PANCHA TANTRA- LABDA PRANAASAM- LOSS OF GAINS- PTLP-1

 SUBHASHITHANI: 455

लब्ध प्रणाशम्  
Labdhapraṇāśam- Loss of gains

THE STORY OF THE MONKEY AND THE CROCODILE

समुत्पन्नेषु कार्येषु बुद्धिर् यस्य न हीयते ।
स एव दुर्गं तरति जलस्थो वानरो यथा ॥ १ ॥
samutpanneṣu kāryeṣu buddhir yasya na hīyate |
sa eva durgaṃ tarati jalastho vānaro yathā || 4.1 ||
He alone whose intellect does not fail him when facing trying  circumstances, surmounts difficulties as did the monkey in the midst of water.

प्रियो वा यदि वा द्वेष्यो मूर्खो वा यदि पण्डितः ।
वैश्वदेवान्तम् आपन्नः सो ऽतिथिः स्वर्ग-सङ्क्रमः ॥ २ ॥

priyo vā yadi vā dveṣyo mūrkho vā yadi paṇḍitaḥ |
vaiśvadevāntam āpannaḥ so 'tithiḥ svarga-saṅkramaḥ || 4.2 ||

A guest who comes to your place after the’ vaisvadeva’ puja , whether a friend or a foe, whether a fool or a learned man, leads the house-holder to heaven.

न पृच्छेच् चरणं गोत्रं न च विद्यां कुलं न च ।
अतिथिं वैश्वदेवान्ते श्राद्धे च मनुर् अब्रवीत् ॥ ३ ॥

na pṛcchec caraṇaṃ gotraṃ na ca vidyāṃ kulaṃ na ca |
atithiṃ vaiśvadevānte śrāddhe ca manur abravīt || 4.3 ||

Manu has mentioned that a guest who arrives after the performance of daily offerings to the lord or during sharardham should not be asked about his sakha, gothra, eduction or lineage.

दूर-मार्ग-श्रम-श्रान्तं वैश्वदेवान्तम् आगतम् ।
अतिथिं पूजयेद् यस् तु स याति परमां गतिम् ॥ ४ ॥

dūra-mārga-śrama-śrāntaṃ vaiśvadevāntam āgatam |
atithiṃ pūjayed yas tu sa yāti paramāṃ gatim || 4.4 ||

One who receives a guest, who has come from far and wants to take rest to overcome exhaustion, with respect will obtain highest merit.

வருவிருந்து வைகலும் ஓம்புவான் வாழ்க்கை
பருவந்து பாழ்படுதல் இன்று.-Thirukkural-83
No evil can befall the man who never fails to honour the incoming guest.

अपूजितो ऽतिथिर् यस्य गृहाद् याति विनिःश्वसन् ।
गच्छन्ति पितरस् तस्य विमुखाः सह दैवतैः ॥ ५ ॥

apūjito 'tithir yasya gṛhād yāti viniḥśvasan |
gacchanti pitaras tasya vimukhāḥ saha daivataiḥ || 4.5 ||

If a guest leaves a house unhonoured, breathing heavily feeling insulted, the deities and the ancestors leave him with their heads turned away.

एकं प्रसूयते माता द्वितीयं वाक् प्रसूयते ।
वाग्-जातम् अधिकं प्रोचुः सोदर्याद् अपि बान्धवात् ॥ ६ ॥

ekaṃ prasūyate mātā dvitīyaṃ vāk prasūyate |
vāg-jātam adhikaṃ procuḥ sodaryād api bāndhavāt || 4.6 ||

A brother is obtained by birth to the same mother; a second way is through speeches of friendship. The wise say that brothers obtained through friendship are superior to those who are brothers by nature.

