PANCHA TANTRA- SUBHASHITHANI-12

 SUBHASHITHANI:326

Damanaka entered the kings court and was offered a seat by Pingala. Pingala enquired him why he was not to be seen for a long time? Damanaka's reply follows:

( In a series of slokas Damanka explains the need for Heads of departments to properly evaluate men working for them and treat them accordingly )

दंतस्य निष्कोषणकेन नित्यं
कर्णस्य कंडूयनकेन वापि।
तृणेन कार्यं भवतीश्वराणां
किमङ्ग वाग्घस्तवता नरेण॥पञ्च_१.७७॥

dantasya niṣkoṣaṇakena nityaṃ karṇasya kaṇḍūyanakena vāpi |
tṛṇena kāryaṃ bhavatīśvarāṇāṃ kim āṅga vāggha-stavatā nareṇa || 77 ||

Even grass shoots are useful to you lords when removing stuck particles from the teeth or when scratching the inner ear. What to say of one with hands and speech? We are servants of your highness by tradition.We will follow even at the time of difficulties, though we are not formally employed by you.

स्थानेष्व् एव नियोक्तव्या भृत्या आभरणानि च।
न हि चूडामणिः पादे प्रभवामीति बध्यते॥पञ्च_१.७८॥

sthāneṣv eva niyoktavyā bhṛtyā ābharaṇāni ca |
na hi cūḍāmaṇiḥ pāde prabhavāmīti badhyate || 78 ||
Servants and ornaments should be placed at proper positions. The gem ‘Choodaamani’, which is to be worn on the head, cannot be tied to the feet by a vain Lord.

अनभिज्ञो गुणानां यो न भृत्यैर् अनुगम्यते ।
धनाढ्यो ऽपि कुलीनो ऽपि क्रमायातो ऽपि भूपतिः ॥ ७९ ॥

anabhijño guṇānāṃ yo na bhṛtyair anugamyate |
dhanāḍhyo ‘pi kulīno ‘pi kramāYāto ‘pi bhūpatiḥ || 79 ||

A king may be rich, or of a renowned family or of a great dynasty, but if he does not recognise the good qualities of a servant, he will lose the services of that servant.

असमैः समीयमानः समैश् च परिहीयमाण-सत्-कारः ।
धुरि यो न युज्यमानस् त्रिभिर् अर्थ-पतिं त्यजति भृत्यः ॥ ८० ॥

asamaiḥ samīyamānaḥ samaiś ca parihīyamāṇa-sat-kāraḥ |
dhuri yo na yujyamānas tribhir artha-patiṃ tyajati bhṛtyaḥ || 80 ||

If a king compares his talented servant with others of lesser capabilities, or does not treat him honourably when compared to others of equal qualities, if he is not given a position in line with his capabilities…such a servant will soon leave  such a king.

कनक-भूषण-सङ्ग्रहणोचितो यदि मणिस् त्रपुणि प्रतिबध्यते ।
न स विरौति न चापि स शोभते भवति योजयितुर् वचनीयता ॥ ८१ ॥

kanaka-bhūṣaṇa-saṅgrahaṇocito yadi maṇis trapuṇi pratibadhyate |
na sa virauti na cāpi sa śobhate bhavati yojayitur vacanīyatā || 81 ||

If the gem that is fit to be embedded in an ornament made of gold, is instead  fitted on an ornament made of tin, the gem may not object; but it loses it’s brilliance. People who witness this blame the jeweller for this act of stupidity, not the gem.

“And your highness said- “you have not been seen for a long time”, let me answer this as well…

सव्य-दक्षिणयोर् यत्र विशेषो नास्ति हस्तयोः ।
कस् तत्र क्षणम् अप्यार्यो विद्यमान-गतिर् भवेत् ॥ ८२ ॥

savya-dakṣiṇayor yatra viśeṣo nāsti hastayoḥ |
kas tatra kṣaṇam apyāryo vidyamāna-gatir bhavet || 82 ||

Which person of purpose will stay at a place where there is no difference observed between the right and left hand, and between capable and incapable people?

काचे मणिर् मणौ काचो येषां बुद्धिर् विकल्पते ।
न तेषां सन्निधौ भृत्यो नाम-मात्रो ऽपि तिष्ठति ॥ ८३ ॥

kāce maṇir maṇau kāco yeṣāṃ buddhir vikalpate |
na teṣāṃ sannidhau bhṛtyo nāma-mātro ‘pi tiṣṭhati || 83 ||

A capable person will not serve a king who thinks of a gem to be a piece of glass, and a piece of glass to be a gem.

परीक्षका यत्र न संति देशे
नार्घंति रत्नानि समुद्रजानि।
आभीर-देशे किल चंद्रकांतं
त्रिभिर् वराटैर् विपणंति गोपाः॥पञ्च_१.८४॥

parīkṣakā yatra na santi deśe nārghanti ratnāni samudrajāni |
ābhīra-deśe kila candrakāntaṃ tribhir varāṭair vipaṇanti gopāḥ || 84 ||

Where there are no experts who can judge the gems,the extraordinary gems produced in the oceans have no value at all. In lands of tribal clans , the cow herds sell 'moon stone ' for a pittance.

लोहिताख्यस्य च मणेः पद्मरागस्य चान्तरम् ।
यत्र नास्ति कथं तत्र क्रियते रत्न-विक्रयः ॥ ८५ ॥

lohitākhyasya ca maṇeḥ padmarāgasya cāntaram |
yatra nāsti kathaṃ tatra kriyate ratna-vikrayaḥ || 85 ||

Who can sell jewels at a place, where the difference between an ordinary red stone and a priceless ruby is not known?

निर्विशेषं यदा स्वामी समं भृत्येषु वर्तते ।
तत्रोद्यम-समर्थानाम् उत्साहः परिहीयते ॥ ८६ ॥

nirviśeṣaṃ yadā svāmī samaṃ bhṛtyeṣu vartate |
tatrodyama-samarthānām utsāhaḥ parihīyate || 86 ||

Where the Master treats his capable and incapable servants equally, the servant who is capable and efficient loses his enthusiasm to work.

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH