SHREEVISHNUSHARMAPRANEETAM
PANCHATANTRAM
श्रीविष्णुशर्मप्रणीतं
पञ्चतन्त्रं
SANSKRIT TEXT
WITH
ENGLISH COMMENTARY
by
TEJASVINI
FIVE COURSES OF ACTION
PRESCRIBED IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE SCIENCE
{ANCIENT WISDOM}
INTRODUCTION
“Pause a second before you act, before you speak, before you
think” is an age old practice mentioned in all the scriptures of the yore. Be
in the witness state and observe all your actions, thoughts, words every
moment, without loosening up even for a tiny winy micro second is the instruction
of our Rishis.
Not only for the reason of achieving the spiritual goals,
but in day to day life as well, caution and care are necessary. Do not react
immediately to a circumstance without thinking. Do not give way to wrong
chemical action in the brain and act a slave to the non-thinking brain. Do not
react; but act with the ‘body-horse’ under your control. This is the lesson
taught in this section of PanchaTantra.
The story begins with a stupid barber who imitates the
action of another and gets into trouble. Each person is unique in this world.
Each person has to decide his course of action in life suitable to his
personality. Everybody cannot wear a saffron robe and become a Shankara. Dispassion is expressed as saffron; saffron
robe is not dispassion.
Imitating outwardly a person without understanding the ‘why’
of any person leads to sheer disaster.
Even Krishna mentions in the Geeta “यद्यदाचरते श्रेष्टः…”
The people have a tendency to imitate the great. But imitate not their
outward actions. Develop their qualities of courage, forbearance, etc etc.’ - is
the lesson taught in this story.
This story contains again another story of a lady who loved
a mongoose like her son and lost him by her senseless reaction to an event. In
this story, the so-called ‘we love all beings, animal or human equally’ type
of people (not all; of course there are exceptions) are dealt with; and a
question asked, how much equality is maintained in dealing with animals?
“Does the gene or altruism get the upper-hand?” is
the question posed here.
This story again contains within it the story of some youth
trying to become rich ready to go through whatever hardships they may meet
with. Well, the question posed here is what is your limit? How far do you want
to go? What all are you ready to sacrifice? Is family, native land, the
simplicity of a quiet life are all worth sacrificing for a few colored paper
notes?
Whatever you earn, your body which contains nine stinking
holes cannot be eternalized. Diseases and egotism will rule you till the end
like a rotating wheel stuck on your head.
विद्धि व्याध्यभिमानग्रस्तं लोकं शोकहतं च समस्तं – says Shankara
aptly describing the world as it is.
What is a rotating wheel on the head?
Your brain with so many ideas, thoughts, anxieties, wants,
etc etc is a chemical factory oozing out poisonous gases. You are the greedy
man with the rotating wheel on the head. You may have no need to worry any more
about food or shelter like him, but the mind churning with the emotions of envy,
anger, selfishness, lust, etc etc. cannot be got rid off.
Be careful warns VishnuSharma lest the wheel suddenly jumps
on your head and you get stuck with it. Birth after birth the wheel of anxiety
will rotate on your head, unless you get rid of all the greed or desires in
your heart.
Always there will be something better than what you already
own; that does not mean the purpose
of your life is to chase better things always. The only thing worth chasing is
knowledge which leads you to higher and higher levels of existence. The
material objects are just an add-on of more spokes to the rotating wheel on the
head.
Even if you own the whole world and think you own it, still
you own only a rotating wheel on the head and not the world; for, the world is
only in your brain; not outside the brain!
पञ्चतन्त्रं
पञ्चमं तन्त्रं
{FIFTH SECTION}
अपरीक्षितकारकं
{ACTION WITHOUT ANALYSIS}
Now here begins the fifth section named APAREEKSHITA KAARAKAM (Action without analysis)
and herein is the first verse:
कुदृष्टं कुपरिज्ञातं
कुश्रुतं कुपरीक्षितं
तन्नरेण न
कर्तव्यं नापितेनाsत्र
यत्कृतं [1]
Never should a man do what the
barber did
without seeing properly,
without understanding properly,
without listening properly,
without analyzing properly.
Now the story is thus related:
In the southern region there is a city named PaataliPutra (पाटलिपुत्र). A rich man named ManiBhadra (मणिभद्र) lived in that city. He performed all actions in his life only
trying to fulfill the four goals of Dharma, Artha, Kaama and Moksha. But he by mis-fortune lost all his wealth.
Feeling embarrassed by the loss of luxuries and riches, he felt very much
distressed. One night, as he lay on his bed, he started thinking-
“Alas! Fie on this poverty!”
It is said-
शीलं शौचं क्षान्तिर्दाक्षिण्यं मधुरता कुले जन्म
न विराजन्ति हि सर्वे वित्तहीनस्य पुरुषस्य [2]
‘Good Character, cleanliness, forbearance, politeness,
soft speech, birth in a good
family’
all these things do not shine out in a man without wealth.
मानो वा दर्पो वा विज्ञानं विभ्रमः सुबुद्धिर्वा
सर्वं प्रणश्यति समं वित्तविहीनो यदा पुरुषः [3]
‘Prestige, arrogance, special talents, madness about pleasures, or
intelligence’
all perish together when a man loses his wealth.
प्रतिदिवसं याति लयं वसन्तवाताहृतेव शिशिरश्री:
बुद्धिर्बुद्धिमतामपि कुटुम्बचिन्तया सततं [4]
Even wise men lose their thinking power by constant worry about the
family
like the beauty of the cold season decreases daily by getting hit by
the spring winds.
नश्यति विपुलमतेरपि बुद्धिः पुरुषस्य मन्दविभवस्य
घृतलवणतैलतण्डुलवस्त्रेन्धनचिन्तया सततं [5]
The intelligence of even the most intelligent man slowly wears out
by always worrying about the ghee, salt, oil, rice, cloth, and fuel.
गगनमिव नष्टतारं शुष्कमिव सरः श्मशानामिव रौद्रं
प्रियदर्शनमपि रूक्षं भवति गृहं धनविहीनस्य [6]
The house of a man who is without wealth looks forlorn even if it is
beautiful
like the star-less sky, the dried up lake, and the terrifying cremation
ground.
न विभाव्यन्ते लघवो वित्तविहीनाः पुरोsपि निवसन्तः
सततं जातविनष्टाः पयसामिव बुद्बुदाः पयसि [7]
Those without wealth attain such a wretched state,
that they are not seen at all even if they live right in front,
like the bubbles continuously rising up and disappearing in the ocean
waters
(are ignored).
सुकुलं कुशलं सुजनं विहाय कुलकुशलशीलविकलेsपि
आढ्ये कल्पतराविव नित्यं
रज्यन्ति जननिवहाः [8]
Crowds always get attracted by the rich
like by the KalpaVriksha (Wish
fulfilling tree of Heavens)
even if they are from the worst family, of worst talent, and worst
character,
and avoid the poor man,
who is of a good family,
who is talented and is of good character.
विफलमिह पूर्वसुकृतं विद्यावन्तोsपि कुलसमुद्भूताः
यस्य यदा विभवः स्यात्तस्य तदा दासतां यान्ति [9]
The fruits of the actions of previous birth becomes wasted.
Even if learned, though born in good families,
these wealth less men seek
service with the prosperous ones.
लघुरयमाह न लोकः कामं गर्जन्तमपि पतिं पयसां
सर्वमलज्जाकरमिह यद्यत्कुर्वन्ति परिपूर्णाः [10]
The world does not comment cheaply about the ocean, the Lord of Rivers
even if he makes a big noise.
Whatever the filled up ones (waters/riches) do
is never considered as a matter of embarrassment.”
Having pondered thus he again thought-
“Therefore I will give up food and give up my lives. What
use is such a worthless life?’
Having made this decision, he slept. In his dream, the
wealth of his previous life appeared in the form of a mendicant and said to
him-
“Hey rich man! Do not be frustrated so much.
I am PadmaNidhi (One of the nine wealths), the wealth you
had obtained in your previous life. I will come to you house in the same form,
early in the morning. You must then beat my head with a club; then I will turn
into gold and become a never diminishing wealth.”
The rich man got up in the morning and remembered his dream and
felt apprehensive about the whole thing-
“Aha! Will the dream out to be real or unreal? May be it is
all my imagination as I keep thinking about money day and night.
व्याधितेन सशोकेन चिन्ताग्रस्तेन जन्तुना
कामार्तेनाsथ मत्तेन दृष्टः स्वप्नो निरर्थकः [11]
The dreams seen by people
who are diseased, sad, worried, lustful and intoxicated
are meaningless.”
Meanwhile his wife invited some barber to attend to her
pedicure. And at the same time the mendicant also appeared as promised.
ManiBhadra became very happy and immediately took a stick that was nearby and
hit the mendicant on the head with that stick. The mendicant immediately turned
into gold and fell on the ground. The rich man hid the golden statue inside his
house; gave some gifts to the barber and said-
“Accept this money, clothes etc. given by me. O good man! Do
not disclose what happened here to anybody.”
The barber went home and thought-
“All these naked mendicants will become gold if they are hit
on the head with a stick. So, I will invite many mendicants to my house and
beat them all with the stick. I will collect a lot of gold this way.”
He was so excited he could not sleep all through that night.
As soon as the sun appeared, he got up and kept a heavy
stick ready for his work. He went to the monastery of the mendicants, went
round the statue of Jina Lord three times; knelt before the statue, covered his
mouth with a cloth and recited aloud-
जयन्ति ते जिना येषां केवलज्ञानशालिनां
आजन्मनः स्मरोत्पत्तौ मानसेनोषरायितं [12]
“Those Jains are indeed great who are endowed with only knowledge,
who have converted their minds into unfertile ground for lust.
And also-
सा जिह्वा या जिनं स्तौति तच्चित्तं यज्जिने रतं
तावेव च करौ श्लाघ्यौ यौ तत्पूजाकरौ करौ [13]
That alone is tongue which praises Jina,
that alone is mind which thinks of Jina,
those two alone are worthy hands which worship Jina.
And also-
ध्यानव्याजमुपेत्य चिन्तयसि कामुन्मील्य चक्षुः क्षणं
पश्यानङ्गशरातुरं जनमिमं त्रातापि नो रक्षसि
मिथ्याकारुणिकोsसि निर्घृणतरस्त्वत्तः कुतोsन्यः पुमान्
सेर्ष्यं मारवधूभिरित्यभिहितो बौद्धौ जिनः पातु वः [14]
Pretending to meditate, which lady are you thinking about?
Open your eyes for a second and
observe these men stuck by the arrows of Manmatha.
Why are you not protecting them, though you are the Savior?
Are you really compassionate?
Who is more heartless than you?
Thus spoken, let the Buddhist mendicant (Buddha)
who is always coveted by the heavenly damsels
protect us.”
Having recited these hymns, he approached the chief of the
mendicants, knelt before him on the ground, and said-
“Salutations! I offer my salutations to you.”
He got the blessings of the old mendicant; also got the
garland of beads to perform the vow of recitation; tied it to the end of his
garment; humbly said-
“Lord! Today all of you must come to my house when you start
out for begging alms.”
The mendicant said-
“Ho devotee! You know
what Dharma is! Then why do you talk like this? Are we Brahmins that deserve to
be invited like this? When we need food, we go out and approach an ardent
devotee of Jina and enter his house. After much entreating we accept very
little food just keep our lives going on. So go away. Do not say such things.”
The barber said-
“Lord! I know your Dharma (customs). Many devotees keep on
inviting you. At present I have collected lots of expensive cloth-bits for
writing purposes and also saved enough money to offer to those who will write
on those clothes. Therefore you must make use of this invitation.”
Then the barber returned home. He kept ready the acacia
stick; he tested the two panels of the door; at noon-time went to the monastery
again; caught hold of all the mendicants who were going out for begging alms; brought
them all to his house pleading with them.
All of them avoided the houses of real devotees of Jina
known to them; followed him happily, greedy for the cloth he wanted to offer.
Or it is well said-
एकाकी गृहसन्त्यक्तः पाणिपात्रो दिगम्बरः
सोsपि संवाह्यते लोके तृष्णया पश्य कौतुकं [15]
Living in solitude, renouncing the house,
holding a bowl in the hand, wearing no clothes,
this mendicant also moves by the thirst for objects.
Observe the wonder of it all!
जीर्यन्ते जीर्यतः केशा दन्ता जीर्यन्ति जीर्यतः
चक्षुः श्रोत्रे न जीर्येते तृष्णैका तरुणायते [16]
As one becomes old,
the hairs become old; the teeth
become old; eyes and ears turn old.
Only the desire remains young.
Then he made them enter the house, locked the door from
inside; hit them all on the head hard with his stick. Beaten mercilessly, some
died; some were wounded on the heads; and they all started screaming in pain.
The screaming was heard by the police chief.
He told his men –
“Ho Ho! What is happening inside the city? Go and
investigate.”
All the policemen hurried towards the source of the screaming
sound and saw naked mendicants bleeding all over their bodies running out
madly.
They enquired-
“What is this? What happened?”
They all reported what the barber did.
The barber was tied up in chains and was taken to the court
with some mendicants who were able to walk. The judges questioned the barber –
“Hey! Why have you done this heinous act?”
The barber said-
“What can I do? I saw the same thing done by the rich man
ManiBhadra!”
He reported what all he saw at ManiBhadra’s house.
The rich man was called for and the judges questioned him-
“Hey Rich man! Did you hit a mendicant?”
He then reported all about the story of the mendicant hit by
him.
The judges said-
“Aha! Let this wicked barber be nailed to a stake as he
performed an act without understanding the reason for it.”
It was done so.
They all said-
कुदृष्टं कुपरिज्ञातं
कुश्रुतं कुपरीक्षितं
तन्नरेण न
कर्तव्यं नापितेनाsत्र
यत्कृतं ||
“Never should a man do what the barber did
without seeing properly,
without understanding properly,
without listening properly,
without analyzing properly.”
Or it is well said-
अपरीक्ष्य न कर्तव्यं कर्तव्यं सुपरीक्षितं
पश्चाद्भवति संतापो ब्राह्मण्या नकुले यथा [17]
One should always analyze well before an action is performed.
Never should one do anything without proper analysis.
Otherwise one has to regret his action
like the Brahmin lady regretted her act towards the mongoose.”
ManiBhadra asked-“How is that so?”
The judges said-
{1}
ब्राह्मणीनकुलकथा
{THE STORY OF THE
BRAHMIN LADY AND THE MONGOOSE}
In some village there lived a Brahmin named DevaSharma. His
wife gave birth to a son. On that very day the mongoose in their house gave
birth to a baby and died. The compassionate lady cared for the mongoose baby
also like her son. She treated both the human and animal child alike; bathed
them; fed them milk; cared for them with equal affection. But still there was a
slight apprehension in her about the mongoose baby. She did not trust him too
much.
Her affection for her son overpowered her principle of ‘Love
all’ and she always thought anxiously that the mongoose may harm her child
being a wild animal.
It is said-
कुपुत्रोsपि भवेत्पुम्सां हृदयानन्दकारकः
दुर्विनीतः कुरूपोsपि मूर्खोsपि व्यसनी खलः [18]
Even a worthless son will give immense joy to the parent
even though he may be impolite, ugly, foolish, lecherous, and
deceitful.
एवं च भाषते लोकश्चन्दनं किल शीतलं
पुत्रगात्रस्य संस्पर्शश्चन्दनादतिरिच्यते [19]
Sandal paste is very cooling;
so says the world.
But the touch of one’s own son’s body excels even the sandal paste.
सौहृदस्य न वाञ्छन्ति जनकस्य हितस्य च
लोकाः प्रपालकस्याsपि यथा पुत्रस्य बन्धनं [20]
People of the world do not like to be bound by the relationship
of a friend, father, well-wisher
or the care-taker
as much as they want to be bound by the relationship with the son.
One day the Brahmin lady made her son sleep on the bed, took
a water pot and said to her husband-
“Hey Brahmin! I am going to fetch some water from the
water-tank. See that the mongoose does not hurt the baby”
After she left, the Brahmin also left the house to beg for
some alms.
Meanwhile a black snake came out of its hole. The mongoose
saw the snake and wanted to save the baby from the snake.
Prompted by natural instinct of enmity (between the mongoose
clan and the snake clan), he pounced on the snake, fought with it and bit it to
pieces. His face was covered by the snake’s blood. Feeling happy by his great
victory over an enemy, he ran towards his human mother to get affectionate hugs
from her. The mother saw the blood-stained face of the mongoose and thought
that the wicked animal had killed her baby. She threw the water pot on the
mongoose in anger. The mongoose died immediately. The lady came to the house
crying for her dead son and saw that her son was happily sleeping on the bed.
The pieces of the dead snake were strewn all around. She now was stuck by the
grief of her animal son’s death; started to beat her chest and wept aloud.
Meanwhile the Brahmin returned home from his begging duty
and saw his wife beating her chest and weeping for the dead mongoose baby.
“Hey you greedy
fellow! You did not listen to my words and had to go out for begging. Now you
experience the fruit of your own action and cry for our son.
Or it is rightly said-
अतिलोभो न कर्तव्यो लोभं नैव परित्यजेत्
अतिलोभाभिभूतस्य चक्रं भ्रमति मस्तके [21]
One should not be too greedy; nor should one be not greedy also.
The wheel rotates on the head of a person who is extremely greedy.”
The Brahmin said-“How is that so?”
She said-
{2}
लोभाविष्टचक्रधरकथा
{THE STORY OF THE GREEDY
MAN
WITH THE ROTATING WHEEL
ON THE HEAD}
“In some city there lived four Brahmin youths who were very
thick friends.
They were all suffering from extreme poverty and they
discussed amongst each other-“Alas! Fie on this poverty!
It is said-
वरं वनं व्याघ्रगजादिसेवितं जनेन हीनं बहुकण्टकावृतं
तृणानि शय्या परिधानवल्कलं न बन्धुमध्ये धनहीनजीवितं [22]
It is better to live in a forest
filled with tigers and
elephants; desolate and unpopulated;
spread out with thorny bushes;
where only grass has to be made into bed and bark has to cover one’s
body;
but never a life amidst relatives without any wealth to speak of.
स्वामी द्वेष्टि सुसेवितोsपि सहसा प्रोन्झन्ति सद्बान्धवाः
राजन्ते न गुणास्त्यजन्ति तनुजाः स्फारीभवन्त्यापदः
भार्या साधु सुवंशजाsपि भजते नो यान्ति मित्राणि च
न्यायारोपितविक्रमाण्यपि नृणां येषां न हि स्याद्धनं [23]
‘When one has no money’
the Master hates even when offered good services.
The close relatives keep away.
The good qualities one has are ignored.
The sons discard one like waste.
Difficulties are on the increase.
The good wife does not care any more
though she is from a noble family.
Friends move away though they are fair in their judgment.
शूरः सुरूपः सुभगश्च वाग्मी
शस्त्राणि शास्त्राणि विदाम्करोतु
अर्थं विना नैव यशश्च मानं
प्राप्नोति मर्त्योsत्र मनुष्यलोके [24]
All those who are valorous, handsome,
shining with luster (of knowledge)
who have good oratory ability,
who know all the sciences,
who have mastered all the missile sciences-
understand this much!
“In this mortal world no man attains fame or honor
without wealth!”
तानीन्द्रियाण्यविकलानि तदेव नाम
सा बुद्धिरप्रतिहता वचनं तदेव
अर्थोष्मणा विरहितः पुरुषः स एव
बाह्यः क्षणेन भवतीति विचित्रमेतत् [25]
Those very efficiently functioning
senses;
the very same undiminished
intellectual ability;
those very same words;
the very same man;
yet when he loses the luster of
wealth
instantly he becomes an outsider!
Indeed it is a wonder!
So let us go and earn some wealth somehow.”
Having made such a decision, they left their house, friends,
city and country and started on their journey in search of wealth.
Or it is rightly said-
सत्यं परित्यजति मुञ्चति बन्धुवर्गं
शीघ्रं विहाय जननीमपि जन्मभूमिं
संत्यज्य गच्छति विदेशमभीष्टलोकं
चिन्ताकुलीकृतमतिः पुरुषोsत्र लोके [26]
A man stuck by worries in this
world –
renounces truth;
leaves his relatives;
even moves away quickly from his mother;
renounces his motherland;
and goes to a foreign land which fulfills all his wants.
The Brahmin youths soon reached the city of Avanti .
They bathed in the River Sipraa and worshipped Mahaa Kaala.
As they were leaving the temple, a Yogi named Bhairavaananda came in front of
them. They offered salutations to him as per the Brahmin tradition and followed
him to his hermitage.
He asked them-
“From where have you come? Where are you going? What is the
purpose of your journey?”
They all said-
“We are going on a mission. We will pursue our goal till
either we get wealth or death. That is for sure.
दुष्प्राप्याणि बहूनि च लभ्यन्ते वाञ्चितानि द्रविणानि
अवसरतुलिताभिरलं तनुभिः साहसिकपुरुषाणां [27]
Those men of courage
who are
ready to put their bodies in the balance (risk their lives),
obtain many coveted things which are
unattainable for others.
पतति कदाचिन्नभसः खाते
पातालतोsपि जलमेति
दैवमचिन्त्यं बलवद्
बलवान्ननु पुरुषकारोsपि [28]
The waters may fall from the sky.
(Nature)
The water comes out of the ground
also. (Effort)
Fate is indeed strong!
But is not effort equally powerful!
अभिमतसिद्धिरशेषा भवति हि पुरुषस्य
पुरुषकारेण
दैवमिति यदपि कथयसि पुरुषगुणः सोsप्यदृष्टाख्यः [29]
All the wants of a man get fulfilled
through the earnest effort of that person.
Even what you call as fate or
destiny is also part of a man’s quality.
Effort is another name for destiny.
द्वयमतुलं गुरु लोकात्तृणमिव तुलयन्ति
साधु साहसिकाः
प्राणानद्भुतमेतच्चरितं चरितं ह्युदाराणाम् [30]
The courageous ones fearlessly place their lives at stake
equaling their lives to a mere straw.
These acts and the acts of excellent men of the world-
both are without parallels.
क्लेशस्याङ्गमदत्वा सुखमेव सुखानि नेह लभ्यन्ते
मधुभिन्मथनायस्तैराश्लिष्यति बाहुभिर्लक्ष्मीं [31]
Without undergoing any physical
strain,
one cannot obtain happiness with
ease.
The slayer of Madhu (Vishnu)
embraces Lakshmi,
only with the arms that are tired by
churning the ocean.
तस्य कथं न चला स्यात् पत्नी विष्णोर्नृसिम्हकस्यापि
मासान्श्चतुरो निद्रां यः सेवति जलगतः सततं [32]
How will not the wife of that Vishnu the lion among men,
be wayward,
if he spends four months in the water just sleeping continuously!
दुरधिगमः परभागो यावत्पुरुषेण साहसः न कृतं
जयति तुलामधिरूढो भास्वानिह जलदपटलानि [33]
Victory evades a man, who does not do acts of valor,
by placing life in the balance (peril).
Sun ascends the Tulaa constellation (balance)
to throw away the clouds which cover him.
So, please suggest us the best way of earning money from
various methods like- digging under ground; Yakshinee Saadhana (pleasing
demigoddesses); rites at the crematorium; selling of human flesh; and use of
magical beads. We have heard that you have super powers. We also are highly
courageous.
It is said-
महान्त एव महतामर्थं साधयितुं क्षमाः
ऋते समुद्रादन्यः को बिभर्ति वडवाsनलं [34]
Only great ones can achieve
great things.
Other than the ocean, who can hold the Vadava (dissolution) fire?”
Bhairavaananda gave them for their success, four magical round
pills (Varti) which could make possible various types of goals, specially
prepared by him.
He said-
“Go towards the Himalayan
Mountains
They did likewise.
As they were walking in the mountain region, one pill
slipped from one of the youth’s hand. He immediately started digging there and
found abundant copper mines.
Then he said-
“Come on! Grab as much copper as you like.”
Others said-
“Hey fool! What will you do with this? Even if you carry all
this, it cannot free us from poverty. So get up; we will go further up the
hills.”
He said-
“You people go! I am not going any further.”
He collected as much of the copper as he could and returned
home.
The other three kept on walking. At a very short distance,
the pill from the hand of the person walking at the front fell on the ground. When
he started digging, he found the land filled with silver.
He felt very happy and said-
“Ho Ho! Come on grab this silver and let us return home. No
need to go any further.”
The other two said-
“Hey! First the land was filled by copper; now the land is
all silver. If we walk further, we will surely get the land of gold. This silver
will also not serve our purpose of becoming very rich. We will go further in
the path and see what awaits us.”
They both walked away. The second one carried whatever
silver he could and returned home.
As the two walked, again a pill fell out of the hand of one
youth. He felt happy and started to dig the ground. He saw the land covered by
gold.
He said to the other-
“Hey! Come on, grab the gold as much as you can and let us
return home. Nothing could be better than the gold.”
The other one said-
“Fool! You know nothing!
First it was copper, then silver, now gold! Definitely there will diamonds after this.
This gold also will not be enough to make us rich. So get up! Let us go further
up the path. What is the use of carrying this even if it is abundantly
available? It will be just worthless weight!”
He said-
“You go! I will sit here and wait for you.”
It was done likewise.
The fourth one traveled alone. He kept wandering here and
there.
The sun was hot and he felt very thirsty. Searching for
water, he lost the way leading towards the achievements.
In his wanderings, he found a man bleeding profusely with a
rotating wheel placed on his head. He ran towards him and asked-
“Oh! Who are you? Why are you standing here with a rotating
wheel on your head? Tell me where I can find water?”
As he was talking, the very next moment the wheel jumped on
his head.
He said-
“O good man! What is this?”
That man said-“That is how I got the wheel too.”
He said-
“Tell me how to remove it from my head now. It is very
painful!”
That man said-
“If some one like you in search of wealth brings another
magical pill and talks with you, then the wheel will climb his head.”
He said-
“How long have you been standing here?”
That man said-
“Who is the ruler now?”
He said-
“Vatsa Raja talented in the Veenaa Music.”
That man said-
“I do not know then how much time has passed! I was
suffering from poverty when Rama was ruling the kingdom. I took a magical pill
and came this way. I saw another man with the rotating wheel on his head and
questioned. Then the wheel climbed my head.”
He said-
“O good man! If you had to stand like this, then how could
you eat or drink?”
That man said-
“O good man! Lord Kubera was afraid of the treasures getting
stolen. So he had kept this wheel to frighten away those who came in search of
wealth. Therefore no one comes here. If any one comes and gets trapped under
the wheel, he never feels hunger or thirst; never ages; never dies; but keeps
experiencing only the perpetual pain.
Please allow me to go home.”
He walked away.
The other friend who was waiting for him became worried
about him and went in search of him. He followed the foot prints on the ground
and soon reached another forest. There he found his friend covered by blood all
over his body; moaning in pain; standing with a rotating wheel on his head.
Tears filled his eyes at the plight of his friend.
His friend asked-
“O good man! What is this?”
He said-
“Fate ordained for me!”
His friend said-
“How is that so? What caused this?”
He related all the events connected to the wheel.
His friend chided him and said-
“Alas! I told you many times and you wouldn’t listen! What
can be done? You are educated; belong to a good family; yet you are so foolish!
Or it is rightly said-
वरं बुद्धिर्न सा विद्या
विद्याया बुद्धिरुत्तमा
बुद्धिहीना विनश्यन्ति यथा ते सिंहकारकाः [35]
Intelligence is good; not so
education.
Intelligence is better than
education.
Those who lack intelligence perish
like the lion-makers.”
The youth with the wheel said-“How is that so?”
{3}
सिंहकारकमूर्खब्राह्मणकथा
{THE STORY OF THE
FOOLISH BRAMINS WHO MADE THE LION}
“In some city, four Brahmin youths lived as close friends.
Of them three had mastered all sciences but were not intelligent. One was
intelligent but was not so learned. One day all the friends got together and
discussed like this.
“What use is learning if we do not go out of this city,
please the kings and earn a lot of wealth? So let us go towards the eastern
countries.”
It was done likewise.
After going some distance, the eldest of them said-
“Aha! The youngest of us is a fool. He is just intelligent.
The king will not honor anyone with wealth if he is not learned. I am not going
to share anything with him. Let him go home.”
The second youth said-
“Hey you wise one! Return home. You are not learned.”
The third one said-
“Aha! It is not the right thing to do. We have played
together from childhood. Let him also come along. We will give him equal share
of whatever we earn.
It is said-
किं तया क्रियते लक्ष्म्या या वधूरिव
केवला
या न वेश्येव सामान्या पथिकैरुपभुज्यते [36]
What can be done with the goddess of
wealth who is like a loyal bride
and does not give equal entertainment
to the travelers like a prostitute?
And also-
अयं निजः परो वेति गणना लघुचेतसां
उदारचरितानान्तु वसुधैव कुटुम्बकं [37]
‘This one belongs to us; this is one
is an outsider’
Such calculations belong to the
wretched minds.
For the noble with a generous
nature, the whole world is a family.”
It was done likewise.
As they walked through
the forest path, they saw some bones lying on the road.
One of them said-
“Aha! Let us test our
skills here. This looks like a dead animal. We will make it come alive with our
learning. I will collect the bones at one place.”
He collected the bones
with high excitement and set them in the right position.
Second one got the
collection of bones covered by skin, flesh and blood. The third one got ready
to fill the ‘life-force’ inside it.
The intelligent youth
exclaimed-
“Hey! Stop your work! This
animal looks like a lion. If you make it alive, it will kill all of us.”
The third one said-
“Fie on you O fool! I
will not let my learning go waste.”
The intelligent boy said-
“Then wait a second! I
will climb the tree.”
It was done so.
The third one filled the
life-force; the lion got up and killed all three of them. The intelligent boy
climbed down from the tree and returned home.”
{END OF THE STORY OF THE LEARNED
BRAHMINS}
The gold-gainer
continued-
“That is why I say-
वरं बुद्धिर्न सा विद्या
विद्याया बुद्धिरुत्तमा
बुद्धिहीना विनश्यन्ति यथा ते सिंहकारकाः
||
Intelligence is good; not so
education.
Intelligence is better than
education.
Those who lack intelligence perish
like the lion-makers.
And also-
अपि शास्त्रेषु कुशला लोकाचारविवर्जिताः
सर्वे ते हास्यतां यान्ति यथा ते मूर्खपण्डिताः [38]
Though well versed in sciences,
the foolish scholars were ridiculed by one and
all,
because they had no knowledge of the
world-affairs.”
The wheel-bearer asked-“How is that so?”
{4}
मूर्खपण्डितकथा
{THE STORY OF THE
FOOLISH SCHOLARS}
Once there lived four Brahmin youths who were very close
friends.
When they were very young, they thought-
“Ho! Let us go out of this country and get educated.”
One auspicious day they set out on their journey for
obtaining education and reached the city of KaanyaKubja . They joined a school there and
studied for twelve years sincerely and became well versed in all the sciences.
Then they got together and discussed like this-
“We are all now well-educated. We will take permission from
our teacher and return home.”
They took permission from the teacher and started towards
their home taking their books in their hands. As they walked some distance,
they saw the road bifurcating in two directions. Puzzled, they sat down there
itself.
One of them asked-
“Which path shall we take?”
At that very time, a merchant’s son had died in that city. A
great crowd (महाजनः) came there
carrying the dead body towards the cremation ground for burning it.
One of the boys opened the book and read the sentence-
“महाजनो येन गतः
स पन्थाः”-
“The path tread by a great man (महाजनः)
is the real path.”
He said-
“Let us follow the path taken by the crowd. (महाजन)”
(He
misunderstood the meaning of the sentence which gave the advice that one should
always follow the actions and words of noble men.)
They entered the cremation ground following the crowd of
people. They saw a donkey there.
The second boy opened the book and read-
उत्सवे व्यसने प्राप्ते दुर्भिक्षे शत्रुसंकटे
राजद्वारे श्मशाने च यस्तिष्टति स बान्धवः [39]
“He is a true relative who stands
at the cremation ground,
palace-gate,
when enemies attack, in famine, on
the festive and tragic occasions.
So there! This one is our
relative.”
(He
misunderstood the meaning of the verse which described a friend as one who
supports you when in trouble and is happy at your happiness.)
One of them embraced the
donkey.
One of them washed its
feet.
As they looked around
they saw a camel standing there.
They asked-“What is
this?”
The third one opened his
book and read-
“धर्मस्य त्वरिता गतिः”
–“Dharma’s ways are fast”
So this is Dharma.”
(He
misunderstood the meaning of the verse which explained that the results of
righteous actions occur fast. He thought that the camel which could run fast
was Dharma.)
The fourth one read-
“इष्टं धर्मेण योजयेत्” – “One should unite the liked-one to Dharma.”
They tied the donkey to
the camel.
(He
misunderstood the meaning of the sentence which suggested that one should
always desire to do righteous acts. He thought that the donkey was the relative
liked by him and the camel was Dharma.)
This act of theirs was
reported by someone to the washer man.
The washer man came with
his stick to beat them. They ran away and escaped his blows.
As they walked further,
they came across a river.
One of the scholars saw a
Palaasha leaf floating in the river.
He said-
“आगमिष्यति यत्पत्रं तदस्मान्स्तारयिष्यति –
“Whatever leaf comes will
take us across the river.”
(He
misunderstood the meaning of the sentence which suggested that whatever vehicle
(boat) comes, it will take us across the river.)
He fell on that leaf and was
carried away by the river.
One of them held on to
his hair and said-
सर्वनाशे समुत्पन्ने
अर्धं त्यजति पण्डितः
अर्धेन कुरुते कार्यं
सर्वनाशो हि दुःसहः [40]
“When all things are going to get lost,
the wise one renounces half of it.
He manages with just the half.
Complete destruction is unbearable.”
So saying he cut off the head of that boy.
Then the rest of them went on their way and soon reached a
village. All three were welcomed by the villagers and were offered food. Each
one of them was taken to a different house.
One of them was served vermicelli prepared by mixing ghee
and sugar. The scholar who saw it thought- “दीर्घसूत्री
विनश्यति”- “one
who eats long threads will perish.”
(He
misunderstood the meaning of the sentence which suggested that a person who
takes too much time to finish his work will meet with failure.)
He said these words; rejected the food and walked away.
The second one was given ‘Rotis’. He said-“अतिविस्तारविस्तीर्णं तद्भवेन्न चिरायुषं”-
“That which is spread out too much will not stay for long.”
(He
misunderstood the meaning of the sentence which suggested that no project
should be stretched out for very long time.)
He also went out without eating anything.
Third one was offered ‘Vadas’ (Fried round flat ‘dal’
preparation with a hole in the middle)
The third scholar said-“छिद्रेष्वनर्था
बहुलीभवन्ति”- “Holes increase problems.”
(He misunderstood
the meaning of the sentence which suggested that faulty things will create
problems}
He also rejected the
food.
In this manner all three
of them remained hungry and thirsty. All the villagers laughed at their
foolishness. They at last reached home tired and exhausted.”
(Such
misunderstandings not only belong to these foolish Brahmin youths. Even
scholars who interpret the Vedas and Upanishads sometimes give incorrect
explanations unable to grasp their abstract meanings.
Unless
one has had the personal experience of self-realization, the meaning s of the
Scriptures will surely remain hidden.
Imagine
what a catastrophe it would lead to if one understood the statement –
अहं ब्रह्मास्मि – ‘I AM BRAHMAN’ of the Upanishads- ‘I’ to mean the physical identity and the
word ‘Brahman’ as God!)
{END OF THE STORY OF THE FOOLISH
BRAHMINS}
Then the person who had
obtained gold said-
“You did not know the
ways of the world and though warned by me, did not heed to my words. That is
why you have reached such a state.
That is why I said-
अपि शास्त्रेषु कुशला लोकाचारविवर्जिताः
सर्वे ते हास्यतां यान्ति यथा ते मूर्खपण्डिताः
||
Though well versed in sciences,
the foolish scholars were ridiculed by one and
all,
because they had no knowledge of the
world-affairs.”
The wheel bearer said-
“Aha! What happened is
not due to some such reason.
Because-
सुबुद्धयो विनश्यन्ति दुष्टदैवेन
नाशिताः
स्वल्पधीरपि तस्मिन्स्तु कुले नन्दति
संततं [41]
Even intelligent people perish if a
bad fate is against them.
Even less intelligent people in such
situations remain happy if it favors them.
And also-
अरक्षितं तिष्टति दैवरक्षितं सुरक्षितं
दैवहतं विनश्यति
जीवत्यनाथोsपि वने विसर्जितः कृतप्रयत्नोsपि गृहे न जीवति [42]
Whatever is left unprotected gets
saved by destiny.
That which is well-protected
perishes disfavored by destiny.
An orphan child discarded in the
forest lives.
But even with all efforts it will
die in the house.
And also-
शतबुद्धिः शिरस्थोsयं लम्बते च सहस्रधीः
एकबुद्धिरहं भद्रे क्रीडामि विमले
जले [43]
ShataBuddhi (one with hundred ideas)
is placed on the head.
SahasraBuddhi (one with thousand ideas)
hangs from the shoulder.
My dearest! I am EkaBuddhi (one with
single idea)
and I play about in the clear water.”
The Gold-Gainer asked-“How is that so?”
{5}
मत्स्यमण्डूककथा
{THE STORY OF THE FISH AND THE FROG}
“In some lake there lived two fish named ShataBuddhi and
SahasraBuddhi. Those two developed friendship with a frog named EkaBuddhi. All
three of them sat on the bank of the lake for some time conversing about
various interesting topics and entered the water again.
One day, as they were engaged in conversation, there arrived
at the evening time, fishermen carrying on their heads plenty of dead fish
caught by them.
They saw the lake and said-
“Aha! There are plentiful fish in this lake; water too is
very shallow. So we will come early in the morning.” They all went home.
The fish felt very apprehensive and discussed with each
other.
Then the frog said-
“Hey ShataBuddhi! Did you hear what the fisher men said? So
what do you think we should do? Shall we stay or escape? Whatever you think
should be done, tell us now.”
SahasraBuddhi heard his words; laughed aloud and said-
“Hey Friend! Do not fear. By just hearing their words why
should you get frightened like this? Do not fear.
It is said-
सर्पाणां च खलानां च सर्वेषां दुष्टचेतसां
अभिप्राया न सिद्ध्यन्ति तेनेदं वर्तते
जगत् [44]
The desires of snakes, cheats and
wicked minds never get fulfilled.
That is why the world is still going
on.
Therefore they will not come tomorrow. If they really come
off, then I will use my intelligence and save myself and you both. I know
various types of movements in water.”
ShataBuddhi heard his words and said-
“Ho! You said the right thing. You indeed have thousand
intellects.
Or it is rightly said-
बुद्धेर्बुद्धिमतां लोके नास्त्यगम्यं
हि किञ्चन
बुद्ध्या यतो हता नन्दाश्चाणक्येनासिपाणयः [45]
There is nothing that cannot be
achieved by the intelligent ones.
The sword-bearing Nandas (kings) were killed by the intelligence of
Chaanakya.
And also-
न यत्रास्ति गतिर्वायो रश्मीनां च
विवस्वतः
तत्रापि प्रविशत्याशु बुद्धिर्बुद्धिमतां सदा [46]
Where the winds do not enter,
where the sunrays do not enter,
the intellect of the intelligent ones can penetrate easily.
Therefore we cannot leave the place lived by our ancestors
and go elsewhere just by hearing some words uttered casually.
It is said-
न तत्स्वर्गेsपि सौख्यं
स्याद्दिव्यस्पर्शेन शोभने
कुत्स्थाने भवेत्पुम्सां जन्मनो यत्र
संभवः [47]
For men, even the joy of touching divine damsels in the heaven
does not equal the pleasure of living in the birth place,
even if it may be very lowly in comparison.
Therefore there is no need to leave this place. I will
protect you with the power of my intelligence.”
The frog said-
“Hey you two! I have only one idea now and that is to run
away. So I will take my wife and go away to another lake.”
So saying, that frog moved off to another lake, that very
night.
The fishermen came next morning and captured the good, bad,
and worst types of aquatic creatures; all the fishes, frogs and crabs. For
quite a long time, SahasraBuddhi and ShataBuddhi , along with their wives were
using all their skill in swimming by moving here and there in crooked ways to
escape the fishermen’s nets. But they were trapped in the nets in the end and
were killed.
By evening time the fisher men set out for their homes
happily. One of them placed ShataBuddhi on his head. SahasraBuddhi hung from
another’s shoulder. Then the frog who had taken shelter in the well saw them;
called his wife and said-
“Dear one! Look! Look!
शतबुद्धिः शिरस्थोsयं लम्बते च सहस्रधीः
एकबुद्धिरहं भद्रे क्रीडामि विमले
जले ||
ShataBuddhi (one with hundred ideas)
is placed on the head.
SahasraBuddhi (one with thousand
ideas) hangs from the shoulder.
My dearest! I am EkaBuddhi (one with
single idea)
and I play about in the clear water.”
{END
OF THE STORY OF THE FISH AND THE FROG}
The wheel-bearer continued-
“And also, you mentioned that intelligence is better than
education. I do not agree with that. ‘Intelligence is the greatest asset’ is
not a proven fact.”
The gold-gainer said-
“Even if what you say is true, you should not have acted
against your friend’s advice.
But what can be done? Though I stopped you, you wouldn’t
stop.
You were very greedy for money. You were arrogant because of
your learning.
Or it I rightly said-
साधु मातुल गीतेन मया प्रोक्तोsपि
न स्थितः
अपूर्वोयं मणिर्बद्धः संप्राप्तं गीतलक्षणं [48]
Uncle! You never stopped singing
even though I told you to stop.
You now have a precious gem tied to
your neck as a reward for your singing.”
The wheel-bearer said-“How is that so?”
Gold-gainer said-
{6}
रासभशृगालकथा
{THE STORY OF THE
DONKEY AND THE FOX}
“In some village there lived a donkey named Uddhata (उद्धत-Arrogant). He carried burdens for the
washer man in the mornings and at night wandered freely everywhere. But he
arrived at the house by early morning without fail, afraid of getting punished
by the washer man. The washer man would tie him up in the morning.
Once as he grazed in the fields, a fox became his friend.
Some day they both tried to enter a cucumber field. As the
donkey was fat, he broke the fence. They both ate cucumbers to their heart’s
fill and returned to their places in the morning.
One day the arrogant donkey was
standing in the middle of the field.
He said to the fox-
“Hey my nephew! Look Look! How
beautiful the night is. I feel like singing now. Tell me what composition
should I sing?”
The fox said-
“Uncle! Why do you want to invite trouble? We both are now
engaged in our thieving work. Those who
steal and those who meet women stealthily should remain hidden.
It is said-
कासयुक्तस्त्यजेच्चौर्यम् निद्रालुश्चेत्स
पुन्श्चलीं
जिह्वालौल्यं रुजाक्रान्तो जीवितं योsत्र वान्छति [49]
If anyone wants to safeguard his
life-
if afflicted by lung infection, he
should not try to become a thief;
if sleepy, he should not go after
wayward women;
if stuck with disease should
renounce the greed of the tongue.
And your song does not sound melodious. It is heard even at
long distances like the sound of a conch.
This field is guarded by the owners of the fields. If they wake up by your song, they will
either kill us or imprison us. So just silently eat off the delicious
cucumbers. Don’t get into the profession of a singer now.”
The donkey heard his words and said-
“Ho! You are a forest dweller! What do you know about the
joys hidden in songs? That is why you are objecting to my singing.
It is said-
शरज्ज्योत्स्नाहते दूरं तमसि प्रियसन्निधौ
धन्यानां विशति श्रोत्रे गीतझन्कारजा
सुधा [50]
When darkness is thrown away by the autumn moonlight,
and the lover is next to you,
the nectar rising from the well-sung song
enters the ears of the fortunate ones.”
The fox said-
“Uncle! Let it be so! But you do not know how to sing. You
can only bray. Why do you want to bring harm on yourself?”
The donkey said-
“Fie,Fie on you fool! Don’t I know how to sing? Listen to
the classifications of songs.
सप्तस्वरास्त्रयो ग्रामा मूर्च्छनाश्चैकविंशतिः
तानास्त्वेकोनपन्चाशत्तिस्रो मात्रा
लयास्त्रयः [51]
स्थानत्रयं यतीनां च षडास्यानि रसा नव
रागाः षट्त्रिंशतिर्भावाश्चत्वारिम्शत्ततः स्मृताः [52]
पञ्चाशीत्यधिकं ह्येतद्गीताङ्गानां शतं स्मृतं
स्वयमेव पुरा प्रोक्तं भरतेन श्रुतेः
परम् [53]
Svaras are seven.
All of them get classified into
three ‘Graamas’.
In music there are twenty one
‘Moorchanas’ and forty nine ‘Taalas’.
‘Maatras’are three and “Layas’ are
three.