साह्लादं वचनं प्रयच्छति न मे नो वाञ्छितं किञ्चन

प्रायः प्रोच्छ्वसिषि द्रुतं हुतवह-ज्वाला समं रात्रिषु ।
कण्ठाश्लेष-परिग्रहे शिथिलता यन् नादराच् चुम्बसे

 तत् ते धूर्त हृदि स्थिता प्रियतमा काचिन् ममेवापरा ॥ ७ ॥

sāhlādaṃ vacanaṃ prayacchati na me no vāñchitaṃ kiñcana

 prāyaḥ procchvasiṣi drutaṃ hutavaha-jvālā samaṃ rātriṣu |
kaṇṭhāśleṣa-parigrahe śithilatā yan nādarāc cumbase

 tat te dhūrta hṛdi sthitā priyatamā kācin mamevāparā || 4.7 ||

You are not answering me joyfully, and you are not giving me what I want. At nights, you snore heavily, and you do not embrace and kiss me. O wicked one! There is another female in your heart! ( The female crocodile not satisfied with berries wanted the heart of the monkey and refused to listen to the pleadings of her husband that it would be a great sin to cheat a trusted friend . Not only that, She chided him as being unfaithful to her.)

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH

KAKOLUKIYAM-PTKU36

 SUBHASHITHANI:454

Ozymandias

I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said: "Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert . . . Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed:
And on the pedestal these words appear:
'My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!'
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away." - P.B.Shelly

क्व स दशरथः स्वर्गे भूत्वा महेन्द्र-सुहृद् गतः

क्व स जलनिधेर् वेलां बद्ध्वा नृपः सगरस् तथा ।
क्व स करतलाज् जातो वैन्यः क्व सूर्य-तनुर् मनुः

ननु बलवता कालेनैते प्रबोध्य निमीलिताः ॥ २५८ ॥

kva sa daśarathaḥ svarge bhūtvā mahendra-suhṛd gataḥ

 kva sa jalanidher velāṃ baddhvā nṛpaḥ sagaras tathā |
kva sa karatalāj jāto vainyaḥ kva sūrya-tanur manuḥ

 nanu balavatā kālenaite prabodhya nimīlitāḥ || 3.258 ||

Ah, where is Dasaratha who rose to heaven and made friendship with Indra,  Where is king Sagara, who tamed the ocean’s tide, Where is Prithu who was born out his father’s arm, Where is surya putra Manu gone while sun is shining every day, Imperious time awakened them at dawn, closed their eyes in the evening.

मान्धाता क्व गतस् त्रिलोक-विजयी राजा क्व सत्यव्रतः
देवानां नृपतिर् गतः क्व नहुषः सच्-छास्त्रवान् केशवः ।
मन्यन्ते सरथाः स-कुञ्जर-वराः शक्रासनाध्यासिनः
कालेनैव महात्मना त्व् अनुकृताः कालेन निर्वासिताः ॥ २५९ ॥

māndhātā kva gatas triloka-vijayī rājā kva satyavrataḥ

devānāṃ nṛpatir gataḥ kva nahuṣaḥ sac-chāstravān keśavaḥ |
manyante sarathāḥ sa-kuñjara-varāḥ śakrāsanādhyāsinaḥ

 kālenaiva mahātmanā tv anukṛtāḥ kālena nirvāsitāḥ || 3.259 ||

Where is Mandaatha, The king who won over the three worlds; Where is the great king Satyavrata; Where is Nahusha who attained Indra’s throne; all these who shared with Indhra his seat, chariots and best of elephants, are thought to be made so by the great Kaala and later removed from the world by the very same Kaala.

स च नृपतिस् ते सचिवास् ताः प्रमदास् तानि कानन-वनानि ।
स च ते च ताश् च तानि च कृतान्त-दृष्टानि नष्टानि ॥ २६० ॥

sa ca nṛpatis te sacivās tāḥ pramadās tāni kānana-vanāni |
sa ca te ca tāś ca tāni ca kṛtānta-dṛṣṭāni naṣṭāni || 3.260 ||

The king, his ministers, women of the harem, his golden groves were all seen brought under the control of fate and later destroyed.

ஒருநா யகமாய் ஓடவுலகுட னாண்டவர்,
கருநாய் கவர்ந்த காலர் சிதைகிய பானையர்,
பெருநா டுகாண இம்மையிலே பிச்சை தாம்கொள்வர்,
திருநா ரணன்தாள் காலம் பெறச்சிந் தித்துய்ம்மினோ. Thiruvai mozhi-4.1.1

Once he ruled the world as one sovereign
Soon the masses behold him seeking offerings
Bitten by stray-dogs ‘n holding broken urns.
So rush to mull the feet of Thirunaranan!

