PANCHA TANTRA-MITRA BHEDAA-39

SUBHASHITHANI:366

THE STORY OF THE CAMEL AND THE CROW

A camel was cheated by very clever plot by a group of leopard, fox and a crow;and was killed by the lion which had earlier offered asylum to it. An extremely fascinating story in which we see the mind of even the good getting poisoned by bad associates and their advice.

यस्मिन् कुले यः पुरुषः प्रधानः
स सर्वयत्नैः परिरक्षणीयः ।
तस्मिन् विनष्टे स्वकुलं विनष्टं
न नाभिभङ्गे ह्यरका वहन्ति ॥१.३१४॥
Yasmin kule yah purushah pradhaanah
 sa sarva yatnaih parirakshaneeyah I
Tasmin vinashte svakulam vinashtam
Na naabhibhange hyarakaa vahanti II314
The chief in a family, should be taken care of and protected at all costs. If he perishes, the family perishes. When the hub of the wheel is broken, the spokes alone cannot move the chariot ahead.

आपदं प्राप्नुयात् स्वामी यस्य भृत्यस्य पश्यतः ।
प्राणेषु विद्यमानेषु स भृत्यो नरकं व्रजेत् ॥ ३१५ ॥

āpadaṃ prāpnuyāt svāmī yasya bhṛtyasya paśyataḥ |
prāṇeṣu vidyamāneṣu sa bhṛtyo narakaṃ vrajet || 315 ||

That servant in whose presence his master suffers misery, while he is alive and well, treads the road to hell.

स्वाम्यर्थे यस्त्यजेत्प्राणान् भृत्यो भक्तिसमन्वितः ।
स परं पदमाप्नोति जरामरणवर्जितम् ॥१.३१६॥
Svaamyarthe yastyajet praanaan bhrutyo bhakti samanvitah I
Sa param padamaapnoti jaraamarana varjitam II316
A servant who, in devotion to his master has sacrificed his life, adorns a lofty place in heaven, secure from old age and death.

काकमांसं तथोच्छिष्टं स्तोकं तदपि दुर्बलम् ।
भक्षितेनापि किं तेन येन तृप्तिर्न जायते ॥१.३१७॥
Kaaka mamsam tathochchishtam stokam tadapi durbalam I
Bhakshitenaapi kim tena yena truptir na jaayate  II317
The flesh of a crow, as also the remains of a dog’s food and these too, scanty and wanting in substance; what is the use of eating these which produces no satisfaction.

स्वाम्यायत्ताः सदा प्राणा भृत्यानामर्जिता धनैः ।
यतस्ततो न दोषोऽस्ति तेषां ग्रहणसम्भवः ॥१.३१८॥
Svaamyattaah sadaa praanaa bhrutyaanaam arjitaa dhanaih I
Yatastato na dosho asti teshaam grahanasambhavah  II318
The lives of servants are always at the disposal of their master, being brought up with their wealth; therefore, no sin arises when their lives being taken away.

नाभक्ष्यं भक्षयेत्प्राज्ञः प्राणैः कण्ठगतैरपि ।

विशेषात्तदपि स्तोकं लोकद्वयविनाशकम् ॥१.३१९॥
Naabhakshyam bhashyet praagyah pranaih kantagatair api I
Visheshaat tadapi stokam lokadvya vinaashakam II319
The prudent, though life is at stake, avoid forbidden food (too small at that) from fear to lose good here and here after.

एतदर्थं कुलीनानां नृपाः कुर्वन्ति सङ्ग्रहम् ।
आदिमध्यावसानेषु न ते गच्छन्ति विक्रियाम् ॥१.३२०॥
Etad artham kuleenaanaam nrupah kurvanti samgraham I
Aadi madhyaavasaaneshu n ate gachchanti vikriyam II320
That swarms of gentlemen delight a king, is not unusual. Since, first and last and times between their honour does not change.

मृतानां स्वामिनः कार्ये भृत्यानामनुवर्तिनाम् ।
भवेत्स्वर्गे अक्षयो वासः कीर्तिश्च धरणीतले ॥१.३२१॥
Mrutaanaam svaaminah kaarye bhrutyaam anuvarinaam I
Bavet svarge akshao vaasah keertischa dharaneetale II321
Faithful servants who die in the service of their master get a permanent residence in heaven and leave behind an everlasting fame on earth.

मनसापि स्वजात्यानां योऽनिष्टानि प्रचिन्तयेत् ।
भवन्ति तस्य तान्येव इह लोके परत्र च ॥१.३२२॥
Manasaapi svajatyaanaam yo anisshtaani prachityet I
Bhavanti tasya taanyeva iha loke paratra cha II322
Those evils a man wishes even in his mind to over take his kinsmen, just befall on him and he loses both earth and heaven.

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH