Thursday, May 20, 2021

OF CROWS AND OWLS - KAKOLUKEEYAM- काकोलुकीयं- PTKU-1

 SUBHASHITHANI:418

The third book of Pancha tantra:
काकोलुकीयं- Kakolukeeyam-Of Crows and Owls
This is the story of how the crows burnt the home of a trusting pack of owls.

विश्वसेत् पूर्व-विरोधितस्य

शत्रोश् मित्रत्वम् उपागतस्य
दग्धां गुहां पश्य उलूक-पूर्णां

काक-प्रणीतेन हुताशनेन

na viśvaset pūrva-virodhitasya

 śatroś ca mitratvam upāgatasya |
dagdhāṃ guhāṃ paśya ulūka-pūrṇāṃ

kāka-praṇītena hutāśanena || 3.1 ||

Never trust a person who once was made hostile nor an enemy who has turned a friend; look at the cave which was full of owls was burnt down by the fire set by the crows.

उपेक्षेत शत्रुं स्वं प्रसरन्तं यदृच्छया
रोगं चालस्य-संयुक्तः शनैस् तेन हन्यते ॥. 

ya upekṣeta śatruṃ svaṃ prasarantaṃ yadṛcchayā |
rogaṃ cālasya-saṃyuktaḥ sa śanais tena hanyate || 3.2 ||

He who, due to sloth, neglects an enemy, or a disease, even when it is gaining strength, gets annihilated by them, slowly, but surely.

இளைதாக முள்மரம் கொல்க களையுநர்
கைகொல்லும் காழ்த்த இடத்து.-Thirukkural-879
Fell down thorn trees while yet they are young; for when they are over grown they will themselves cut the hand that attempts to fell them.

जात-मात्रं यः शत्रुं व्याधिं प्रशमं नयेत्

महाबलो ऽपि तेनैव वृद्धिं प्राप्य हन्यते

jāta-mātraṃ na yaḥ śatruṃ vyādhiṃ ca praśamaṃ nayet |
mahābalo 'pi tenaiva vṛddhiṃ prāpya sa hanyate || 3.3 ||

It is said that if one does not subdue an enemy or a disease the moment they appear, the enemy or the disease will overwhelm them, however powerful they are.

अपृष्टेनापि वक्तव्यं सचिवेनात्र किंचन
पृष्टेन तु विशेषेण वाच्यं पथ्यं महीपतेः

apṛṣṭenāpi vaktavyaṃ sacivenātra kiṃcana |
pṛṣṭena tu viśeṣeṇa vācyaṃ pathyaṃ mahīpateḥ || 3.4 ||

In a critical situation, a minister should give advice even when he is unasked; but when consulted, he should immediately advise what is wholesome, whether palatable or not.

यो पृष्टो हितं ब्रूते परिणामे सुखावहम्
मन्त्रो प्रिय-वक्ता केवलं रिपुः स्मृतम्

yo na pṛṣṭo hitaṃ brūte pariṇāme sukhāvaham |
mantro na priya-vaktā ca kevalaṃ sa ripuḥ smṛtam || 3.5 ||

A minister who when asked does not say what is beneficial and good at the end is to be considered as an enemy; however good he may as a pleasant speaker.

तस्माद् एकान्तम् आसाद्य कार्यो मन्त्रो महीपते
येन तस्य वयं कुर्मो नियमं कारणं तथा

tasmād ekāntam āsādya kāryo mantro mahīpate |
yena tasya vayaṃ kurmo niyamaṃ kāraṇaṃ tathā ||3.6 ||

Therefore, o king, let us have consultations after moving to a secluded place so that we can find out the cause of his action and take effective steps to check him.

 बलीयसि प्रणमतां काले प्रहरताम् अपि

सम्पदो नावगच्छन्ति प्रतीपम् इव निम्नगाः

balīyasi praṇamatāṃ kāle praharatām api |
sampado nāvagacchanti pratīpam iva nimnagāḥ || 3.7 ||

Just like a river does not flow in the opposite direction, prosperity never leaves a king who acts submissive in front of a stronger enemy, but strikes him when the proper time comes.

செறுநரைக் காணின் சுமக்க இறுவரை
காணின் கிழக்காம் தலை.-Thirukkural-488
If one meets his enemy, let him show him all respect, until the time for his destruction is come; when that is come, his head will be easily brought low.
கொக்கொக்க கூம்பும் பருவத்து மற்றதன்
குத்தொக்க சீர்த்த இடத்து.-Thirukkural-490
At the time when one should use self-control, let him restrain himself like a heron; and, let him like it, strike, when there is a favourable opportunity.
SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH

1 comment:


  1. The analogies to Thiruvalluvar’s Tamil Thirukkurals are amazing; such striking similarly in ideas.

    “ Nip in the bud” is the right approach to weed out inimical elements at the very beginning.

    The advisor has to voice his remarks however unpleasant they may be , for right action to be taken. He has to be fearless in his decisions.

    Yes, always watch out for the enemy turned friend ; his honourable demeanour may camouflage his real intentions like the TROJAN HORSE.

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