यते [44]
“My son! You are brave, learned and handsome!
But in the family where you were born, the elephant does not get
killed.
Therefore pay attention to my words.
Dear child! You are a fox cub. I fed you my breast milk and
nourished you out of kindness. Before my two sons find out that you are a fox
cub, run away and join your own group of foxes. Otherwise they will both attack
you and kill you.”
The fox cub heard her words; was overcome with far; slowly
moved away from there unseen by his lion brothers and joined his own herd.”
{END OF FOX CUB’S STORY}
The king continued:
“Therefore before these other princes find out that you are
just a potter, make haste and get away from here. Otherwise they will ridicule
you and kill you.”
The potter understood his situation and ran away.”
{END OF YUDHISHTIRA’S STORY}
The monkey continued:
“That is why I say- स्वार्थमुत्सृज्य
यो दंभी (who for the sake of prestige … without selfishness)
Fie on you fool! You did this heinous act for the sake of
pleasing a woman. Never should you trust a woman.
It is said-
यदर्थं स्वकुलं त्यक्तं जीवितार्धं च हारितं
सा मां त्यजति निःस्नेहा कः स्त्रीणां विश्वसेन्नरः [45]
For whose sake I left my family
and wasted half my life time,
she throws me away without compassion.
Which man can trust a woman?”
The crocodile asked-“How is that so?”
The monkey said-
{5}
ब्राह्मणदम्पत्योः कथा
{THE STORY OF THE
BRAHMIN COUPLE}
“In some village there lived a Brahmin. He had a wife whom
he loved more than his own lives. However that lady never could take respite
from quarrelling with the other family members. The Brahmin was frustrated by
these daily quarrels. Overcome by his attachment to his wife, he left his family
and went to another country which was very far.
As they were crossing a forest path, suddenly in the middle
of the forest, the Brahmin lady said-
“AaryaPutra! I am very thirsty. Go and search for some
water.”
He went in search of water as told by her. When he brought
her some water to drink, he found her dead. He was heartbroken and wept aloud
overcome by his affection for her. Then a voice was heard from the sky. It
said-“Hey Brahmin if you can offer half of your life-span to your wife, she
will live.”
The Brahmin heard those words; took bath; and by repeating
three times he offered the half of his life to his wife so that she could live.
They ate some forest fruits, drank some water and started
walking towards the city. Soon they entered a garden of some city.
The Brahmin said to his wife-
“O Good lady! Please wait here. I will go and get some food
for us both.”
The Brahmin went inside the city to get some food.
In that garden, some lame person was drawing water from the
well and singing in a divine voice. Enamored by that voice, the Brahmin lady
fell in love with that lame person. She approached him and said-“O Good man! If
you do not love me, you will be stuck by the sin of killing a woman as I will
give up my life now.”
The lame person asked-
“What happiness can you get out of a disabled person like
me?”
She said-
“Do not say such things. I have to unite with you whatever
be the case.”
The lame man had nothing to lose and made love to her.
After the union, she said-
“From this moment, I am yours forever. Know this as an
ascertained fact, and join us both in our journey.”
He agreed.
Meanwhile the Brahmin brought food and started to eat it along
with her.
She said to him-
“This lame man is hungry too. Give him some of the food.”
The Brahmin shared the food with him too.
The Brahmin lady then said-
“Hey Brahmin! You are without any helper to assist you. If
you go to another village, I do not have anyone to even talk to. Let us keep
this lame man with us.”
He said-
“I do not have the strength to walk myself on the road. How
can I carry this lame man?”
She said-
“I will put him in a box and carry him on my head.”
As the Brahmin was blindly attached to her, he accepted her
words not aware of her deceitful nature. They soon came near a well and decided
to rest there. As he fell asleep, the Brahmin lady who had fallen in love with
the lame man pushed her husband into the well. She carried the lame man and
entered a city.
In that city the king’s men were moving here and there to
catch the toll fee evaders. They saw the Brahmin lady carrying a box on her
head. Feeling suspicious they forcefully took the box away from her and carried
it to the king’s court. When they opened the box, they were surprised to see a
lame person sitting inside it. The Brahmin lady who had followed the soldiers
weeping aloud also arrived there.
The king asked her-“What is all this?”
She said-
“This is my husband. He is diseased. His relatives threw him
out. Out of love for him, I carried him on my head and came to your city.”
The king felt sorry for her and said-
“Brahmin lady! You are my sister now. I will gift you two villages.
Live happily with your husband.”
Meanwhile that Brahmin was rescued by a compassionate saint
who came along that way. Searching for his wife, he arrived at the same city.
The Brahmin lady saw him and complained to the king-
“King! This is my husband’s enemy who has come in search of
him.”
The king ordered his soldiers to kill him.
The Brahmin said-
“Lord! She has some object belonging to me. If you are truly
a righteous ruler, then ask her to give it to me.”
The king said-
“O good lady! If you have taken anything from him, give it back
to him.”
She said-
“Lord! I have not taken anything from him.”
The Brahmin said-
“I have given half my life-span uttering the words three
times. Give it back to me.”
The Brahmin lady was afraid of the king’s anger and said-
“I am giving back to you the half life span uttering the
same thee times.”
Immediately she fell dead.
The king was surprised and asked the Brahmin-“What is all
this?”
The Brahmin related to him all the past events.”
{END OF STORY OF THE BRAHMIN COUPLE}
The monkey continued:
“That is why I say- यदर्थं स्वकुलं
त्यक्तं (For whose sake I left my family…)
The monkey again said-
“The story I am going to tell you now also has some good
moral.
न किं दद्यान्न किं कुर्यात् स्त्रीभिरभ्यर्थितो नरः
अनश्वा यत्र ह्येषन्ते शिरः पर्वणि मुण्डितं [46]
What will not a man give or do for the sake of a woman?
On the same occasion when non-horses (men) neigh, I got my head shaved!
The crocodile asked-“How is that so?”
The monkey said-
{6}
नन्दवररुचिकथा
{THE STORY OF NANDA
AND VARARUCHI}
“Once, a king named Nanda (Happy one) ruled the earth. He
was well known for his valor and courage. His foot-stool shone with intricate
colorful designs of light which fell from the jewel-crowns of subordinate kings
who saluted him. His fame shone like the taintless shine of the autumn moon. He
had a minister named VaraRuchi (of good taste) who was well versed in all
sciences and highly learned.
Once, his wife got angry with him in some romantic mood.
Though he tried his best to pacify her, she would not relent.
The husband says to her-
“O Good lady! Tell me what would make you happy. I will do
it for certain.”
After a lot of begging and pleading by the minister, she
said-
“If you shave your head and fall at my feet, then I will
become happy once again.”
He did likewise and she was pleased.
Similarly Nanda’s wife also got angry with him for no reason
and would not get pacified by anything.
He said-
“O Good lady! I cannot live a second without you. I will
even fall at your feet if you will get pleased.”
She said-
“If you will wear the bridle on your face, I will climb on
your back and ride you. And as you run you should neigh like a horse. Then only
will I get pleased.”
The king did likewise.
Next morning when he was seated in the court room, VaraRuchi
came there. Seeing his clean shaven head, the king asked him-
“Hey VaraRuchi! What occasion made you shave your head?”
He said-
न किं दद्यान्न किं कुर्यात् स्त्रीभिरभ्यर्थितो नरः
अनश्वा यत्र ह्येषन्ते शिरः पर्वणि मुण्डितं [47]
“What will not a man give or do for the sake of a woman?
On the same occasion when non-horses (men) neigh, I got my head shaved!”
{END OF NANDA-VARURUCHI STORY}
The monkey continued:
“Hey Wicked crocodile! You are also a slave of the woman
like Nanda and VaraRuchi! Moreover O Good one, you were ready to kill me even,
just because she told you to do so.
However you were stupid enough to blabber the truth from your own mouth.
Or it is well said-
आत्मनो मुखदोषेण बध्यन्ते शुकसारिकाः
बकास्तत्र न बध्यन्ते मौनं सर्वार्थसाधकं [48]
The parrots and talking birds get caught by their own talks.
The cranes never get caught.
Silence fulfills all purposes.
And also-
सुगुप्तं रक्ष्यमाणोsपि दर्शयन् दारुणं वपुः
व्याघ्रचर्मप्रतिच्छन्नो वाक्कृते रासभो हतः [49]
Though well-hidden and protected,
though showing off a terrifying
form and covered by a tiger’s skin,
the donkey got killed because of his voice.”
The crocodile asked-“How is that so?”
The monkey said-
{7}
वाचालरासभकथा
{THE STORY OF THE
TALKATIVE DONKEY}
“In some village there lived a washer man named ShuddhaPata
(Clean-cloth). He had a donkey. Because of lack of grass, the donkey became
very weak.
Once, as the washer man was roaming in the forest, he saw a
dead tiger.
He thought-
“Aha! What luck! If I cover the donkey with the tiger skin
and leave it in the paddy fields, the farmers won’t come near it thinking it to
be a tiger and the donkey can eat his fill from now onwards.”
It was done so.
The donkey ate abundantly as much as it wanted at nights. In
the early morning the washer-man took it away back to his house. In course of
time, the donkey became very fat. It was getting difficult for the washer man
to drag it away from the fields.
One day when it was in a highly arrogant mood, it heard the
braying of a female donkey from far. Immediately the donkey started braying
aloud. The farmers understood that it was just a donkey covered in tiger’s skin.
They threw stones at it and beat it with clubs
and killed the donkey.”
{END OF THE STORY OF TALKATIVE DONKEY}
The monkey continued-
“That is why I say- सुगुप्तं
रक्ष्यमाणोsपि (Though well-hidden and protected…)
As the conversation was going on between the monkey and
crocodile, some aquatic co-dweller of the crocodile came there and said-
“Hey crocodile! Your wife was starving without eating
anything and waiting for you. You never returned even after a long time. She
thought you had disregarded her love and so gave up her life.”
The crocodile felt as if stuck by a thunderbolt and was
heart broken and wept aloud.
He started to lament like this.
“Alas! Why all this
is happening to me already stuck by misfortunes!
It is said-
माता यस्य गृहे नास्ति भार्या चाप्रियवादिनी
अरण्यं तेन गन्तव्यं यथारण्यं तथा गृहं [50]
He in whose house there is no mother and
whose wife talks unpleasantly,
he should go to the forest and live.
His house is worse than a forest.
Therefore, O friend, forgive my mistake. Now I will enter
the fire as my wife is no more.”
The monkey laughed at his words and said-
“Ho! I only guessed that you are controlled by a woman and are
a slave to her. Now I know for sure. You fool! When a joyous occasion has
risen, you are grieving.
When such a wife is dead, you must have a celebration.
It is said-
या भार्या दुष्टचारित्रा सततं कलहप्रिया
भार्यारूपेण सा ज्ञेया विदग्धैर्दारुणा जरा [51]
The wife who is of a wicked nature and likes to fight always
should be considered by the wise
as old age in the form of a wife.
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन नामापि परिवर्जयेत्
स्त्रीणामिह हि सर्वासां स इच्छेत्सुखमात्मनः [52]
Therefore, he who desires one’s happiness should make extreme efforts
and
not even take the name of any
woman.
यदन्तस्तन्न जिह्वायां यज्जिह्वायां न तद्बहिः
यद्बहिस्तन्न कुर्वन्ति विचित्रचरिताः स्त्रियः [53]
What is in the mind is not in the tongue.
What is in the tongue is not spoken out.
What is spoken is not in action.
Women indeed have strange behavior.
के नाम न विनश्यन्ति मिथ्याज्ञानान्नितंबिनीं
रम्यां य उपसर्पन्ति दीपाभां शलभा यथा [54]
Who will not perish when they approach a beautiful girl of nice figure
thinking her to be their beloved,
like moths approaching the flame of the lamp?
अन्तर्विषमया ह्येता बहिश्चैव मनोरमाः
गुञ्जाफलसमाकाराः स्वभावादेव योषितः [55]
Women are by nature like the black berries (GunjaPhala);
beautiful outside and poisonous inside.
ताडिता अतिदण्डेन शस्त्रैरपि विखण्डिताः
न वशं योषितो यान्ति न दानैर्न च संस्तवैः [56]
By beating with clubs,
or by cutting them into pieces with
swords,
or by offering gifts or by flattery,
women do not come under control.
आस्तां तावत्किमन्येन दौरात्म्येनेह योषितां
विधृतं स्वोदरेणापि घ्नन्ति पुत्रं स्वकं रुषा [57]
Leave it alone! What to talk of other wicked acts of women,
when they can kill in anger even the son they had borne in their womb!
रूक्षायां स्नेहसद्भावं कठोरायां सुमार्दवं
नीरसायां रसं बालो बालिकायां विकल्पयेत् [58]
Only immature boys can imagine
friendly nature in a cruel girl,
tenderness in a hard hearted girl,
and love in a dry emotionless girl.”
The crocodile said-
“Hey friend! Of course it is true! But what can I do? I have
caused two calamities already; my house is broken on the one hand and
misunderstanding with a friend like you. Or, it is all because of destiny!
It is said-
यादृशं मम पाण्डित्यं तादृशं द्विगुणं तव
नाभूज्जारो न भर्ता च किं निरीक्षसि नग्निके [59]
Whatever my intelligence is, you have double amount of that.
The paramour is gone. The husband also is not there.
O naked lady, what are you waiting for?”
The monkey asked-“How is that so?”
The crocodile said-
{8}
नग्निकाहालिकवधूकथा
{THE STORY OF THE
FARMER’S WIFE
WHO WAS LEFT BACK
WITHOUT CLOTHES EVEN}
“Once there lived a farmer couple in a village. The farmer
was very old and so his young wife never stayed at home, restless in the
thought of other men. She roamed about always, searching for the company of
other men. Once a cheat, who wanted to steal the money of the rich farmer met
her and spoke to her in privacy.
“O Fortunate lady! My wife is dead. Looking at you, I am
stuck by the god of passion. Give me the gift of his wife RatiDevi!”
She said-
“Hey fortunate man! If that is the case, then listen. My
husband has kept a lot of money. Being old he cannot even take a few steps. I
will bring off all the money in the house. We both will go elsewhere and live
happily enjoying each other’s company.”
He said-
“I like this idea. Tomorrow early in the morning you come
off here. We both will go to a nice city and live together. My birth as a human
being will be worthwhile then.”
She promised to do likewise and went home with a smiling
face. When her husband was deep asleep, she took away all his money and arrived
at the place previously planned. The cheat also met her there and keeping her
in front of him quickly walked in the southern direction. By the time they traversed
two Yojanas, a river came on the path.
The cheat started thinking when he saw the river-
“What will I do with such a young girl? If any one comes in
search of her I will be in trouble. I will just steal her money and run away.”
Having decided thus, he said-
“Beloved! This huge river is very difficult to cross. First
I will carry all the money and leave it at the other bank somewhere safe and
come back again for you. I will carry you on my back and easily take you to the
other side.”
She said-
“O good man! Do
likewise!”
She gave off all the money
for him to carry off.
Then he said-
“O Good lady! Give me
the garments covering your body also. It will be easier for me to carry you
then.”
She did likewise.
The cheat took away the clothes and the money and swam
across the river and ran away.
With her two hands holding her chin, the girl sat on the
sandy bank waiting for him.
Meanwhile a female fox came there holding a piece of meat in
her mouth. As she reached the river bank, she saw a big fish fallen on the bank
outside the waters. She dropped the meat piece and ran towards the fish. A
vulture which was flying in the sky quickly descended down; grabbed the meat
piece in its beak and flew away. The fish saw the fox and jumped into the
river.
The fox was disappointed and ran to fetch her meat piece and
saw the vulture flying up with the meat piece.
Observing the fox
looking up at the vulture, the naked girl smiled and said-
गृध्रेणापहृतं मांसं मत्स्योsपि सलिलं गतः
मत्स्यमांसपरिभ्रष्ठे किं निरीक्षसि जम्बुकि [60]
“The meat was stolen by the vulture.
The fish went inside the waters.
You lost your meat and also the fish.
What are you waiting for, Hey female fox!”
The fox heard her words; observed that she had also lost
both the husband and paramour.
She laughed aloud and said-
यादृशं मम पाण्डित्यं तादृशं द्विगुणं तव
नाभूज्जारो न भर्ता च किं निरीक्षसि नग्निके [61]
“Whatever my intelligence is, you have double amount of that.
The paramour is gone. The husband also is not there.
O naked lady, what are you waiting for?”
{END OF THE FARMER’S WIFE’S
STORY}
As the crocodile was relating this story, another aquatic
friend of the crocodile came there and said-
“Alas! Your house has been taken over by a huge crocodile.”
The crocodile was highly distressed by this news and
wondered how to get back his house. He said- “Alas! Look at my misfortune!
मित्रं ह्यमित्रतां यातमपरं मे प्रिया मृता
गृहमन्येन च क्रान्तं किमद्यापि भविष्यति [62]
Friend has stopped from being a friend.
My wife is dead.
My house has been taken over by some one.
What more can happen?
Or it is well said-
क्षते प्रहारा निपतन्त्यभीक्ष्णमन्नक्षये दीप्यति जाठराग्निः
आपत्सु वैराणि समुद्भवन्ति वामे विधौ
सर्वमिदं नराणां [63]
The same wound gets hit again and
again.
When food is very less, the fire in
the stomach blazes high.
In times of difficulties, enmity increases.
If the fate is against one, all
these happen to men.
So what shall I do? Shall
I fight with him? Or shall I have a peaceful talk with him and send him out of
the house? Or shall I take recourse to deceit, or shall I pacify him with
gifts? Or maybe I should consult my monkey friend.
It is said-
यः पृष्ट्वा कुरुते कार्यं प्रष्टव्यान् स्वहितान् गुरून्
न तस्य जायते विघ्नः कस्मिन्श्चिदपि
कर्मणि [64]
He who consults the wise men who
desire one’s welfare and who are elderly
and later does any action,
will not be met with any obstacles whatever he
does.”
He analyzed in his mind like this and again asked the monkey sitting on the
Jamun tree-“Hey Friend! Look at my misfortune! My house also has been taken
away by a stronger crocodile. That is why I want to consult you. Tell me what I
should do! Among the strategies of conciliation, fight etc. which should I
follow?”
The monkey shouted at him angrily-
“Hey ungrateful wretch! You sinner! Though I have told you that you are not
my friend any more, why do you bother me again? I will never give advice to a fool
like you.”
The crocodile said-
“Hey Friend! I know I have wronged you. But remember our friendship in the
past and based on that, give me advice.”
The monkey said-
“I will not tell you anything. Obeying your wife’s orders you took me to
the middle of the ocean to drown me. That itself was not the right thing to do.
Even if the wife is dearer than heavens, one should not throw friends and
relatives into the ocean, just because she said so. Hey fool! I already knew
that you were going to be destroyed by your own foolishness.
Because-
सतां वचनमादिष्टं मदेन न करोति यः
स विनाशमवाप्नोति घण्टोष्ट्र इव सत्वरं [65]
He who arrogantly disobeys the words
of the good
perishes quickly like the camel with
bell tied around its neck.”
The crocodile asked-“How is that so?”
The monkey said-
{9}
घण्टोष्ट्रकथा
{THE STORY OF THE CAMEL WITH A BELL ON ITS NECK}
“In some city there lived a chariot-maker named Ujjvalaka
(Shining).
He was suffering from poverty and thought-
“Alas! Fie on the poverty sitting in my house! Every one is
engaged in their own business and all of them make a decent earning. I don’t
think I should continue my business in this town anymore. Everyone here owns
four storied houses. I do not own even one. What is the use of my working so
hard as a chariot maker?”
He thought like this and left for another country. On the
way, he had to enter a forest. The sun had set. In the middle of that deep
forest he saw a camel which had lost its herd suffering from delivery pains. When
the calf got delivered, he took the camel along with her calf and returned
home. He tied the camel with a rope. He took a sharp sickle and went towards
the hills to cut some tender grass for the camel. He cut a lot of tender grass
and carried the grass bundle on his head; went home and gave it to her. She
slowly finished eating all the grass.
