KAKOLUKIYAM-PTKU12

 SUBHASHITHANI:429

शशकगजयूथपकथा -
The story of the rabbit and the herd of elephants

In a deep jungle there lived herd of elephants. Due to prolonged drought, they were suffering without water. They found a new lake near by and were feeling happy. Unfortunately , there were many rabbits living near the lake and were killed by the movement of huge elephants. The rabbits cleverly sent the elephants away by claiming that moon god ( showing the reflection of the moon in the lake ) was upset with them for disturbing the peace at the lake and killing rabbits who are under his protection.

व्यपदेशेन महतां सिद्दिः सञ्जायते परा ।
शशिनो व्यपदेशेन वसन्ति शशकाः सुखम् ॥ ८१ ॥
vyapadeśena mahatāṃ siddiḥ sañjāyate parā |
śaśino vyapadeśena vasanti śaśakāḥ sukham || 3.81 ||
By mentioning names of the powerful great success is achieved; by mentioning the moon god rabbits were able to live happily near the lake.

स्पृशन्न् अपि गजो हन्ति जिघ्रन्न् अपि भुजङ्गमः ।
हसन्न् अपि नृपो हन्ति मानयन्न् अपि दुर्जनः ॥ ८२ ॥

spṛśann api gajo hanti jighrann api bhujaṅgamaḥ |
hasann api nṛpo hanti mānayann api durjanaḥ ||3.82 ||

Just by its touch elephants kill, snakes by exhaling venomous breath, kings order death while appearing to be friendly, wicked men kill, though outwardly showing respect.

त्यजेद् एकं कुलस्यार्थे ग्रामस्यार्थे कुलं त्यजेत् ।
ग्रामं जनपदस्यार्थे आत्मार्थे पृथिवीं त्यजेत् ॥ ८३ ॥

tyajed ekaṃ kulasyārthe grāmasyārthe kulaṃ tyajet |
grāmaṃ janapadasyārthe ātmārthe pṛthivīṃ tyajet || 3.83 ||

One should renounce a person for the sake of the whole family; one should renounce a family for the sake of the village; one should renounce a village for the sake of the country; and one should renounce the earth for the sake of the Self.

क्षेम्यां शस्य-प्रदां नित्यं पशु-वृद्धि-करीम् अपि ।
परित्यजेन् नृपो भूमिम् आत्मार्थम् अविचारयन् ॥ ८४ ॥

kṣemyāṃ śasya-pradāṃ nityaṃ paśu-vṛddhi-karīm api |
parityajen nṛpo bhūmim ātmārtham avicārayan || 3.84 ||

Even a fertile land, producing grains and contributing to increase of cattle, a king should abandon for his own sake without any hesitation.

आपद्-अर्थे धनं रक्षेद् दारान् रक्षेद् धनैर् अपि ।
आत्मानं सततं रक्षेद् दारैर् अपि धनैर् अपि ॥ ८५ ॥

āpad-arthe dhanaṃ rakṣed dārān rakṣed dhanair api |
ātmānaṃ satataṃ rakṣed dārair api dhanair api || 3.85 ||

One should save his money against hard times, save his wife at the sacrifice of his riches, but invariably one should save his soul even at the sacrifice of his wife and riches.

निर्विषेणापि सर्पेण कर्तव्या महती फटा ।
विषं भवतु मा वास्तु फटाटोपो भयङ्करः ॥ ८६ ॥

nirviṣeṇāpi sarpeṇa kartavyā mahatī phaṭā |
viṣaṃ bhavatu mā vāstu phaṭāṭopo bhayaṅkaraḥ || 3.86 ||

Even by a non-poisonous snake, it is important to hiss and expand its hood. Whether or not it has poison, the [sight of the] hood is itself scary.

அன்பறிவு ஆராய்ந்த சொல்வன்மை தூதுரைப்பார்க்கு
இன்றி யமையாத மூன்று.-Thirukkural682
Loyalty to the king, quick understanding, eloquence in speech, these three are indispensable to the envoy.

அறிவுரு வாராய்ந்த கல்விஇம் மூன்றன்
செறிவுடையான் செல்க வினைக்கு.—Thirukkural 684
Let that man go on embassies who possesses robust common sense, high learning and a commanding personality.

साकारो निःस्पृहो वाग्मी नाना-शास्त्र-विचक्षणः ।
पर-चित्तावगन्ता च राज्ञो दूतः स इष्यते ॥ ८७ ॥
sākāro niḥspṛho vāgmī nānā-śāstra-vicakṣaṇaḥ |
para-cittāvagantā ca rājño dūtaḥ sa ishyate| 3.87 ||
He is considered a good messenger for a king, who is handsome, free from greed, eloquent speaker, well-versed in various shastraas and also one who can read the minds of others. 
 SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH

( Ps: In the story we have the rabbits sending a clever messenger to the elephant king to execute their plan. Hence you find excellent slokas on attributes of an envoy. )