BOOK I
THE LOSS OF FRIENDS
Here then begins Book I, called “The Loss of
Friends." The first verse runs:
The forest lion and the bull
Were linked in friendship, growing, foil;
A jackal then estranged the friends
For greedy and malicious ends.
And this is how it happened.
In the southern country was a city called Maidens Delight. It rivaled the city of heaven’s King, so abounding in every urban excellence as to form the central jewel of Earth’s diadem. Its contour was like that of Kailasa Peak. Its gates and palaces were stocked with machines, missile weapons, and chariots in great variety. Its central portal, massive as Indra- kila Mountain, was fitted with bolt and bar, panel and arch, ail formidable, impressive, solid. Its numerous temples lifted their firm bulk near spacious squares and crossings, it wore a moat-girdled zone of walls that recalled the high-uplifted Himalayas.
In this city lived a merchant named Increase. He possessed a heap of numerous virtues, and a heap of money, a result of the accumulation of merit in earlier lives.
As he once pondered in the dead of night his conclusions took this form; ‘Even an abundant store of wealth, if pecked at sinks together like a pile of soot, A very little, if added to grows like an ant-hill
Hence, even though money be abundant, it should be increased. Riches unearned should ho earned. What is earned should be guarded. What is guarded, should be enlarged and heed fully invested Money even if hoarded in commonplace fashion is likely to go in a flash, the hindrances being many. Money unemployed when opportunities arise is the same as money unpossessed.
Therefore money once acquired should be guarded increased employed. As the proverb says:
Release the money you have earned; So keep it safely still:
The surplus water of a tank. Must find a way to spill.
Wild elephants are caught by tame;
With capita) it is the same:
In business beggars have no scope
Whose stock-in-trade is empty hope.
If any fail to use his fate
For joy in this or future state
His riches serve as foolish fetters;
He simply keeps them for his betters.”
Having thus set his mind in order he collected merchandise bound for the city of Mathura assembled his servants and after saying farewell to his parents when autism and lunar station were auspicious, set forth from the city, with his people following and with blare of conch-shell and beat of drum preceding. At the first water he bade his friends turn back, while he proceeded.
To bear the yoke he had two bulls of good omen.
Their names were Joyful and Lively; they looked like white clouds, and their chests were girded with golden bells.
Presently he reached a forest lovely with grisleas, acacias, dhaks, and sals, densely planted with other trees of charming aspect; fearsome with elephants, wild oxen, buffaloes, deer, grunting-cows, boars, tigers, leopards, and bears; abounding in water that issued from the flanks of mountains; rich in caves and thickets.
Here the bull Lively was overcome, partly by the excessive weight of the wagon, partly because one foot sank helpless where far-flung water from cascades made a muddy spot. At this spot the bull somehow snapped the yoke and sank in a heap. When the driver saw that he was down, he jumped excitedly from the wagon, ran to the merchant not far away, and humbly bowing, said: ‘'Oh, my lord! Lively was wearied by the trip, and sank in the mud."
On hearing this, merchant Increase was deeply dejected. He halted for five nights, but when the poor bull did not return to health, he left caretakers with a supply of fodder, and said: “You must join me later, bringing Lively, if he lives; if he dies, after performing the last sad rites." Having given these directions, he started for his destination.
On the next day, the men, fearing the many drawbacks of the forest, started also and made a false report to their master. "Poor Lively died,” they said, "and we performed the last sad rites with fire and everything else." And the merchant, feeling grieved for a mere moment, out of gratitude performed a ceremony that included rites for the departed, then journeyed without hindrance to Mathura.
In the meantime. Lively, since his fate willed it and further life was predestined, hobbled step by step to the bank of the Jumna, his body invigorated by a mist of spray from the cascades. There he browsed on the emerald tips of grass-blades, and in a few days grew plump as Shiva's bull, high-humped, and full of energy. Every day he tore the tops of anthills with goring horns, and frisked like an elephant.
But one day a lion named Rusty, with a retinue of all kinds of animals, came down to the bank of the Jumna for water. There he heard Lively's prodigious bellow. The sound troubled his heart exceedingly, but he concealed his inner feelings while beneath a spreading banyan tree he drew up his company in what is called the Circle of Four.
Now the divisions of the Circle of Four are given as: (1) the lion, (2) the lion's guard, (3) the understrappers , (4) the menials. In all cities, capitals, towns, hamlets, market-centers, settlements, border posts, I an d-gran ts, mon asterism, and communities there is just one occupant of the lion's post- Relatively few are active as the lion's guard. The understrappers are the indiscriminate throng. The mentals are posted on the outskirts The three cases are each divided into members high, middle, and low.
Now Rusty, with counselors and intimates, enjoyed a kingship of the following order. His royal office, though lacking the pomp of umbrella, fly flap, fan, vehicle, and amorous display p was held erect by sheer pride in the sentiment of unaffected pluck. It showed unbroken haughtiness and abounding self-esteem It manifested a native zeal for unchecked power that brooked no rival 11 was ignorance t of cringing speech, which ii delegated to those who like that sort of thing. It functioned by means of impatience, wrath, haste, and hauteur. Its manly goal was fearlessness, disdaining fawning, strange to obsequiousness, unalarmed. It made use of no wheedling artifices, but glittered in its reliance on enterprise, valor, dignity. It was independent, unattached, free from selfish worry. It advertised the reward of manliness by its pleasure in benefiting others- It was unconquered, free from constraint and meanness, while it had no thought of elaborating defensive works. It kept no account of revenue and expenditure It knew no deviousness nor time-serving, but was prickly with the energy earned by loftiness of spirit- It wasted no deliberation on the conventional six expedients, nor did it hoard weapons or jewelry. It had an uncommon appetite for power, never adopted subterfuges, was never an object of suspicion. It paid no heed to wives or ambush-layers, to their torrents of tears or their squeals. It was without reproach. It had no artificial training in the use of weapons, but it did not disappoint expectations. It found satisfactory food and shelter without dependence on servants It had no timidity about any foreign forest, and no alarms, Its head was high. As the proverb says:
The lion needs, in forest station,
No trappings and no education.
But lonely power and pride:
And all the song his subjects sing.
Is in the words: if O King! O King!"
No epithet beside.
And again:
The lion needs, for his appointing,
No ceremony, no anointing:
His deeds of heroism bring
Him fortune. Nature crowns him king.
The elephant is the lion’s meat,
With drops of trickling ichor sweet:
Though tack thereof should come to pass,
The lion does not nibble grass.
Now Rusty had in his train two jackals, sons of counselors, but out of a job. Their names were Cheek and Victor. These two conferred secretly, and Victor said: "My dear Cheek, just look at our master Rusty.
He came this way for water. For what reason does he crouch here so disconsolate ?” "Why meddle, my dear fellow?" said Cheek. "There is a saying:
Death pursues the meddling flunkey:
Note the wedge-extracting monkey."
"How was that?” asked Victor. And Cheek told the story of
THE WEDGE-PULLING MONKEY
There was a city in a certain region. In a grove / near by, a merchant was having a temple built. Each day at the noon hour the foreman and workers would go to the city for lunch.
Now one day a troop of monkeys came upon the half-built temple. There lay a tremendous anjana-log, which a mechanic had begun to split, a wedge of acacia-wood being thrust in at the top.
There the monkeys began their playful frolics upon tree-top, lofty roof, and woodpile. Then one of them, whose doom was near, thoughtlessly bestrode the log, thinking: "Who stuck a wedge in this queer place?" So he seized it with both hands and started to work it loose. Now what happened when the wedge gave at the spot where his private parts entered the cleft, that, sir, you know without being told.
“And that is why I say that meddling should be avoided by the intelligent. And you know, he continued, "that we two pick up a fair living just from his leavings."
"But," said Victor, “how can you give first-rate service merely' from a desire for food with no desire for distinction ? There is wisdom m the saying;
In hurting foes and helping friends
The wise perceive the proper ends
Of serving kings. The belly's call
To answer, is no job at all.
And again:
When many lives on one depend.
Then life is life indeed:
A crow, with beak equipped, can fill
His belly's selfish need.
If loving kindness be not shown
To friends and souls in pain,
To teachers, servants, and one's self,
What use in life, what gain?
A crow will live for many years
And eat the offered grain,
A dog is quite contented if
He gets a meatless bone,
A dirty thing with grisde-strings
And manow-fat alone—
And not enough of it at that
To still his belly's moan.
The lion scorns the jackal, though
Between his paws, to smite
The elephant. For everyone.
However sad his plight,
Demands the recompense that he
Esteems his native right.
Dogs wag their tails and fawn and roll,
Bare mouth and belly, at your feet:
Buil-drpbants show self-esteem
Demand much coaxing ere they eat
A tiny rill
Is quick to fill.
And quick a mouse's paws
So seedy men
Arc grateful, when
There is but little cause
For if there be no mind
Debating good and ill,
And if religion send
No challenge to the will.
If only greed be there
For some material fears,
How draw a line between
The man-beast and the beast?
Or more accurately yet:
Since cattle draw the plow
Through rough and level soil
And bend their patient neck
To heavy wagons toil,
Are kind, of sinless birth,
And find in grass a feast,
How can they be compared
With any human beast ?
But at present/' said Cheek, "we two hold no job at court. So why meddle? "My dear fellow," said Victor, "after a little the jobless man does hold a job. As the saying goes:
The jobless man is hired
For careful serving;
The holder may be fired.
If undeserving.
No character moves up or down
At others' smile or others' frown;
But honor or contempt on earth
With follow conduct's inner worth.
And once more;
it costs an effort still
To carry stones uphill;
They tumble in a trice:
So virtue, and so vice,”
"Well," said Cheek, "what do you wish to imply? And Victor answered: "You see, our master is frightened, his servants are frightened, and he does not know what to do.” "How can you be sure of chat?" asked Cheek, and Victor said: "Isn't it plain?
An ox can understand, of course,
The spoken word; a driven horse
or elephant, exerts his force;
But men of wisdom can infer
Unuttered thought from features" site^-
For wit rewards its worshiper.
And again:
From feature, gesture, gait.
From twitch, or word.
From change in eye or face
Is thought inferred-
So by virtue of native intelligence I intend to get Kim into my power this very day,"
"Why" said Check, "you do not know how to make yourself useful to a superior. So tell me. How can you establish power over him ?"
"And why, my good fellow, do I not know how to make myself useful?" said Victor. "The saintly poet Vyasa has sung the entry of the Pandu princes into Virata's court. From his poem I learned the whole duty of a functionary. You have heard the proverb:
No burden enervates the strong;
To enterprise no road is long;
The well-informed all countries range;
To flatterers no man is strange."
बलवान को कोई बोझ नहीं देता;
उद्यम करने के लिए कोई भी सड़क लंबी नहीं होती;
अच्छी तरह से सूचित सभी देशों की सीमा;
चापलूसी करने वालों के लिए कोई भी आदमी अजीब नहीं है।"
But Cheek objected: ,r He might perhaps despise you for forcing yourself into a position that does not belong to you.” "Yes," said Victor, “there is point in that. However, I am also a judge of occasions.
And there are rules, as follows:
The Lord of Learning, speaking to
A false occasion,
Will meet with hatred, and of course
Lack all persuasion,
And again:
The favorite's business comes to be
A sudden source of king’s f/jnaf.
When he is thoughtful, trying scents,
Retiring, or in conference.
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30
And once again :
On hours of talk or squabbling rude.
Of physic, barber, flirting, food,
A gen deman does not intrude-
Let everyone be cautious
In palaces of kings;
And let not students rummage
In their professor's things:
For naughty meddlers suffer
Destruction swift and sure,
Like evening candles* lighted
In houses of the poor.
Or put it this way:
On entering a palace,
Adjust a modest dress;
Go slowly, bowing lowly
In timely humbleness;
And sound the kingly temper,
And kingly whims no less.
Or this way:
Though ignorant and common,
lin worth the honoring,
Men win to royal favor
By standing near the king;
For kings and vines and maidens
To nearest neighbors cling.
And once again:
The servant in his master's face
Discerns the signs of wrath and grace,
And though the master jerk and tack.
The servant slowly mounts his back.
THE LOSS OF FRIENDS
And finally:
The brave, the I earn id, he who wins
To bureaucratic power—
These thrce p alone of all mankind,
Can pluck earths golden flower.
"'Now let me inform you how power is gained by
dancing attendance on a master.
Win the friendly counselors,
To the monarch dear,
Win persuasive speakers; so
Gain the royal ear.
On the undi seeming mob
Tu not wise to toil:
No man reaps a harvest by
Plowing barren soil.
Serve a king of merit, though
Friendless, destitute;
After some delay, you pluck
Long-enduring fruit.
Hate your master, and you fill
Servant's meanest state:
Not discerning whom to serve,
"Tis yourself you hate.
Treat the dowager p the queen,
And the king4o~be,
Chaplain, porter, counselor.
Most obsequiously.
One who seeks the van in fights.
In the palace clings.
In the city walks behind,
Is beloved of kings.
1
J2
THE FANCBATANTRA
One who flatters when addressed;
Does the proper things.
Acts without expressing doubts,
Is beloved of kings*
One, the royal gifts of cash
Prudently who Bings,
Wearing gifts of garments, he
Is beloved of kings-
One who never makes reply
That his master stings,
Never boisterously laughs,
Is beloved of kings.
One who never hearkens to
Queenly whisperings.
In the women** quarters dumb,
Is beloved of kings.
One who, even in distress.
Never boasts and sings
Of his master's favor, he
Is beloved of kings.
One who hates his master's foe,
Loves his friend, and brings
Pain or joy to either one,
Is beloved of kings.
One who never disagrees.
Blames, or pulls the strings
Of intrigue with enemies,
Is beloved of kings.
THE LOSS OF FRIENDS
33
One who finds in battle, peace
Free from questionings
Thinks of eiile ms of home.
Is beloved of kings.
One who thinks of dice as death,
Wine as poison-stings.
Others* wives as statues, he
Is beloved of kings /'
‘‘Well/ 1 said Cheek, u when yon come into his pres¬
ence, what do you intend to say first? Please tell me
that.” And Victor replied;
"Answers, after speech begins.
Further answers breed.
As a seed, with timely rain.
Ripens other seed.
And besides:
A clever servant shows his master
The gleam of triumph or disaster
From good or evil courses springing.
And shows him wit, decision-bringing.
The man possessing such a wit
Should magnify and foster it;
Thereby he earns a livelihood
And public honor from the good.
And there is a saying;
Let anyone who docs not seek
His master's fall, unbidden speak;
So act at least the excellent:
The other kind are different/"
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THE PANCHATANTRA
"But,” said Cheek, "kings are hard to conciliate-
There is a saying:
In sensuous coil
A nd heart less toil.
In sinuous course
And armored force.
In savage harms
That yield to charms—
In all these things
Ale snakes like kings.
Uneven, rough,
And high enough—
Yet low folk roam
Their hanks as home,
And wild things haunt
Them, hungry, gaunt—
In all these things
Are hills like kings.
The things that daw, and the things that gore
Are unreliable things;
And so is a man with a sword in his hand,
And rivers, and women, and kings/ 1
t4 Quke true,” said Victor, "However;
The devtr man soon penetrates
The subject's mind, and captivates.
Cringe, and flatter him when angry;
Love his friend and hate his foe;
Duly advertise his presents—
Trust no magic—win him so.
And yet;
If a man excel in action,
Learning, fluent word,
THE LOSS OF FRIENDS
35
Make yourself his humble servant
While his power Is stirred.
Quick to leave him at the moment
When he grows absurd.
Plant your words where profit licat
Whiter cloth takes faster dyes.
Till you know his power and manhood,
Effort has no scope :
Moonlight's glitter vainly rivals
Himalaya's slope,"
And Cheek replied: "If you have made up your
mind, then seek the feet of the king. Blest be your
journeying*. May your purpose be accomplished-
Be heedful in the presence of the king;
We also to your health and fortune ding.”
Then Victor bowed to his friend, and went to meet
Rusty.
Now when Rusty saw Victor approaching, he said
to the doorkeeper: “Away with your reed of office!
This is an old acquaintance, the counselor's son Vic¬
tor, He has free entrance. Let him come in. He be-
longs to the second circle," So Victor entered, bowed
to Rusty, and sat down on the seat indicated to him.
Then Rusty extended a right paw adorned with
claws as formidable as thunderbolts, and said re¬
spectfully; "Do you enjoy health? Why has so long
a time passed since you were last visible i n And Vic¬
tor replied; "Even though my royal master has no
present need of me, still I ought to report at the
THE PANCHATANTRA
3 *
proper time. For there is nothing that may not render
service to a Icing. As the saying goes:
To dean a tooth or scratch an ear
A straw may serve a king:
A man, with speech and action, is
A higher kind of thing,
"Besides, we who are ancestral servants of out
royal master, follow him even in disasters. For us
there is no other course. Now the proverb says:
Set in fit position each
Gem or serving-man;
No tiaras on the toes,
Just because you can.
Servants leave the kings who their
Qualities ignore,
Even Icings of lofty line.
Wealthy, served of yore.
Lacking honor from their equals.
Jobless, dfttetti $
Servants give their master notice
That they will not stay.
And again:
If set in tin, a gem that would
Adorn a golden frame,
Will never scream nor fail to gleam.
Yet tells its wearer's shame.
The king who reads a servant's mind-^
Dull, faithless, faithful, wise—
May servants find of every kind
For every enterprise.
THE LOSS OF FRIENDS
37
"And as for my master's remark: ‘It is Jong since
you were last visible/ pray hear tbe reason of that:
Where just distinction is not drawn
Between the left and right*
The self-respecting* if they can*
Will quickly take to flight.
If masters no distinction make
Among their servant then
They lose the zealous offices
Of energetic men.
And in a market where it seems
That no distinctions hold
Between red-eye and ruby* how
Can precious gems be sold i
There must be bonds of union
In all their dealings* since
No prince can lack his servants
Nor servants lack a prince*
“Yet the nature of the servant also depends on the
master's quality. As the saying goes:
In case of horse or book or sword,
Of woman, man or lute or word.
The use or uselessness depends
On qualities the user lends.
“And another point. You do wrong to despise me
because I am a jackal. For
Silk comes from worms* and gold from stone:
From cow's hair sacred grass is grown;
The water-lily springs from mud;
From cow-dung sprouts the lotus^bud;
S Ji
38
THE PANCHATANTRA
The moon its rise from ocean takes;
And gems proceed from hoods of snakes;
From cows" biJe yellow dyestuffs come;
And fire in wood is quite at home:
The worthy, by display of worth*
Attain distinction, nor by birth.
And again:
Kill, although domestic born,
Any hurtful mouse:
Bribe an alien cat who will
Hdp to dean the house.
And once again;
How use the faithful, lacking power f
Or strong, who evil do ?
But me, O King, you should not scorn.
For I am strong and true.
Scorn not the wise who penetrate
Truth's universal law;
They are not men to be restrained
By money's petty straw:
When beauty glistens on their cheeks
By trickling ichor lent,
Bull-elephants fed lotus-chains
As no Impediment/ 1
"Ohj ,T said Rusty, ir you must not say such things.
You are our counselor's son, an old retainer*” ”0
ng,” said Victor, "'there is something that should
said." And the king replied: fl My good fellow*
reveal what is in your heart,”
Then Victor began: #< My master set out to take
water. Why did he turn back and camp he re?” And
THE LOSS OF FRIENDS
39
Rusty* concealing his inner feelings* said* "Victor,
it just happened so. ,p H G King,” said the jackal, "if
it is not a thing to disclose* then let it be.
Some things a man should cell his wife,
Some things to friend and some to son;
All these ate trusted. He should not
Tell everything to everyone."
Hereupon Rusty reflected! "He seems trust¬
worthy. I will tell him what I have in mind- For the
proverb says!
You find repose* in sore disaster,
By telling things to powerful master*
To honest servant, faithful friend .
Or wife who loves you till the end.
Friend Victor, did you hear a great voice in the dis¬
tance r "Yes, master* I did,” said Victor, "What
ofitr
And Rusty continued: M My good fellow* 1 in¬
tend to leave this forest,” "Why?** said Victor. "Be¬
cause," said Rusty, "there has come into our forest
some prodigious creature, from whom we hear this
great voice. His nature must correspond to his voice,
and his power to his nature. 1 *
"What!” said Victor* “Is our master frightened
by a mere voice? You know the proverb:
Water undermines the dikes*
Love dissolves when malice strikes;
Secrets melt when babblings start;
Simple words melt dastard hearts.
40
THE PANCHAT ANTRA
So it would be improper if our master abruptly left
die forest which was won by his ancestors and has
been so long in the family. For they say;
Wisely move one foot; the other
Should its vantage hold;
Till assured of some new dwelling.
Do not leave the old-
“Besides, many kinds of sounds are heard here.
Yet they are nothing but noises, not a warning of
danger. For example, we hear the sounds made by
thunder, wind among the reeds, lutes, drums, tam¬
bourines, conch-shells, bells, wagons, banging doors,
machines, and other things. They are nothing to be
afraid of. As the verse says:
If a king be brave, however
Fierce the foe and grim,
Sorrows of humiliation
Do not wait for him*
And again:
Bravest bosoms do not falter!
Fearing heaven's threat:
Summer dries the pools; the Indus
Rises, greater yet*
And once again:
Mothers bear on rare occasions
To the world a chief,
Glad in luck and brave in battle.
Undepressed in grief.
And yet again:
Do not act as does the grass-blade.
Lacking honest pride*
THE LOSS OF FRIENDS
4i
Drooping low m feeble meanness.
Lightly brushed aside.
My master must take this point of view and reinforce
his resolution, not fear a mere sound. As the saying
goes!
I thought at first that it was full
Of fat; I crept within
And there I did not find a thing
Except some wood and skin.”