By eating daily so much grass, she became very fat. Her calf
also slowly became very fat.
Ujjvalaka daily milked the camel and thus was able to run
his family.
He had a lot of affection for his camels. He had lovingly tied
a huge bell to the neck of the young camel.
Then the chariot maker thought-
“Why should I do any other hard work? I am making a good
living by keeping these camels with me. And my family is having enough of
everything. Why should I do any other business?”
After making a decision like this, he came home and told his
wife-
“O Good lady! I think we are doing quite well in this
business. If you also feel that way, I will borrow some money from some rich
man and go to the village of animal vendors and buy another camel. Till I
return with another female camel, take good care of these two camels.”
He went to the land where animals were sold and brought a
female camel home.
What more, slowly he developed the herd of camels and became
quite rich. He even appointed a servant to guard the camels. Every year he gave
his servant a camel calf as his salary. He also gave him milk to drink every
morning and evening. In this way the chariot maker was doing well in his
business and lived happily.
The calves daily went to the city garden and ate the tender
plants growing there; drank water from the lake there; and returned home in the
evening walking slowly in a relaxed manner. The first calf which was rescued
from the forest by Ujjvalaka had now become young and unruly. He always
lingered behind and joined the herd after some delay.
The other camel-calves talked within themselves-
“Aha! This calf is so dumb headed that he stays away from
the herd always; keeps ringing his bell and slowly walks behind us at a
distance. If any wild animal attacks him, he will surely die.”
Though warned by them many times, he never heeded their
words, and kept ringing his bell in a care-free manner. Once he entered a
forest and as he was grazing, made a lot of noise with his bell. A lion living
in that forest heard the sound of the bell and came there to find the source of
the sound. He was surprised to see a
whole herd of camel calves grazing there.
On that day also the camel-calf stayed away from the herd
and playfully remained grazing alone even when all the others had drunk the
water and gone home. Suddenly the calf found itself alone and did not know what
path to take to reach home. Ringing its bell loudly, it walked slowly, lost and
frightened. The lion remained hidden behind the bushes waiting for the camel to
come near. The moment the lion heard the bell-sound very near, he pounced on
the calf, caught it by the neck and killed it.”
{END OF THE STORY OF THE CAMEL WITH THE BELL
The monkey continued-
That is why I say- सतां वचनमादिष्टं (disobeys the words of the good…)”
The crocodile said-“O
good one!
प्राहुः साप्तपदं मित्रं जनाः शास्त्रविचक्षणाः
मित्रतां च पुरस्कृत्य किन्चिद्वक्ष्यामि
तच्छृणु [66]
Those people who are well versed in
scriptures say that
one becomes a friend if he walks seven steps
together.
Just value that friendship and
listen to my words.
उपदेशप्रदातृणां नराणां हितमिच्छतां
परस्मिन्निह लोके च व्यसनं नोपपद्यते [67]
Those men who give good advice and
wish for the good of others
never have any trouble here or in
the other world.
Therefore, though I have
wronged you in the past, please advice and help me.
It is said-
उपकारिषु यः साधुः साधुत्वे तस्य
को गुणः
अपकारिषु यः साधुः स साधुः सद्भिरुच्यते [68]
If one is kind to those who have
helped him, what value is his goodness?
He who is kind to those who have
wronged him is really a great person.
So say the wise.”
Hearing his words, the monkey
said-
“O Good one! If that is the case,
then return home and fight him.
It is said-
हतस्त्वं प्राप्स्यसि स्वर्गं जीवन् गृहमथो यशः
युध्यमानस्य ते भावि गुणद्वयमनुत्तमं [69]
If killed in the fight, you will go
to the heaven.
If you live you will get back your
house and also fame.
He who fights thus gets excellent
sates both ways.
उत्तमं प्रणिपातेन शूरं भेदेन योजयेत्
नीचमल्पप्रदानेन समशक्तिं पराक्रमैः [70]
You should be humble before an enemy
of excellent characters.
You should deceive an enemy who is
good at fighting.
You should pacify an enemy of lowly
characters with some gifts.
You should win over an enemy of
equal strength through valor.”
The crocodile asked-“How is that so?”
The monkey said-
{10}
चतुरशृगालकथा
{THE STORY OF THE
CLEVER FOX}
Once there lived a fox named MahaaChaturaka (Very clever
one) in a forest. Once in his wanderings, he saw an elephant which had died by
itself. H walked all around it, but was not able to tear open the thick skin of
the elephant.
Meanwhile a lion wandering here and there for food arrived
there suddenly. Immediately the fox sat on the ground humbly with bent head and
saluting him with respect said-“Master! I am your humble slave. I am guarding
this elephant for you, like your servant. Please grace me and eat this.”
The lion looked at the fox lying at his feet and said-
“I will never eat an animal killed by another one.
It is said-
वनेsपि सिंहाः मृगमांसभक्ष्याः बुभुक्षिता
नैव तृणं चरन्ति
एवं कुलीना व्यसनाभिभूताः न नीतिमार्गं
परिलङ्गयन्ति [71]
In the forest, the lions which
live on the flesh of other animals do not eat grass
even if they are hungry.
In this manner, those born in good families, do not transgress the path
of Dharma
even when they are in trouble.
Therefore let this elephant be my gift to you.”
The fox was very happy when he heard the lion’s words and
said-
“The Master has done the right thing for this servant.
It is said-
अन्त्यावस्थोsपि महान् स्वामिगुणान्नो जहाति शुद्धतया
न श्वेतभावमुञ्जति शङ्कः शिखिभुक्तमुक्तोsपि [72]
The conch will not lose its white
color even when it is burnt to ashes by the fire.
Great Masters also do not lose their
noble qualities even when in difficulties.”
The lion went away.
Soon a tiger arrived there. The fox started thinking-
“One wicked one was removed by salutations. Now how will I
get rid of this new arrival? This fellow is very strong. I can’t fight him.
Only deceit will be helpful here.
It is said-
न यत्र शक्यते कर्तुं साम दानमथापि
वा
भेदस्तत्र प्रयोक्तव्यो यतः स वशकारकः [73]
Where compromise or charity is not
possible,
one should use ‘deceit’,
as that only can bring the enemy under
control.
Because, even if one is
endowed with all good qualities, he falls for deceit.
अन्तस्थेनाविरुद्देन सुवृत्तेनातिचारुणा
अन्तर्भिन्नेन संप्राप्तं मौक्तिकेनापि बन्धनं [74]
The pearl is unbroken, smooth and
beautiful.
Yet by getting a hole in its center,
it gets bound in a thread.
(A man could be without enemies, well
behaved and pleasant in character.
But he gets defeated by some one
little weakness he has got.)”
Having thought like this, the fox boldly approached him with
his neck held high and spoke in an excited voice-
“Uncle! Why are you voluntarily entering the death-trap?
This elephant here has been killed by the lion. He has kept me here to guard
this and has gone for taking bath. He has ordered me that if any tiger enters
the vicinity, he should be informed by me in secret as he wants to make this
forest completely free of tigers. Because in the past some tiger ate the
elephant killed by him and polluted it. So from that day onwards he is angry
with all the tigers.”
The tiger heard the fox’s words
and became apprehensive. He said-
“Hey my nephew! Please spare my
life. When the lion comes here do not mention my name to him.”
So saying, he ran away.
After the tiger was gone, a
leopard came there. The fox started thinking-
“This leopard has very strong
teeth. I will get him to tear the elephant’s skin somehow.”
Having decided thus, he said to
the leopard-
“Hey nephew! How is it that I
have not seen you for such a long time! You look hungry too. You are my guest
now. This elephant has been killed by the lion. I have been appointed by him to
guard this. Before the lion comes, quickly eat some elephant-meat and go away.”
The leopard said-
“Uncle! If that is so, I should
not eat this meat. If a man keeps his life safe he can attain hundred good
things.
It is said-
यच्छक्यं ग्रसितुं शस्तं ग्रस्तं
परिणमेच्च यत्
हितं च परिणामे यत्तदाद्यं भूतिमिच्छता [75]
One should eat what is suitable for one self;
and what is eaten should be well-digested;
and what is digested should result in good health
if one desires his well-being.
Always that alone should be eaten what can be digested
easily. So I am moving away from here.”
The fox said-“You coward! Eat without any anxiety. I will
warn you when I see the lion coming this way.”
The leopard did likewise. As it finished tearing the
elephant-skin, the fox shouted-
“Hey nephew! Run away! The lion is coming here.”
The leopard immediately ran away.
As the fox started eating the meat happily, another fox came
and attacked him.
As that fox knew him to be of equal strength, he read this
verse.
उत्तमं प्रणिपातेन शूरं भेदेन योजयेत्
नीचमल्पप्रदानेन समशक्तिं पराक्रमैः [76]
“You should be humble before an
enemy of excellent characters.
You should deceive an enemy who is
good at fighting.
You should pacify an enemy of lowly
characters with some gifts.
You should win over an enemy of equal
strength through valor.”
The fox boldly fought the
other fox, tore him to pieces with his teeth and remained happily eating that
elephant-meat for a long time.”
{END OF THE STORY OF THE CLEVER
FOX}
The monkey continued:
“In this manner, you also
defeat the enemy who belongs to your own class and tear him to pieces.
Otherwise, he will make his roots here and kill you also one day.
It is said-
संभाव्यं गोषु संपन्नं संभाव्यं ब्राह्मणे
तपः
संभाव्यं स्त्रीसु चापल्यं संभाव्यं
जातितो भयं [77]
Cows are sure to bring prosperity.
A Brahmin can surely perform
penance.
A woman can easily go astray.
A person of one’s own class surely
provokes fear.
And also-
सुभिक्षाणि विचित्राणि शिथिलाः परियोषितः
एको दोषो विदेशस्य स्वजातिर्यद्विरुध्यते [78]
Various facilities are there.
The ladies are easy-going.
Only one problem is there in the foreign lands.
One’s own clan goes against you.”
The crocodile asked-“How is that so?”
The monkey said-
{11}
सारमेयस्यकथा
THE STORY OF THE DOG
In some village there lived a dog named Chitraanga
(Variegated hues).
Once, the place was stuck by famine. Due to lack of food,
dogs and cats which lived there started dying.
Chitraanga moved away from there to another city. In that
city one housewife never took care to lock the door properly. The dog daily
entered that house and ate off all the food in the kitchen. But whenever it
came out after eating the food, the other dogs of that city which waited
outside attacked it from all sides and bit it all over.
The dog thought-
“Alas! My own home town is better than this city. There was
famine but I was happy as nobody attacked me. I will go back to my own city.”
He went back to his city.
All the other dogs of his city asked him-
“Hey Chitraanga! How was the foreign visit? How was the other
city? What did you do? What did you eat? What all happened?”
He said-
“What will I say how was the foreign land?
सुभिक्षाणि विचित्राणि शिथिलाः परियोषितः
एको दोषो विदेशस्य स्वजातिर्यद्विरुध्यते [79]
Various facilities are there.
The ladies are easy-going.
Only one problem is there in the foreign lands.
One’s own clan goes against you.”
{END OF THE DOG’S STORY}
The crocodile listened to the advice of the monkey; took
leave of the monkey; decided to fight till death; went back home. He fought
with the crocodile who had taken over his house; killed him; and lived happily
for long time.
It is rightly said-
अकृत्वा पौरुषं या श्रीः किं तयापि सुभोग्यया
जरद्गवः समश्नाति दैवादुपनतं तृणं [80]
If wealth is obtained without doing any effort, what enjoyment does it
give!
Even the old bull eats the grass that has fallen in front of him.
{THE STORY OF THE MONKEY AND THE CROCODILE
ENDS}
इति महामहोपाध्याय श्री विष्णुशर्मविरचिते
पञ्चतन्त्रे
लब्धप्रणाशं नाम चतुर्थं
तन्त्रं समाप्तं II
THUS ENDS THE FOURTH TANTRA
LABDHA-PRANAASHAM
IN THE TEXT
PANCHATANTRA
AUTHORED BY THE EXCELLENT TEACHER
SHREE VISHNUSHARMA
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