The ‘Sthaanas’ of ‘Svaras’ are
three.
‘Yati’ is also of three types.
‘Aasyas’ are six and ‘Rasas’ are
nine.
‘Raagas’ are thirty six in number.
‘Bhaavas’, are forty in number.
Sage Bharata has himself explained the
eighty-five classifications
in music which is the fifth Veda and
pleasing to the ears.
{षड्ज,
ऋषभ, गान्धार ,मध्यम, पञ्चम, धैवत, निषाद – Seven Svaras
षड्ज, मध्यम, निषाद – Group of Svaras- Graamas
मूर्च्छना -आरोह-अवरोह of
Svaras
ह्रस्व
धीर्घ प्लुत – Maatras
उरः, कण्ठः,
शिर: –Sthaanas- from where Svaras rise up
शृङ्गार,
हास्य, करुणा, रौद्र, भयानक, वीर, बीभत्स, अद्भुत,
शान्त nine
Rasas}
नान्यद्गीतात्प्रियं लोके देवानामपि
दृश्यते
शुष्कस्नायुस्वराःह्लादात् त्र्यक्षं जग्राह रावणः [54]
Nothing more pleases the gods than songs; so it is observed in the
world.
Raavana pleased the three-eyed Shiva by playing the stringed instrument
Veena.
So how is that, O my nephew, you dare tell me that I know
nothing about music?”
The fox said-
“Uncle! If that is the case, then I will stand outside this field
and watch out for the guards of the field. You can sing as much as you like!”
It was done so.
Hearing the braying of the donkey, the owner of the field
came running gritting his teeth in anger. He saw the donkey and beat him hard
with his club. The donkey fell on the ground. The farmer tied a pestle with a
hole to his neck and went to sleep. The donkey as per
his animal nature was soon free of the pain and got up.
It is said-
सारमेयस्य चाश्वस्य
रासभस्य विशेषतः
मुहूर्तात्परतो न
स्यात्प्रहारजनिता व्यथा [55]
For the dog, horse and especially donkey,
the pain of getting beaten by a club does not last longer than a few
minutes.
He broke the fence and started running along with the pestle
tied to its neck.
The fox which was standing at a distance saw him and asked
with a sarcastic smile-
साधु मातुल गीतेन मया प्रोक्तोsपि न स्थितः
अपूर्वोयं मणिर्बद्धः संप्राप्तं
गीतलक्षणं [56]
“Well-done my uncle!
Though I warned you against it, you did not remain silent.
A rare gem you got on your neck.
The song has been rewarded well.”
{END OF THE STORY OF THE
DONKEY AND THE FOX}
The gold-gainer continued his talk.
He said-
“You too did not stay back even when I warned you.”
The wheel-bearer heard his words and said-
“Ho Friend! It is true!
Or it is rightly said-
यस्य नास्ति
स्वयं प्रज्ञा
मित्रोक्तं न करोति यः
स एव निधनं याति
यथा मन्थरकौलिकः [57]
He who no sense of his own,
or he who does not follow the advice of his friend,
dies like the weaver Manthara.”
The gold-gainer said-“How is that so?”
The wheel bearer said-
{7}
मन्थरकौलिककथा
{THE STORY OF THE
WEAVER NAMED MANTHARA}
“Once there lived a weaver named Manthara (idiot) in a city.
Once when he was weaving a garment, all the sticks in his weaving machine
suddenly broke.
So he went to the forest carrying an axe to cut some wood.
He reached the ocean beach and saw a ‘Shimshapaa’ tree
there.
He thought-
“This tree is very huge. If I cut it off, I can make many
accessories for my machine.”
He decided to cut the tree and lifted the axe to cut it.
In that tree there was a Yaksha (demigod). He said-
“Ho! This tree is my shelter. It is to be protected by me
through all means. I live here happily enjoying the cool winds blowing from the
Oceanside .”
The weaver said-
“Ho! What can I do? Without wood, I cannot repair my machine
and that will make my family go hungry.
So you go elsewhere. I will cut it off.”
The demigod said-
“Ho! I am pleased with you. Ask for anything you want. Leave
this tree alone.”
The weaver said-
“I will go home and discuss this matter with my friend and
my wife. I will come back and tell you want I want.”
The Yaksha promised to do so.
The weaver went back happily and started towards his home.
As he was entering the village, he saw his barber friend. He told him what all
had happened.
He said-
“Hey friend! So I have this Yaksha waiting for me. Tell me
what I should ask for. I want your suggestion.”
The barber said-
“O good man! You ask for a kingdom. Then you will become a
king. I will become your minister. We will enjoy our lives here and after death
enjoy heaven also.”
It is said-
राजा दानपरो
नित्यमिह कीर्तिमवाप्य
च
तत्प्रभावात्पुनः स्वर्गं स्पर्धते त्रिदशैः सह [58]
The king who gives charity always, will attain fame here
and because of that will go to the heaven
and enjoy happiness along with
the gods.
The weaver said-
“Let it be so. But I will ask my wife too for her
suggestion.”
The barber said-
“O Good man! It is an act against the scriptures if you
consult a woman for advice; because they are not very intelligent.”
It is said-
भोजनाच्छादने दद्यादृतुकाले
च सङ्गमं
भूषणाद्यं च
नारीणां न
ताभिर्मन्त्रयेत्सुधीः [59]
One should feed them well; give them ornaments and clothes;
unite with them in the proper season;
but never should one consult the women and ask for advice.
यत्र स्त्री
यत्र कितवो
बालो यत्र
प्रशासिता
तद्गृहं क्षयमायाति
भार्गवो हीदमब्रवीत् [60]
Where a woman or a rogue or a
child are the masters of the house,
that house is in for ruin
- so says Shukraachaarya.
तावत्स्यात्सुप्रसन्नास्यस्तावद्गुरुजने
रतः
पुरुषो योषितां
यावन्न शृणोति
वचो रहः [61]
A man stays with a smiling face and respects his elders
as long as he does not listen to the words of the woman in private.
एताः स्वार्थपरा
नार्यः
केवलं स्वसुखे
रताः
न तासां
वल्लभः कोsपि
सुतोsपि स्वसुखं
विना [62]
These selfish women are interested only in their own happiness.
Even their son is not loved by them if it is not conducive to their
pleasure.”
The weaver said-
“Even then it is but right that I ask her opinion also. She
is a devoted wife. Another thing is that, I do not do anything without
consulting her.”
He went home quickly and said to his wife-
“Dear! Today I had the fortune to see a Yaksha. He will give
me whatever I want. That is why I came to consult you. Tell me what I should
ask for? My barber-friend tells me-“Ask for a kingdom”.
She said-
“AaryaPutra! What intelligence do barbers have? So do not
listen to his words.
It is said-
चारणैर्बन्दिभिर्नीचैर्नापितैर्बालकैरपि
न मन्त्रं
मतिमान्कुर्यात्सार्धं भिक्षुभिरेव च
[63]
A wise man should never consult
king’s followers, flatterers, mean-minded people,
barbers, young boys and mendicants.
Moreover the maintaining the kingdom involves incessant
problems. You have to think always about strategies like alliance, battle,
escape, seeking shelter, deceit and keep worrying. There is no actual joy in
those things.
Because-
यदैव राज्ये क्रियतेsभिषेकस्तदैव याति व्यसनेषु
बुद्धिः
घटा नृपाणामभिषेककाले सहाsम्भसैवापदमुद्गिरन्ति [64]
The very moment
one goes through the consecration ceremony
as the ruler of
the kingdom,
his mind is filled
with worries.
The pot which
pours sacred waters
on the heads of the kings at the consecration
ceremony,
pours also
problems on their heads.
रामस्य व्रजनं
वने निवसनं
पाण्डोः सुतानां
वने
वृष्णीनां निधनं
नलस्य नृपते
राज्यात्परिभ्रंशनं
सौदासं
तदवस्थामर्जुनवधं संचिन्त्य लङ्केश्वरं
दृष्ट्वा राज्यकृतं
विडंबनगतं तस्मान्न तद्वाञ्चयेत् [65]
Rama had to leave for the forest.
Paandu’s sons had to live in the forest.
The Yaadava clan perished.
King Nala was banned out of the kingdom.
King Soudaasa had to enter a Raakshasa womb
cursed by Sage Vasishta.
KaartaVeeryaarjuna was killed by
ParashuRama.
Thinking about all this and observing that
Raavana also had to die in the end,
never should one covet a kingdom.
यदर्थं भ्रातरः
पुत्रा अपि
वाञ्छन्ति ये निजाः
वधं राज्यकृतं
राज्ञां तद्राज्यं
दूरस्त्यजेत् [66]
Since even brothers and sons want to kill the king for want of the
kingdom,
one must cast afar the desire for the kingdom.”
The weaver said-
“You said the right thing. So
tell me what I should ask for.”
She said-
“You make one piece of cloth
daily and sell it. That money gets fully spent in household expenses. If you
ask for another pair of hands and one more head, then you can weave from two
machines kept on two sides- front and back. Since you will make two pieces of
clothes daily, you will earn double the money of what you are earning now. One
half of the earnings can be spent for ordinary household expenses and the other
half can be used in buying special items. We will live an honorable life
praised by our own people. We can be happy here and hereafter.”
The weaver was pleased by her
suggestion.
He said-
“Well said my devoted wife! Well
said! I will do so. That is for sure.”
He went to the demigod and
requested-
“Ho! If you want to give me what
I want, then give me two more hands and another head.”
As soon as he said these words,
he immediately found himself with four hands and two heads. As he walked
towards his home, the villagers saw him and thinking him to be a Raakshasa
(demon), they beat him with clubs and threw stones at him. The poor fellow died
immediately.”
{END OF THE STORY OF MANTHARA, THE WEAVER}
{There are plenty of
Mantharas amongst us too. Just observe what everyone asks for from Gods in
temples. Vivekananda was unable to beg
for any material thing from Goddess Kaali and prayed only for Discrimination
and Dispassion. He was not a Manthara!}
The Gold-gainer continued his talk-
“That is why I say-
यस्य नास्ति
स्वयं प्रज्ञा
मित्रोक्तं न करोति यः
स एव निधनं याति
यथा मन्थरकौलिकः
||
He who no sense of his own,
or he who does not follow the advice of his friend,
dies like the weaver Manthara.”
The wheel bearer said-
“Ho! Yes it is true! Every one gets possessed by the
untrustworthy vampire of desire and gets ridiculed in the end.
Or it is well said by
some one-
अनागतवतीं चिन्तामसंभाव्यां
करोति यः
स एव पाण्डुरः शेते
सोमशर्मपिता यथा [67]
He who worries about things that have not happened or will not happen,
will become white and sleep like the father of Soma Sharma.”
The gold-gainer said-“How is that so?”
The wheel bearer said-
{8}
सोमशर्मपितृकथा
{THE STORY OF
SOMASHARMA’S FATHER}
“In some city there lived a misery Brahmin. He daily brought
home the flour collected through alms. After eating his fill, he stored the
left over flour in a pot. He hung the pot on an elephant’s tusk on the wall;
spread the sleeping mat under it; and kept staring at it till he fell asleep.
One night, his thoughts went astray like this-
“One fine day this pot will be completely filled with flour.
When famine strikes the city, I will sell this for hundred
rupees.
I will buy a pair of goats with that money. As they keep on
producing calves every six months, soon I will own a herd of goats.
Selling them all, I will buy a cow.
Then selling the cows, I will buy a female buffalo.
Then selling the buffaloes, I will buy a female horse.
As they reproduce, I will own many horses.
I will sell them all and earn a lot of gold.
With that gold I will buy a house with four courtyards.
Then some Brahmin will come to my house and offer in
marriage a pretty young girl.
I will soon have a son through her. I will name him as Soma
Sharma.
When he is capable of crawling on the floor, I will go to
the horse stable and sit with a book there, waiting for my son to come to me.
Soma Sharma will see me; get out of his mother’s lap and
will rush towards me crawling along the place where horses are standing.
Then I will shout at that Brahmin lady-“Hey hold back the
child.”
She does not hear my words as she is engaged in household
work.
I will get up and kick her.”
Thus absorbed in the story of his imagination, he kicked out
hard and broke the pot. He was covered by the flour and became white.”
{END OF THE STORY OF SOMA SHARMA’S FATHER}
The Wheel-bearer continued-
“That is why I say-
अनागतवतीं चिन्तामसंभाव्यां
करोति यः
स एव पाण्डुरः शेते
सोमशर्मपिता यथा ||
He who worries about things that have not happened or will not happen,
will become white and sleep like the father of Soma Sharma.”
The Gold-Gainer aid-
“Yes it is so! You are not at fault. Everyone gets destroyed
by greed.
It is said-
यो लौल्यात्कुरुते
कर्म नैवोदर्कमवेक्षते
विडंबनमवाप्नोति स यथा चन्द्रभूपतिः [68]
He who acts with greed without bothering about the consequences,
gets cheated like ChandraBhoopati.”
The wheel-bearer
asked-“How is that so?”
The gold-gainer
said-
{9}
चन्द्रभूपतिकथा
{THE STORY OF KING
CHANDRA}
“In some city there lived a king named Chandra. His son was
fond of playing with monkeys and kept many monkeys as his pets. He fed them
daily varieties of food and took care of them. The leader of the monkey group
had the knowledge taught by Ushanas, Brihaspati, and Chaanakya. He followed
what he had studied and taught them to other monkeys also.
In that palace, there was a group of sheep reared for acting
as vehicles for young children. One of the sheep was very greedy for food.
Whenever it got a chance it ran into the kitchen and ate off the food there, be
it day-time or night-time. The cooks there took whatever came in their hands- a
stick, earthen pot, copper vessel, lead vessel; and threw at it in anger.
The leader of the monkey group observed this and thought-
“Alas! The fight
between the cooks and the goats is going to end up in killing the monkeys.
This sheep is extremely greedy for food and the cooks throw
any thing and everything at it in anger. Suppose if they do not get anything
handy, they might take the burning log of wood from the stove and throw at the
sheep.
Then the wool covering the sheep’s body will catch fire even
by the slightest heat of the wood. It will run madly towards the horse-stable.
The grass spread all around the stable will catch fire. Then the horses will
catch fire.
ShaaliHotra (Horse-expert) has said-“The wounds caused by
fire on the horses will be cured by monkey marrow. And so the monkeys will be
killed. It is sure to happen like this.”
He held a secret meeting of the monkeys and said-
मेषेण सूपकाराणां
कलहो योsत्र
जायते
स भविष्यत्यसन्दिग्धं
वानराणां क्षयावहः [69]
“The fight between the cooks and the sheep that is going on now
will surely end up in the destruction of monkeys.
तस्मात्स्यात्कलहो यत्र गृहे नित्यमकारणः
तद्गृहं जीवितं
वाञ्छन्दूरतः परिवर्जयेत् [70]
Therefore, if a person values his life,
he must keep far from the house where quarrels occur daily for no
reason.
And also-
कलहान्तानि हर्म्याणि
कुवाक्यान्तं च सौहृदम्
कुराजान्तानि राष्ट्राणि
कुकर्मान्तं यशो नृणां [71]
Mansions perish by quarrels.
Friendship perishes by bad words.
Nations perish by a bad ruler.
Fame ends for men by bad actions.
So before everything gets destroyed, let us leave this
palace and go away.”
The other arrogant monkeys did not believe in his advice and
laughed at his words.
They said-
“Ho! You are old and have lost your mind. That is why you
are talking nonsense like this. It is said-
वदनं दशनैर्विहीनं
लाला स्रवति
नित्यशः
न मतिः
स्फुरति क्वापि
बाले वृद्धे
विशेषतः [72]
Mouth is without teeth. Saliva oozes continuously.
Intelligence never makes its appearance in a child; especially in the
old.
Here we enjoy heaven-like pleasures. The princes feed us,
varieties of nectar-like delicacies with their own hands. We are not going to
leave this place; live in a forest and eat fruits which are bitter, sour, salty
and tasteless.”
The old monkey’s eyes were filled with tears as he heard
their rude words.
He said-
“Hey Hey Fools! You
do not know where this happiness is going to end! This pleasure equaling the
sweet taste of a poisonous fruit is going to end up in killing us all like
poison. Therefore I cannot remain here and witness the death of my own kith and
kin.
I will leave for the forest now.
It is said-
मित्रं व्यसनसंप्राप्तं
स्वस्थानं परपीडितं
धन्यास्ते ये
न पश्यन्ति
देशभङ्गं कुलक्षयम् [73]
Those are really blessed indeed who do not witness
a friend in pain, one’s home taken away by another;
one’s country taken over by the enemies;
and the destruction of one’s own family.”
Having said these words, that chief of the monkey clan went
off to the forest.
After he was gone, one day the sheep as usual entered the
kitchen; the cook wanted to throw something at it; but couldn’t get anything;
so he took a half burning stick from the stove; the wool on the sheep’s body
caught fire; it ran out of the kitchen mad in pain; entered the area where the
horse-stables were there.
The sheep rolled on the profusely spread out grass in that
area; all the grass caught fire; and all the stables were in flames. Some
horses died in the fire with busted eyes; some tore away the ropes that bound
them and ran out neighing in pain, with their bodies burning all over; all the
people there ran hither and there anxious, trying to put off the fire.
Meanwhile the king called the veterinary doctors who had
studied the ‘ShaaliHotra Shaastra’ to treat the burns of his horses.
He said to them-
“Ho! Suggest some treatment by which the burnt wounds of the
horses could be healed.”
They browsed through all medical books and said-
“Lord! Revered ShaaliHotra mentions a cure for this.
It is like this-
कपीनां मेदसा
दोषो वह्निदाहसमुद्भवः
अश्वानां नाशमभ्येति
तमः सूर्योदये
यथा [74]
By applying the marrow f the monkeys,
the burn wounds of the horses
will be completely disappear
like the darkness at the rise of the sun.
So get these hoses treated fast before they die of burns.”
The king heard their advice and ordered all the monkeys to
be killed immediately.
What more- all the monkeys were killed by the soldiers using
various weapons like clubs, and stones.
The chief of the monkey clan heard about the death of his
sons, grand children, brother’s sons, nephews and felt very much grieved.
Unable to even consume food because of his grief, he wandered from forest to
forest.
He thought-
“How shall I take revenge on that wicked king who caused the
death of my clan?
It is said-
मर्षयेद्धर्षणां योsत्र वंशजां परनिर्मितां
भयाद्वा यदि
वा कामात्
स ज्ञेयः
पुरुषाधमः [75]
He is to be considered as a worst kind of person,
who forgives the injury done to his family by his enemies,
either by fear or greed.”
As the monkey-chief wandered aimlessly, he felt very thirsty
and searching for water he came across a lotus filled lake. He surveyed the
ground surrounding the lake with his subtle vision and found that there were
foot prints of animals and humans going towards the lake but not returning back
from the lake.
He thought-
“There must be some evil spirit in this lake for sure. I
will use a tubular stalk of the lotus and drink water from a distance only.”
He did so.
Then a demon wearing a necklace made of precious diamonds on
his neck came out from the center of the lake and said-
“HO HO! Whoever enters this water has to be eaten by
me. But you have proved yourself to me the most deceitful person on earth by drinking
water like this. I am pleased with you. Ask for anything you desire for!”
The monkey said-
“Ho! How much can you eat?”
The demon said-
“I can eat hundreds, thousands, ten thousand, lakhs of
people only if they enter the water. But outside this water, I can get defeated
by even a fox.”
The monkey said-
“I have an excessive enmity with a king. Please give me that
necklace worn by you. I will use all by my oratory power and get the king with
the whole of his army here, for you to eat.”
The demon trusted the monkey’s words and gave him the
diamond necklace.
He said-“Ho Friend! What you feel right do that.”
The monkey wore that necklace on his neck and went to the
palace of the king. He jumped about everywhere in the garden and palace roofs
with the necklace dangling on his neck. Soon the soldiers saw him and asked-
“Hey chief! Where were you all this time? Where did you get
this necklace? Its shine puts the sun to shame.”
The monkey said-
“In some forest there is a lake in a secret place built by Kubera,
the richest God.
If anybody takes a bath in those waters when the Sun is just
rising, then he will come out of the lake adorned by such a necklace by the
grace of Lord Kubera.”
The king heard about this and asked the monkey-chief-
“Hey Monkey-Chief! Is it true that there is a lake which
gives diamond necklaces?”
The monkey said-
“Master! See the necklace hanging on my neck. Is it not
enough proof for what I say?
If you need necklaces, send anybody with me. I will show him
the lake.”
The king felt pleased by what the monkey said.
He said-
“If that is the case, I myself will come with you along with
all my people. Then I will be able to get plenty of necklaces.”
The monkey said-
“Then do whatever you want.”
It was done so.
Greedy for necklaces, all the wives and servants accompanied
the king. The monkey sat on the lap of the king inside the palanquin and
comfortably made the journey to the lake.
Or it is rightly said-
तृष्णे देवी
नमस्तुभ्यं यया वित्ताsन्विताsपि
अकृत्येषु नियोज्यन्ते
भ्राम्यन्ते दुर्गमेष्वपि [76]
O Goddess Desire! Salutations!
Because of you, even the very rich engage themselves in wrong actions,
and get stuck in difficulties.
And also-
इच्छति शती
सहस्रं सहस्री
लक्षमीहते
लक्षाधिपस्तथा राज्यं
राज्यस्थः स्वर्गमीहते [77]
One with hundred, desires a thousand; one with the thousand, desires a
lakh.
A lakhier desires a kingdom.
One who owns the kingdom, desires the ruler-ship of the heaven.
जीर्यन्ते जीर्यतः
केशाः दन्ता
जीर्यन्ति जीर्यतः
जीर्यतः चक्षुषी
श्रोत्रे तृष्णैका
तरुणायते [78]
When one becomes old, the hairs grow old;
the teeth grow old; the eyes grow old;
the ears grow old.
But only the desire remains young.
After reaching the lake, in the early morning the monkey
said to the king-
“Lord! When the Sun is half-risen, whoever enters the lake
gets what they came for. Therefore all of you must enter the lake simultaneously.
You come along with me.
I will take you a place I saw before where there are plenty
of diamond necklaces.”
All the people entered the lake together and were eaten by
the demon.
When none of them came out of the lake, the king asked the
monkey-
“Hey Monkey-chief! Why are my servants delayed?”
The monkey immediately climbed the tree and said to the
king-
“Hey you wicked king! The demon living inside the waters of
the lake has eaten all your people. I have avenged you for the death of my
people.
Go away now!
Because you were my Master once, I spared your life.
It is said-
कृते प्रतिकृतं कुर्याद्धिंसिते प्रतिहिम्सितं
न तत्र दोषं पश्यामि यो दुष्टे दुष्टमाचरेत् [79]
If harmed, one should avenge the
act.
If hurt, hurt the one who caused it.
I do not see anything wrong in this.
A bad person needs to be badly dealt
with.
You killed all my
people. I killed all of yours.”
The king became angry by
hearing the monkey’s words and unable to do anything walked back alone to his
palace.
After he was gone, the
demon came out of the water and feeling very happy said to the monkey-
हतः शत्रुः कृतं मित्रं रत्नमाला न हारिता
नालेन पिबता तोयं भवता साधु वानर [80]
“The
enemy was destroyed; you have made me your friend;
the diamond necklace was not lost;
and you
drank the water through the lotus stalk.
Well
done Monkey!”
{END OF THE STORY OF KING CHANDRA}
That is why I say-
यो लौल्यात्कुरुते
कर्म नैवोदर्कमवेक्षते
विडंबनमवाप्नोति स यथा चन्द्रभूपतिः ||
“He who acts with greed without bothering about the consequences,
gets cheated like ChandraBhoopati.”
After relating this story, again the gold-gainer said to the
wheel-bearer,
“Hey Friend! Bid me farewell. I will return home now.”
The wheel-bearer said-
“O Good one! When in difficulties, money and friends prove
more valuable.
Where do you go leaving me in this condition?
It is said-
यस्त्यक्त्वा सापदं मित्रं याति निष्टुरतां
वहन्
कृतघ्नस्तेन पापेन नरके यात्यसंशयं [81]
He who
ignores a friend in trouble, without any mercy,
is
indeed an ungrateful wretch and deserves the hell for sure.”
The gold-gainer said-
“Ho! If I was really strong enough to stay here, I would have surely done
so. But this place is not fit for humans to live. No one can free you out of
this wheel now. Moreover, as I keep observing your face contorting with pain, I
feel apprehensive lest the same fate befall me.
Because-
यादृशी वदनाच्छाया दृश्यते तव वानर
विकालेन गृहीतोsसि यः परैति स जीवति [82]
Hey monkey, observing the faded face of yours,
I guess you are possessed by the Vikaala.
One who runs away only can save his life.”
The wheel-bearer asked-“How is that so?”
The gold-gainer said-
{10}
विकालवानरकथा
{THE STORY OF VIKAALA
AND MONKEY}
“In some country there lived a king named BhadraSena. He had
a daughter named Ratnaavatee. One demon wanted to have her company. Daily he
came at night and enjoyed her. But as she was protected by magical symbols he was
not able to steal her away. The princess knew his invisible presence by her
body’s shaking and shivering.
As time went by, one day the demon came to her room and
stood quietly in one corner.
The princess was conversing with her maid and said-
“Friend! Look! This Vikaala (ugly wretch) daily comes at
night and harasses me.
Is there no way to stop that wicked demon?”
The stupid demon thought that she was referring some other
person named Vikaala and he said to himself-
“Like me, some other person named Vikaala must be coming
here to kidnap her and proving unsuccessful. I will take the form of a horse
and hide amongst horses and wait for him. Then I will be able to find out how
he looks and how strong he is.”
The demon changed himself into a horse and hid among horses.
Meanwhile, at mid-night a thief entered the palace. He came
to the stable, checked all the horses and at last sat on the horse which was
the demon in disguise.
The demon thought-
“This must be the Vikaala mentioned by the princes. He knows
I am trying to kidnap her and has come to kill me. So what shall I do?”
The thief saddled him and beat him with the whip. The demon
was frightened and started running madly.
After some distance, the thief tried to pull the reins and
stop the horse. But the horse increased its speed. When the horse did not stop
when pulled by the reins the thief got worried. He thought-
“Alas! Usually horses can be stopped like this. But this
horse acts differently. Surely it must be a demon in disguise. If it crosses
some sandy land, I will jump out of it before I get harmed. Or there is no hope
of remaining alive.”
The thief was praying to all the gods he knew of and luckily
for him, the horse passed under a tree. He immediately grabbed the branch of
the tree; climbed up and hid there. Both of them thought they had escaped the
danger from the other and were happy.
On that tree a monkey who was the friend of the demon lived.
He saw the exhausted demon and asked-
“Hey friend? What makes you run like this? What need is
there for you to be afraid of anything?
A man should be eaten by you. Go eat him.”
He accepted the monkey’s advice, became his original self
and slowly moved apprehensive and doubtful towards the tree.
The thief understood the monkey to be the cause of the demon
coming back. He got angry; bit the monkey’s tail which was hanging near him.
The monkey thought that he was stronger than the demon and
kept silent without screaming. The demon saw his pained expression on the face
and said-
यादृशी वदनाच्छाया दृश्यते तव वानर
विकालेन गृहीतोsसि यः परैति स जीवति ||
“Hey monkey, observing the faded face of yours,
I guess you are possessed by the Vikaala.
One who runs away only can save his life.”
He ran away from there as fast as he could.”
{END OF THE STORY OF VIKAALA AND THE MONKEY}
The gold gainer continued-
“So let me go home. Bid me farewell. You can stay here and
enjoy the fruit of your greed-tree.”
The wheel-bearer said-
“The good and bad happen to men through destiny; and not by
any particular reason.
It is said-
दुर्गस्त्रिकूट: परिखा समुद्रो रक्षांसि योधा धनदाच्च वित्तं
शास्त्रं च यस्योशनसा प्रणीतं स रावणो दैववशाद्विपन्नः [83]
A fort with three peaks, the ocean as the moat; demons as the soldiers;
wealth from Kubera; advice given by Ushanas (Shukra);
(though he had all this),
that Raavana died because of fate.
And also-
अन्धकः कुब्जकश्चैव त्रिस्तनी राजकन्यका
त्रयोsप्यन्यायतः सिद्धाः संमुखे कर्मणि स्थिते [84]
The blind man, the dwarf, the princess with three breasts all had done
wrong things.
But all got their wishes fulfilled due to fate.”
The gold-gainer said-“How is that so?”
The wheel-bearer said-
{11}
अन्धककुब्जकत्रिस्तनीकथा
{THE STORY OF THE
BLINDMAN, DWARF
AND THE
THREE-BREASTED GIRL}
“In the northern region there is a city called MadhuPura. A
king named MadhuSena was the ruler there. He enjoyed all the pleasures
befitting his status and he got a daughter with three breasts. The king heard
about this and told his guards to leave the child in some far away forest
unknown to anybody.
The guards said to him-
“O king! A tri-breasted girl usually brings bad luck. Even
then, it is better to take the advice of the Brahmins so that no de-merit
occurs.
Because-
यः सततं परिपृच्छति शृणोति संधारयत्यनिशं
तस्य दिवाकरकिरणैर्नलिनीव विवर्द्धते बुद्धिः [85]
For him
who questions, listens and thinks,
his
intellect blossoms like the lotus by sunrays.
And also-
पृच्छकेन सदा भाव्यं पुरुषेण विजानता
राक्षसेन्द्रगृहीतोsपि प्रश्नान्मुक्तो द्विजः पुरा [86]
Though a man knows everything, he should not stop asking questions.
The Brahmin though was caught by the demon king,
got his freedom through asking
questions.”
The king asked-“How is that so?”
They said-
{12}
राक्षसगृहीतब्राह्मणकथा
{THE STORY OF THE
BRAHMIN CAUGHT BY THE DEMON}
“Lord! In some country there lived a demon named ChandaKarma
(a person who does terrifying acts).
As he was once wandering in the forest, he met a Brahmin. He
immediately sat on the shoulders of the Brahmin and said-
“Hey Brahmin! Move on.”
The Brahmin was terrified and walked carrying the demon on
his shoulders.
Then the Brahmin saw the lotus-like soft feet of the demon and
asked him-
“Ho! Why are your feet so soft?”
The demon said-
“Ho! I have taken a Vow. I will not step on the ground with
wet feet.”
The Brahmin remained silent thinking of ways to escape and
soon he came across a lake. Then the demon said-
“Hey! I will finish
my bath and religious rituals and return. Wait for me here without moving.”
He went away to take bath.
The Brahmin thought-
“After completing his rituals, he is going to eat me for
sure. I will run away now as he cannot chase me with his wet feet.”
He ran away. The demon could not chase him because of his
vow.”
{END OF THE STORY OF THE BRAHMIN CAUGHT BY THE DEMON}
That is why we say-
पृच्छकेन सदा भाव्यं पुरुषेण विजानता
राक्षसेन्द्रगृहीतोsपि प्रश्नान्मुक्तो द्विजः पुरा ||
“Though a man knows everything, he should not stop asking questions.
The Brahmin though was caught by the demon king,
got his freedom through asking
questions.”
The king accepted their advice and called for the Brahmins.
He asked them-
“Hey Brahmins! I have got a daughter with three breasts. Is
there any way to alleviate the bad luck it brings about or not?”
They said-
हीनाङ्गी वाधिकाsङ्गी वा या भवेत्कन्यका नृणां
भर्तुः स्यात्सा विनाशाय स्वशीलनिधनाय च [87]
A
handicapped girl, or a girl who has more limbs,
surely will bring destruction to her husband
and loses her character too.
या पुनस्त्रिस्तनी कन्या याति लोचनगोचरं
पितरं नाशयत्येव सा द्रुतं नाsत्र संशयः [88]
If a tri-breasted girl is seen, she will bring destruction to her
father.
There is no doubt about it.
So, Lord should avoid seeing her at any cost. If anyone
wants to marry her, then give her to him and get them both out of this country.
Then you will not be doing a de-meritorious act.”
The king agreed to their words.
He sent messengers all over the country and got them to
announce to the accompaniment of the drum-sound-“Aho! He who is ready to marry
the princess will be given one lakh gold coins and has to leave this country
along with her.”
A long time elapsed after the announcement. Yet no one was
ready to marry her.
She was now in her youthful state and was kept in a secret
place, well-protected by guards.
There was a blind man in that city. A dwarf (a man whose
limbs had become crooked and who had become dwarf-like) named Mantharaka
(Stupid) walked in front of him holding his stick for him and guiding him along
the paths. Both of them heard what the king’s men announced. They discussed
between them like this-
“If somehow we manage to get the girl, then we will get the
gold as a reward and we can lead a happy life.
If we are going to die because of the bad luck associated
with her, then that should be deemed as our good fortune, as we will be free of
this wretched poverty-stricken life once for all.
It is said-
लज्जा स्नेहः स्वरमधुरता बुद्धयो यौवनश्री:
कान्तासङ्गः स्वजनममता दुःखहानिर्विलासः
धर्मः शास्त्रं सुरगुरुमतिः शौचमाचारचिन्ता
पूर्णे सर्वं जठरपिठरे प्राणिनां संभवन्ति [89]
Timidity, affection, soft voice, intelligence, the handsomeness of
youth,
company of a woman, love of the relatives, freedom from suffering,
joyous life, righteous
character, scriptural knowledge,
reverence for the elders and
gods, cleanliness, proper behavior,
all these get fixed for the men when they live in the belly-pot.”
The blind man said these words and immediately approached
the drummer.
He said-“Ho! I will marry the girl, if the king gives me the
girl.”
The king’s men reported this to the king.
They said-
“Lord! A blind man has told the drummer that he will accept
the girl.
Whatever his Highness deems fit!”
The king said-
अन्धो वा बधिरो वाsपि कुष्टी वाप्यन्त्यजोsपि वा
प्रतिगृह्णातु तां कन्यां सलक्षां स्याद्विदेशगः [90]
Be he blind, or deaf or suffering from leprosy or a man of low caste,
let him take the girl along with the reward of money and get out of
this country.”
As per the king’s order, the king’s men took the blind man
to a river bank; married him off to the girl; gave him the promised money; put
him on a boat with the girl. They said to the boatmen-
“Ho! Take this blind man and the dwarf along with the girl
to some far off place and release them.”
The boatmen did likewise.
In some unknown country, the princess, the blind man and the
dwarf bought a house with that money and lived happily there.
The blind man spent all his time on the bed sleeping and
Mantharaka did all the housework. As time went by the princess felt attracted
by the dwarf and they both had an affair.
It is rightly said-
यदि स्याच्छीतलो वह्निश्चन्द्रमा दहनात्मकः
सुस्वादुः सागरः स्त्रीणां तत्सतीत्वं प्रजायते [91]
If the
fire could be cold, if the moon could burn,
if the
ocean waters could be sweet,
a woman
can said to be of good character.
One day the tri-breasted princess told Mantharaka-
“Hey good one! Let us somehow get this blind man killed. Then we both can
live together happily. So bring some poison from somewhere. I will kill him and
become happy.”
As the dwarf went in search of the poison, he found a dead black serpent on
the road.
He was pleased by his luck; took it to the princess and said to her-
“O good lady! I got this black
serpent. Cut this into pieces; cook it well adding spices and ginger. Fish is
his favorite food; give it to him saying that it is cooked fish; he will die as
soon as he eats it.”
Mantharaka gave her the proper instructions and went out.
The princess cut the snake into fine pieces; put them inside a vessel with
all ingredients on the fire. As she had some house work to attend to, she told
the blind man-
“AaryaPutra!
Today I got you fish from the market. You always keep asking
for it. I have kept it on the fire to cook it. As I have some urgent house
work, please keep stirring the pot with the spoon, till I come.”
The blind man licked his lips in anticipation of his
favorite food; brought a spoon and started stirring the pot with the
snake-meat.
As he was mashing the snake meat, blue smoke from the poison
of the meat rose up and burnt his eyes. His eyes started to water profusely. As
it felt soothing, the blind man allowed the smoke to burn his eyes.
Suddenly his blindness was gone and he was able to see. He
saw the pot filled with black serpent pieces. Then he thought-“Aha! What is
this? She told me it was fish-meat; but this is snake-meat! I will have to find out who was behind this
evil plan of murdering me, the dwarf or the tri-breasted girl, or some other
outsider.”
He hid the fact that he had lost his blindness and remained
acting like a blind person only. The princess was busy in her house work.
Meanwhile the dwarf came back and both he and the girl embraced
each other passionately and enjoyed each other’s company. The blind man was
highly enraged. He searched for some weapon to hit them. As he could not find
anything handy, he held the feet of the dwarf in his hand; lifted him high like
a stick; turned him round and round; and hit him on the chest of the girl
angrily like hitting with a club.
By this her third breast disappeared inside her chest.
Because of getting rotated like this, the dwarf with his bent body got
straightened up and became like a normal person.”
{END OF THE STORY OF THE BLIND MAN, DWARF AND THE
PRINCESS}
The wheel-bearer said-
“That is why I say-
अन्धकः कुब्जकश्चैव त्रिस्तनी राजकन्यका
त्रयोsप्यन्यायतः सिद्धाः संमुखे कर्मणि स्थिते ||
The blind man, the dwarf, the princess with three breasts all had done
wrong things.
But all got their wishes fulfilled due to fate.”
The gold gainer said-
“Hey! It is true! If fate favors any one, all the good
things happen to him. Even then, a man should only do what the noble men
advice. He should not do as he likes. If he does like that, he will end up in
difficulties like you.
And also-
एकोदराः पृथग्ग्रीवा अन्योन्यफलभक्षिणः
असंहता विनश्यन्ति भारुण्डा इव पक्षिणः [92]
Having a single belly and two necks
the Bhaarunda birds perish
arguing against each other
and each desiring a different object.”
The wheel-bearer asked-“How is that so?”
The gold-gainer said-
{12}
भारुण्डपक्षिकथा
{THE STORY OF THE
BHAARUNDA BIRD}
“In some lake there lived a bird named Bhaarunda. He had one
stomach, and two necks.
One day as he was wandering on the ocean beach, he found a
fruit tasting like nectar, thrown on the beach by the waves. He ate it and
thought-
“Aha! I have so far eaten many fruits tasting like nectar in
the past. But this type of fruit has never tasted by me before. Wonder where it
came from? Would it be from a tree in the heaven, or fate has chanced it to
fall in front of me producing it magically?”
As he said this, the second face said-
“Ho! If it is so tasty, give me also a little of it. I also
want to taste it”
Then the first face laughed aloud and said-
“We both have the same stomach. Then why should we eat it
separately? I will give whatever is left over to my wife and please her.”
So, he gave the left over fruit to the female bird. She
tasted it and felt extremely happy. She immediately showed her affection for
that face by embracing; kissing etc. The other face was very much annoyed and
remained depressed from then onwards.
Next day, the second face found a poisonous fruit.
He said to the other one-
“Hey you cruel one! Hey you wretched one! Hey hated one! I
got a poisonous fruit.
You insulted me the other day. I am going to take revenge on
you today by eating it.”
The other face said-
“Fool! Do not do like that! If you do so, we both will die.”
The second face did not heed his words and ate off that
fruit.
What more to say?
Both of them died.”
{END OF THE STORY OF THE BHAARUNDA BIRD}
“That is why I say-
एकोदराः पृथग्ग्रीवा अन्योन्यफलभक्षिणः
असंहता विनश्यन्ति भारुण्डा इव पक्षिणः ||
Having a single belly and two necks
the Bhaarunda birds perish
arguing against each other
and each desiring a different object.”
The wheel-bearer said-“It is true! Go home now. But do not
go alone.
It is said-
एकः साधु न भुञ्जीत नैकः सुप्तेषु जागृयात्
एको न गच्छेदध्वानं नैकश्चार्थान्प्रचिन्तयेत् [93]
A good man should not eat alone.
One should not wake up a sleeping
person.
One should not go alone in a
journey.
One should not think about important
issues alone.
And also-
अपि कापुरुषो मार्गे द्वितीयः क्षेमकारकः
कर्कटेन द्वितीयेन जीवितं परिरक्षितं [94]
Even if
a worthless person accompanies one in a journey it will be helpful.
The crab
which accompanied the Brahmin saved his life.”
The gold-gainer asked-“How is that so?”
The wheel-bearer said-
{13}
ब्राह्मणकर्कटककथा
{THE STORY OF THE BRAHMIN AND THE CRAB}
“In some village there
lived a Brahmin named BrahmaDatta. One day he had to go to another village on
some work. Then his mother said to him- “Son! Why are you going alone? Search
for some one who can go with you and help along the journey.”
He said-“Mother! Do not
fear! The path I am going through is quite safe. I have some work urgently. I
have to travel alone.”
His mother heard his
decision; looked for something around; found a crab; gave to him saying-“Son!
If you have to take this journey for sure, then take this crab as your help.
Please carry it along with you.”
He took the crab as per
her advice; put it inside a small camphor box; put that into his bag and
started on his trip immediately.
After walking for a
while, the Brahmin got tired by the heat and slept under a tree on the road.
Meanwhile, a snake came out of the hollow of the tree and came near him.
Feeling greedy for some food, it ate off the camphor box kept inside the bag.
The crab came out immediately; bit the snake and killed it. The Brahmin woke
up; saw the dead snake and the opened camphor box. He understood that the snake
had been killed by the crab.
He was pleased and said –
“Ho! My mother said the
right thing when she said that a person should always have someone to help in
the journey, and never should one travel alone.
I trusted her words and
did what she said. Now this crab has killed the snake and saved my life.
Or it is well said-
क्षीणः श्रयति शशी रविमृद्धो वर्धयति पयसां नाथं
अन्ये विपदि सहाया धनिनां श्रियमनुभवन्त्यन्ये [95]
When diminished,
the moon takes shelter in the sun.
When
full, he sports with the ocean.
Some one
helps when in trouble; some other one enjoys the glory.
मन्त्रे तीर्थे द्विजे देवे दैवज्ञे भेषजे गुरौ
यादृशी भावना यस्य सिद्धिर्भवति तादृशी [96]
Whatever attitude one has towards
the magical chants; holy resorts; Brahmins; devotees; doctors; teachers;
the success also occurs the same way.”
Having recited
these verses, the Brahmin continued his journey.”
The wheel-bearer finished
the story.
“That is why I say-
अपि कापुरुषो मार्गे द्वितीयः क्षेमकारकः
कर्कटेन द्वितीयेन जीवितं परिरक्षितं ||
Even if
a worthless person accompanies one in a journey it will be helpful.
The crab
which accompanied the Brahmin saved his life.”
{END OF THE STORY OF THE BRAHMIN
AND THE CRAB}
The gold-gainer went home
taking leave of his friend.
(The wheel-bearer stood
there suffering alone in the wilderness regretting his greedy nature.)”
{END
OF THE STORY OF THE GREEDY WHEEL-BEARER}
The Brahmin lady ended
her story:
Therefore-
अतिलोभो न कर्तव्यो लोभं नैव परित्यजेत्
अतिलोभाभिभूतस्य चक्रं भ्रमति मस्तके ||
“One should not be too greedy; nor should one be not greedy also.
The wheel rotates on the head of
a person who is extremely greedy.”
{The
Brahmin apologized for leaving the child alone in the house.
The lady till death suffered the guilt of her hasty
action in killing the innocent mongoose.}
{END
OF THE STORY OF THE BRAHMIN COUPLE}
The judges ended
the story:
Therefore-
अपरीक्ष्य न कर्तव्यं कर्तव्यं सुपरीक्षितं
पश्चाद्भवति संतापो ब्राह्मण्या नकुले यथा ||
“One should always analyze well before an action is performed.
Never should one do anything without proper analysis.
Otherwise one has to regret his action
like the Brahmin lady regretted her act towards the mongoose.”
{ManiBhadra
went home and lived as a devotee of Jina and served the mendicants all through
his life.}
{END
OF THE STORY OF THE BARBER}
Therefore-
कुदृष्टं कुपरिज्ञातं
कुश्रुतं कुपरीक्षितं
तन्नरेण न
कर्तव्यं नापितेनाsत्र
यत्कृतं ||
Never should a man do what the
barber did
without seeing properly,
without understanding properly,
without listening properly,
without analyzing properly.
END
इति महामहोपाध्याय श्री विष्णुशर्मविरचिते
पञ्चतन्त्रे
अपरीक्षितकारकं नाम पञ्चमं
तन्त्रं समाप्तं II
THUS ENDS THE FIFTH TANTRA
APAREEKSHITA-KAARAKAM
IN THE TEXT
PANCHATANTRA
AUTHORED BY THE EXCELLENT TEACHER
SHREE VISHNUSHARMA
इति पञ्चतन्त्रकं नाम राजनीतिशास्त्रं समाप्तं
HEREIN ENDS
THE SCIENCE OF
ADMINISTRATION
NAMED
PANCHATANTRA
I wish Sanskrit text was provided for the prose too (not just the verses)
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