"How was that?” asked Rusty. And Victor told
the story of
THE JACKAL AND THE WAR-DRUM
In a certain region was a jackal whose throat was
pinched by hunger. While wandering in search of
food, he came upon a king's battle ground in the
midst of a forest. And as he lingered a moment there
he heard a great sound.
This sound troubled his heart exceedingly, $0 that
he fell into deep dejection and said; “Ah me! Dis¬
aster is upon me. I am as good as dead already. Who
made that sound? What kind of a creature?”
But on peering about, he spied a war-drum that
loomed like a mountain-peak, and he thought: “Was
that sound its natural voice, or was it induced from
without? 1 * Now when the drum was struck by the
tips of grasses swaying in the wind, it made the sound,
but was dumb at other times.
So he recognized its helplessness, and crept quite
near. Indeed, his curiosity Jed him to strike it him-
THE PANCHAT ANTRA
+1
self on both heads, and he became gleeful at the
thought: "Aha! After long waiting food comes even
to me. For this is sure to be stuffed with meat and
fat."
Having come to this conclusion, he picked a spot,
gnawed a hole, and crept in. And though the leather
covering was tough, still he had the luck not to break
his teeth. But he was disappointed to find it pure
wood and skin, and recited a stanza:
Its voice was fierce; I thought it stuffed
With fat, so crept within;
And there I did not find a thing
Except some wood and skin.
So he backed out, laughing to himself, and said:
1 thought at first that it was full
Of fat,....
and the rest of it.
"And that is why I say that one should not be
troubled by a mere sound.” "But,” said Rusty,
" these retainers of mine are terrified and wish to run
away. So how am 1 to reinforce my resolution?” And
Victor answered; “Master, they are not to blame. For
servants take after the master. You know the prov-
erb;
In case of horse or book or sword,
Of woman, man or Lute or word,
The use or uselessness depends
On qualities the user lends.
THE LOSS OF FRIENDS
43
"Then summon your manhood and remain on this
spot until I return, having ascertained the nature of
the creature. Then act as seems proper.” "What!"
said Rusty, "are you plucky enough to go there?"
And Victor answered: “When the master commands,
is there any difference between ‘possible 1 and ‘im¬
possible’ to the good servant? As the proverb says:
Good servants, when their lords command,
Behold no fear on any hand.
Cross pathless seas if he desire
Or gladly enter flaming fire.
The servant who, his lord commanding.
Should strive to reach an understanding
On labors hard or easy, he
King’s counselor should never be."
“If you feel so, my dear fellow," said Rusty, “then
go. Blest be your journeyings."
So Victor bowed low and set out in the direction
of the sound made by Lively. And when he was gone,
terror troubled Rusty's heart, so that he thought;
“Ah, I made a sad mistake in trusting him to the
point of revealing what is in my mind. Perhaps this
Victor will betray me by taking wages from both
parties, or from spite at losing his job. For the prov¬
erb says:
A servant suffering from a king
Dishonor after honoring,
Though born and trained to service, will
Be eager to destroy him still.
THE PANCHAT ANTRA
"So I will go elsewhere and wait, in order to learn
his purpose. Perhaps Victor might even bring the
thin g along and try to kill me. As the saying goes;
The trustful strong are caught
By weaker foes with ease;
The wary weak are safe
From strongest enemies.”
Thus he set his mind in order, went elsewhere, and
waited all alone, spying on Victor’s procedure.
Meanwhile Victor drew near to Lively, discovered
that he was a bull, and reflected gleefully: "Well,
well! This is lucky. 1 shall get Rusty into my powei
by dangling before him war or peace with this fellow.
As the proverb puts it;
All counselors draw profit from
A king in worries pent.
And that is why they always wish
For him, embarrassment.
As men in health require no drug
Their vigor to restore.
So kings, relieved of worry, seek
Their counselors no more,”
With these thoughts in mind, he returned to meet
Rusty. And Rusty, seeing him coming, assumed his
former attitude in an effort to put a good face on the
matter. So when Victor had come near, had bowed
low, and bad seated himself. Rusty said: "My good
fellow, did you see the creature?" "I saw him,” said
Victor, "through my master's grace. 11 “Are you tell-
THE LOSS OF FRIENDS
4 $
ing the truth?” asked Rusty. And Victor answered;
“How could I report anything else to my gracious
master? For the proverb says:
Whoever makes before a king
Small statements, but untrue.
Brings certain ruin on his gods
And on his teacher, too*
And again:
The king incarnates all the gods.
So sing the sages old;
Then treat him Dke the gods: to him
Let nothing false be told.
And once again:
The king incarnates all the gods.
Yet with a difference:
He pays for good or ill at once;
The gods, a lifetime hence."
“Yes,” said Rusty, ”1 suppose you really did see
him. The great do not become angry with the mean.
As the proverb says;
The hurricane innocuous passes
O’er feeble, lowly bending grasses.
But tears at lofty trees: the great
Their prowess greatly demonstrate.”
And Victor replied: "I knew beforehand that my
master would speak thus. So why waste words ? I will
bring the creature into my gracious master s pres¬
ence.” And when Rusty heard this, joy overspread
his lotus-face, and his mind felt supreme satisfaction.
Meanwhile Victor returned and called reproach-
the panchatantra
46
fully to Lively: "Come here, you villainous bull!
Come here! Our master Rusty asks why you are not
afraid to keep up this meaningless bellowing." And
Lively answered; "My good fellow, who is this per¬
son named Rusty ?"
"Whatl" said Victor, "you do not even know our
master Rusty?” And he continued with indignation:
"The consequences will teach you. He has a retinue
of all kinds of animals. He dwells beside the spread¬
ing banyan tree. His heart is high with pride. He is
lord of life and wealth. His name is Rusty. He is a
mighty lion.”
When Lively heard this, he thought himself as
good as dead, and he fell into deep dejection, saying:
"My dear fellow, you appear to be sympathetic and
eloquent. So if you cannot avoid conducting me
there, pray cause the master to grant me a gracious
safe-conduct.” "You are quite right,” said Victor.
“Your request shows s a voir fain. For
The earth has a limit,
The mountains, the sea;
The deep thoughts of kings are
Without boundary.
Do you then remain in this spot. Later, when I have
held him to an agreement, 1 will conduct you to him.”
Then Victor returned to Rusty and said: "Mas¬
ter, he is no ordinary creature. He has served as the
vehicle of blessed Shiva. And when I questioned him,
he said: 'Great Shiva was satisfied with me and bade
THE LOSS OF FRIENDS
47
me crop the grass beside the Jumna. Why make a
long story of it? The blessed one has given me this
forest as a playground/ B *
At this Rusty was frightened, and he said: "I
knew it, 1 knew it. Only by special favor of the gods
do creatures wander in a wild wood, bellowing like
that, and fearlessly cropping the grass* But what did
you say?“
“Master/* said Victor, “1 said; 'This forest is the
domain of Rusty, vehicle of Shiva's passionate wife.
Hence you come as a guest. You must meet him,
must spend your time in brotherly love, must eat,
drink, work, play, and make your home with him/
AIJ this he promised, adding: ‘You must make your
master grant me a safe-conduct/ As to that, the mas¬
ter is the sole judge/'
At this Rusty was delighted and said; “Splendid,
my intelligent servant, splendid! You must have tak¬
en counsel with my own heart before speaking. 1 grant
him a safe-conduct. You must hasten to conduct
him here, but not until he too has bound himself by
oath toward me. Yes, there is sound sense in the say¬
ing:
Polished, fully tested,
Sturdy too, and straight
Are the pillars proper
To a house—or state*
Again;
Wit is shown in hours of crisis;
Doctors" wit, in sore disease;
48
THE PANCHATANTRA
Counselors*, in patching friendship—
All are wise in hours of ease."
Now Victor thought, as he set out to meet
Lively: "Well, well! The master is gracious to me
and ready to do my bidding. So there is none more
blest than I. For
Pour things are nectar: milky food;
A fire in chilly weather;
An honor granted by the king;
And loved ones, come together."
So he found Lively, and said respectfully: “My
friend, I won the old master’s favor for you, and made
him give you a safe-conduct. You may go without
anxiety. Still, though you have favor in the eyes of
the king, you must act in agreement with me. You
must not play the haughty master. I for my part,
in alliance with you, will take the rflle of counselor,
and bear the whole burden of administration. Thus
we shall both enjoy royal affluence. For
A sinful chase—yet men can stalk
The treasures of the crown:
One starts the quarry from its lair;
Another strikes it down.
And again;
Whoever is too haughty to
Pay king's retainers honor due.
Will find his feet are tottering—
So merchant Strong-Tooth with the king."
"How was that?*' asked Lively, And Victor told
the story of
THE LOSS OF FRIENDS
+9
MERCHANT STRONG-TOOTH
There is a city called Growing City on the earth’s
surface. In it lived a merchant named Strong-Tooth
who directed the whole administration. So long as he
handled city business and royal business, all the in¬
habitants were satisfied. Why spin it out? Nobody
ever saw or heard of his like for cleverness. For there
is much wisdom in the proverb:
Suppose he minds the king’s affairs.
The common people hate him;
And if he plays the democrat.
The prince will execrate him:
So, since the struggling interests
Are wholly contradictory,
A manager is hard to find
Who gives them both the victory.
While he occupied this position, he once had a
daughter married. To the wedding he invited all the
townspeople and the king's entourage, paid them
much honor, feasted them, and regaled them with
gifts of garments and the like. And when the wedding
was over, he conducted the king home with his ladies
and showed him reverence.
Now the king had a house-cleaning drudge named
Bull, who took a seat that did not belong to him—
this in the very palace, and in the presence of the
king’s professor. So Strong-Tooth administered a cuf¬
fing and drove him out. From that moment the hu¬
miliation so rankled in Bull’s inner soul that he had
no rest even at night. Yet he thought: “After all,
THE PANCHATANTRA
50
why should 1 grow thin ? It does me no good. For
I cannot possibly hurt him. And there is sense in the
saying;
Indulge no angry, shameless wish
To hurt, unless you can:
The chick-pea, hopping up and down.
Will crack no frying-pan,"
Now one morning, as he was sweeping near the
bed where the king lay half awake, he said: "What
impudence 1 Strong-Tooth kisses the queen.’* When
the king heard this, he jumped up in a hurry, crying:
"Come, come, Bull! Is that thing true that you were
muttering? Has the queen been kissed by Strong-
Toothr
"O King," answered Bull, “I was awake all night
because I am passionately fond of gambling. So sleep
overpowered me even when I was busy with my
sweeping. I do not know what 1 said.”
But the jealous king thought; "Yes, he has free
entrance to my palace. So has Strong-Tooth, Per¬
haps he actually saw the fellow hugging the queen.
For the proverb says;
Whate’er a man desires, sees, does
In broad daylight,
Still mindful, he will say or do
Asleep at night.
And again:
Whatever secrets, good or ill.
Men in their bosoms keep,
Are soon betrayed when they are drunk
Or talking in their sleep.
THE LOSS OF FRIENDS
Si
In any case* what doubt can there be where a woman
is concerned?
With one she tries the gossip's art;
Her glances with a second flirt;
She holds another in her heart;
Whom dons she love enough to hurt i
And again:
The logs will glut the hungry fire*
The rivers glut the sea's desire*
And Death with life be glutted* when
The flirt has had enough of men.
No chance* no corner dark*
No man to woo;
Then* holy sage* you find
A woman true.
And once again;
The blunderhead who thinks:
p My love loves me/
Is ever in her power;
A tame bird* he/ 1
After all this lamentation, he withdrew his favor
forthwith from Strong-Tooth. Not to make a long
story of it* he forbade his entrance at court-
When Strong-Tooth saw that the monarch's favor
was suddenly withdrawn, he thought: "Ah me!
There Is wisdom in the stanza:
Whom does not fortune render proud?
Whom does not death lay low?
To what rouf do passions not
Bring never ceasing woe?
THE PANCHATANTRA
5 *
What beggar can be dignified?
Whose heart no woman stings?
Who, trapped by scamps, comes safely off?
Who is beloved of kings?
And again:
Who ever saw or heard
A gambler's truthful word,
A neat and cleanly crow,
A woman going slow
In love, a kindly snake,
A eunuch's pluck awake,
A drunkard’s love of science,
A king in friends' alliance?
And yet I never committed an unfriendly act against
the king—or anyone else—not even in a dream, not
even by mere words. So why does the king withdraw
his favor from me?”
Now one day Bull, the sweeper, saw Strong-
Tooth stopped at the palace gate, and he laughed
aloud, saying to the doorkeepers: "Be careful, door¬
keepers! This fellow Strong-Tooth’s temper has been
spoiled by the king's favor and he dispenses arrests
and releases. If you stop him, you will get a cuffing,
just like me."
And Strong-Tooth reflected on hearing this: "1
see. It was Bull's doing. Well, there is sense in the
proverb:
Though foolish, base, and lacking pride,
A servant at the monarch's side
Will have his honor satisfied.
THE LOSS OF FRIENDS
53
Though fashioned on a cowardly plan
And mean, a royal servant can
Resent affronts from any man.*'
After this lamentation he went home, abashed and
deeply stirred. Then he summoned Bull in the eve¬
ning, gave him two garments as an honorable present,
and said: iA My good fellow, 1 did not drive you out
by order of the king. It was because I saw you, in the
chaplain's presence, sitting where you did not belong,
that I humiliated you/*
Now Bull received the two garments as if they
were the Kingdom of Heaven, and feeling intense
satisfaction, he said: "Friend merchant, I forgive
you. You will soon see the reward of the honor shown
me in the king T s favor and such things/ 1 With this
he departed in high glee. For there is wisdom in the
saying:
A little dung wilt lift him high,
A little make him fall:
Twixt balance-beam and scamp there is
No difference at all.
On the next day Bull entered the palace, and did
his sweeping. And while the king lay half awake, he
said: "What intelligence! When our king sits at stool,
he eats a cucumber/'
Now the king, hearing this, rose in amazement and
said: "Come, come. Bull 1 What twaddle is this? But
I remember that you are a house-servant and do not
kill you. Did you ever see me engaged in that occupa¬
tion?"
54
THE PANCHATANTRA
"O King,” said Bull, “I was awake alt night be¬
cause 1 am passionately fond of gambling. So drowsi¬
ness overcame me in the very act of doing my sweep¬
ing. I do not know what I was muttering. Pardon
me, master. I was really asleep/’
Then the king thought; "Why, from the day of
my birth I never ate a cucumber while engaged in
that occupation. And since this blockhead has talked
unimaginable nonsense about me, it must be the same
with Strong-Tooth. This being so, I made a mistake
in taking the poor man’s honors from him. Nothing
of the sort is conceivable with such men. And in his
absence all the king’s business and city business is at
loose ends/’
After thus considering the matter from every
point of view, he summoned Strong-Tooth, presented
him with gems from his own person and with gar¬
ments, and reinstated him.
"And that is why 1 say;
Whoever is too haughty to
Pay king's retainers honor due, ....
and the rest of it.” "My dear fellow,” said Lively,
"your argument is quite convincing. Let it be as you
say.”
After this Victor took him to Rusty and said; "G
King, here is Lively. I have brought him hither. The
future rests with the king.” Then Lively bowed re¬
spectfully and stood before the king in a modest atti-
THE LOSS OF FRIENDS
55
tude. Thereupon Rusty extended over him a right
paw plump, firm, massive, adorned with claws as
formidable as thunderbolts, and said with deference:
“Do you enjoy health? Why do you dwell in this wild
wood?”
Thus questioned. Lively related accurately his
separation from merchant Increase and the others.
And Rusty, after listening to the story, said: “Have
no fear, comrade. Protected by my paws, lead your
own life in this forest. Furthermore,, you must al¬
ways take your amusements in my vicinity. For this
forest has many drawbacks, since it swarms with
numerous savage creatures.” And Lively made an¬
swer: "Very well, O King.”
Then the king of beasts went down to the bank
of the Jumna, drank and bathed his fill, and plunged
again into the forest, wherever inclination led him.
Thus the time passed, the mutual affection of the
two increasing daily. Now Lively had assimilated
solid intelligence by mastering numerous authorita¬
tive works, so that in a very few days he planted dis¬
cernment in Rusty, dull as was his mind. He weaned
him from forest habits and taught him village man¬
ners. Why spin it out? Lively and Rusty did nothing
but hold secret confabulations every day.
This being so, all the other animals of the retinue
were kept at a distance. As for the two jackals, they
did not even have the entree. More than that, as
soon as they lacked the lion’s prowess, the whole com-
s*
THE PANCHATANTRA
pany of animals, not excluding the two jackals, suf¬
fered grievously from hunger and huddled together.
As the proverb puts it:
A king, though proud and pure of birth.
Will see his servants flee
A court where no rewards art won,
As birds a withered tree.
And again:
They may be honored gentlemen,
They may devoted be.
Yet servants leave a monarch who
Forgets the salary.
While, on the other hand:
A king may scold
Yet servants hold,
If he but pay
Upon the day.
Indeed, all the creatures in this world, adopting
cajolery or one of the other three devices, live by eat¬
ing one another. For example:
Some car the countries; these are kings;
The doctors, those whom sickness stings;
The merchants, those who buy their things;
And leam&j men, the fools.
The married are the clergy's meat;
The thieves devour the indiscreet;
The flirts their eager lovers eat;
And Labor eats us all.
They keep deceitful snares in play;
They lie in wait by night and day;
THE LOSS OF FRIENDS
57
And when occasion offers prey
Like fish on lesser fish.
Now Cheek and Victor, robbed of their master's
favor, took counsel together — for their throats were
pinched with hunger. And Victor said: "Cheek, my
noble friend* we two seem to have lost our job. For
Rusty takes such delight in Lively's conversation
that he neglects his business. And the whole court is
scattered every which way. What is to be done?'*
And Cheek replied: IH Evcn if the master does not
take your advice, still you should admonish him to
correct his faults. For the proverb says:
Good counselors should warn a king
Although he pay no heed
(As Vidur warned the monarch blind)
To cease from evil deed.
And again:
Good counselors or drivers may not duck
From kings or elephants that run amuck.
Besides* in introducing this grass-nibbler to the mas¬
ter you were handling live coals.” And Victor an¬
swered: "You ate right. The fault is mine, not the
master's* As the saying goes:
The jackal at the ram-fight;
And we, when tricked by June;
The meddling friend—were playing
A self-defeating tune,"
"How was that?” asked Cheek. And Victor told
three stories in one, called
THE PANCHATANTRA
S3
GODLY AND JUNE
Iti a certain district there was a monastery in a
secluded spot. In it lived a holy man named Godly,
who in course of rime acquired a great sum of money
by selling finely woven garments, the numerous offer¬
ings of the faithful for whom he performed sacrifices.
As a result, he trusted no man, and kept his treasure
under his arm by night and day. For there is wisdom
in the proverb:
Money causes pain in getting;
In the keeping, pain and fretting;
Pain in loss and pain in spending;
Damn the trouble never ending!
Now a rogue named June, who took other people’s
money from them, observed the treasure under his
arm, and reflected: "How am 1 to take this treasure
from him? In the first place, I cannot pierce the wall
of the cell, which is compactly built of solid stone.
And I cannot enter the door, which is too high. I will
talk to him, win his confidence, and become his dis¬
ciple, for he will be in my power when I have his con¬
fidence. As the proverb says:
None Jacking shrewdness flatter well;
None but a lover plays the swell;
No saints are found in judgment scats;
No clear, straightforward speaker cheats."
Having thus made up his mind, he drew near to
Godly, uttered the words: "Glory to Shiva. Amen,"
fell flat on his face, and spoke with deference; "O
holy sir! All life is vanity. Youth slips by like a
THE LOSS OF FRIENDS
S9
mountain torrent. The days of our life are like a fire
in chaff. Delights of the flesh are as the shadow of a
cloud. Union with son, friend, servant, wife, is but a
dream. AH this I discern clearly. What shall I do
that I may safely cross the sea of many lives?"
On hearing this, Godly said respectfully: ' My
son, blest are you, being thus indifferent to the world
in early youth. What says the proverb?
*Tis only saints in youth
That can be saints in truth:
Ah, who is not a saint
When ebbing passions faint ?
And again:
First mind, then body ages
In case of holy sages*.
The body ages first,
Mind never, in the worst.
"And as for your search to find a means of safely
crossing the sea of many lives, just listen to this:
A hangman with his matted hair,
Or serf, or other man, through prayer
To holy Shiva, changes caste,
Becomes pure Brahman at the last.
Si* syllables, a little prayer;
A single blossom resting there
On Shiva’s symbol—and on earth
No further pain, no later birth."
When he had listened to this, June clasped the
holy man's feet and said deferentially: "This being
so, holy sir, pray do me the favor of imposing a vow.
6 o
THE PANCHATANTRA
"My son,” answered Godly, "I am ready to oblige
you. But you must not enter my cell by night. For
renunciation is recommended to ascetics, to you and
to me as well. As the proverb puts it:
Ascetics come to grief through greed;
And Icings, who evil counsels heed;
Children through petting, wives through wine.
Through wicked sons a noble line;
A Brahman through unstudied books,
A character through haunting crooks;
A farm is ruined through neglect;
And friendship, lacking kind respect;
Love dies through absence; fortunes crash
Through naughtiness; and hoarded cash
Through carelessness or giving rash.
So, after taking the vow, you must sleep in a hut of
thatch at the monastery gate."
"Holy sir,” said the other, "your prescription is
the law of my life. I shall need it in the next world."
So, the sleeping arrangements being made, Godly
graciously gave him initiation and granted disciple-
ship. June for his part made the holy man very happy
by rubbing his hands and feet, bringing writing*
paper, and other services. Still, Godly kept his treas¬
ure under his arm.
As the time passed in this manner, June reflected:
"Dear me! Do what 1 will, he does not trust me. So
shall I kill him with a knife in broad daylight? Or
give him poison? Or butcher him like a beast?”
While he was reflecting thus, the son of a pupil of
Godly's came from the village, bearing an invitation.
THE LOSS OF FRIENDS
61
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