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.

न विश्वसेत् पूर्व-विरोधितस्य

शत्रोश् च मित्रत्वम् उपागतस्य ।
दग्धां गुहां पश्य उलूक-पूर्णां

काक-प्रणीतेन हुताशनेन ॥ १ ॥

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.

य उपेक्षेत शत्रुं स्वं प्रसरन्तं यदृच्छया ।
रोगं चालस्य-संयुक्तः स शनैस् तेन हन्यते ॥ २ ॥. 

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 न यः शत्रुं व्याधिं च प्रशमं नयेत् ।

महाबलो ऽपि तेनैव वृद्धिं प्राप्य स हन्यते ॥ ३ ॥

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 ॥ ४ ॥

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 न पृष्टो हितं ब्रूते परिणामे सुखावहम् ।
मन्त्रो न प्रिय-वक्ता च केवलं स रिपुः स्मृतम् ॥ ५ ॥

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 ॥ ६ ॥

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 ॥ ७ ॥

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