Here ends the tantra three called 'Kakolukiyam- Crows and Owls'. 

PS:

I consider with out any fear of exaggeration, The dialogue between Meghavarna and Sthiraeevin, if we forget for a moment they were crows, could as well have been discussions between Sri Rama and Vasishta or between Janaka and Yagyavalkya.

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH

KAKOLUKIYAM-PTKU35

 SUBHASHITHANI:453

The exchanges between Meghavarna and Sthirajeevin continues:

अनिश्चितैर् अध्यवसाय-भीरुभिर्
 यथेष्ट-संलाप-रति-प्रयोजनैः ।
फले विसंवादम् उपागता गिरः
 प्रयान्ति लोके परिहास-वस्तुताम् ॥ २५० ॥

aniścitair adhyavasāya-bhīrubhir

 yatheṣṭa-saṃlāpa-rati-prayojanaiḥ |

phale visaṃvādam upāgatā giraḥ

 prayānti loke parihāsa-vastutām || 3.250 ||

Those who are irresolute, timid, and see road blocks in every corner, and whose actions do not match their speech, become the object of ridicule of the public.

शक्ष्यामि कर्तुम् इदम् अल्पम् अयत्न-
साध्यम् अनादरः क इति कृत्यम् उपेक्षमाणाः ।
केचित् प्रमत्त-मनसः परिताप-दुःखम्
आपत्-प्रसङ्ग-सुलभं पुरुषा प्रयान्ति ॥ २५१ ॥

śakṣyāmi kartum idam alpam ayatna-

sādhyam anādaraḥ ka iti kṛtyam upekṣamāṇāḥ |
kecit pramatta-manasaḥ paritāpa-duḥkham

 āpat-prasaṅga-sulabhaṃ puruṣā prayānti || 3.251 ||

The negligent who say:

Someday, some other day…

Thing is petty, small;

Demands no thought at all,

Are, heedless, headed straight

For that repentant state

That ever comes too late. – A.W.Ryder

निःसर्पे बद्ध-सर्पे वा भवने सुष्यते सुखम् ।
सदा दृष्ट-भुजङ्गे तु निद्रा दुःखेन लभ्यते ॥ २५२ ॥

niḥsarpe baddha-sarpe vā bhavane suṣyate sukham |
sadā dṛṣṭa-bhujaṅge tu nidrā duḥkhena labhyate || 3.252 ||

Where there are either no snakes or when they are kept in captivity, one can sleep peacefully in a house; but sleep is obtained with great difficulty where snakes are always seen moving around.

विस्तीर्ण-व्यवसाय-साध्य-महतां स्निघ्दोपयुक्ताशिषां
कार्याणां नय-साहसोन्नति-मताम् इच्छापद्-आरोहिणाम् ।
मानोत्सेक-पराक्रम-व्यसनिनः पारं न यावद्-गताः
सामर्षे हृदयेऽवकाश-विषया तावत् कथं निर्वृतिः ॥ २५३ ॥

vistīrṇa-vyavasāya-sādhya-mahatāṃ snighdopayuktāśiṣāṃ

kāryāṇāṃ naya-sāhasonnati-matām icchāpad-ārohiṇām |
mānotseka-parākrama-vyasaninaḥ pāraṃ na yāvad-gatāḥ

sāmarṣe hṛdaye'vakāśa-viṣayā tāvat kathaṃ nirvṛtiḥ || 3.253 ||

A great task to be accomplished requires a keen desire for extended hard work, concentration, support of the loved ones, and courage and conviction to complete the task despite many obstacles. How can there be peace of mind to Men of passion and self-esteem as long as their dream remains unaccomplished?

प्रजा न रञ्जयेद् यस् तु राजा रक्षादिभिर् गुणैः ।
अजागल-स्तनस्येव तस्य राज्यं निरर्थकम् ॥ २५४ ॥

prajā na rañjayed yas tu rājā rakṣādibhir guṇaiḥ |
ajāgala-stanasyeva tasya rājyaṃ nirarthakam || 3.254 ||

A king who does not please his subjects or fail to provide protection to them, his reign will be worthless  like the neck-teat on a female goat.

गुणेषु रागो व्यसनेष्व् अनादरो

रतिः सुभृत्येषु च यस्य भूपतेः ।
चिरं स भुङ्क्ते चल-चामरांशुकां

सितातपत्राभरणां नृप-श्रियम् ॥ २५५ ॥

guṇeṣu rāgo vyasaneṣv anādaro

ratiḥ subhṛtyeṣu ca yasya bhūpateḥ |
ciraṃ sa bhuṅkte cala-cāmarāṃśukāṃ

sitātapatrābharaṇāṃ nṛpa-śriyam || 3.255 ||

A king who loves virtues, hates vices, and who is the delight of his servants, will for long enjoy a prosperous kingdom with the paraphernalia of chatraa and chamara .

यदैव राज्ये क्रियतेऽभिषेकस्

तदैव बुद्धिर् व्यसनेषु योज्या ।
घटा हि राज्ञाम् अभिषेक-काले

सहाम्भसैवापदम् उद्गिरन्ति ॥ २५६ ॥

yadaiva rājye kriyate'bhiṣekas

tadaiva buddhir vyasaneṣu yojyā |
ghaṭā hi rājñām abhiṣeka-kāle

 sahāmbhasaivāpadam udgiranti || 3.256 ||

Whenever kings are anointed, let the intellect think of the troubles that can arise from various quarters. The anointing-jars not only pour the holy waters but often potential troubles along with it. 

 रामस्य व्रजनं वने निवसनं पाण्डोः सुतानां वने

वृष्णीनां निधनं नलस्य नृपते राज्यात् परिभ्रंशनम् ।
नाट्याचार्यकम् अर्जुनस्य पतनं सञ्चिन्त्य लङ्केश्वरे

सर्वे काल-वशाज् जनो ऽत्र सहते कः कं परित्रायते ॥ २५७ ॥nl

rāmasya vrajanaṃ vane nivasanaṃ pāṇḍoḥ sutānāṃ vane

 vṛṣṇīnāṃ nidhanaṃ nalasya nṛpate rājyāt paribhraṃśanam |
nāṭyācāryakam arjunasya patanaṃ sañcintya laṅkeśvare

 sarve kāla-vaśāj jano 'tra sahate kaḥ kaṃ paritrāyate || 3.257 

Rama’s banishment to the forest, the Pandavas stay in the forest, the Vrishnis complete destruction, King Nala’s loss of kingdom, Arjuna’s need to be dance master,and the fall  of Lankeshvara  remind us that time brings woes in innumerable ways . Who can escape or what saviour is there?

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH

KAKOLUKIYAM-PTKU34

 SUBHASHITHANI:452

Sthirajeevin, the wise old crow minister, who successfully plotted the destruction of all the owls, is continuing with his narrative to the crow king Meghavarna.

वने प्रज्वलितो वह्निर् दहन् मूलानि रक्षति ।
समूलोन्मूलनं कुर्याद् वायुर् यो मृदु-शीतलः ॥ २४२ ॥

vane prajvalito vahnir dahan mūlāni rakṣati |
samūlonmūlanaṃ kuryād vāyur yo mṛdu-śītalaḥ || 3.242 ||

The forest fire, while destroying the tree does not affect the roots; but the wind which is gentle but charged with frost destroys even the roots.

Megha varna said very true and besides:

महत्त्वम् एतन् महतां नयालङ्कार-धारिणाम् ।
न मुञ्चन्ति यद् आरब्धं कृच्छ्रेऽपि व्यसनोदये ॥ २४३ ॥
mahattvam etan mahatāṃ nayālaṅkāra-dhāriṇām |
na muñcanti yad ārabdhaṃ kṛcchre'pi vyasanodaye || 3.243 ||

This is greatness of the great
Whom gems of wisdom decorate;
Despite what hurts and hinders,too,
They see an undertaking through. ( Translation by A.W.Ryder)

प्रारभ्यते न खलु विघ्न-भयेन नीचैः

प्रारभ्य विघ्न-विहता विरमन्ति मध्याः ।
विघ्नैः सहस्र-गुणितैर् अपि हन्यमानाः

प्रारब्धम् उत्तम-गुणा न परित्यजन्ति ॥ २४४ ॥

prārabhyate na khalu vighna-bhayena nīcaiḥ

 prārabhya vighna-vihatā viramanti madhyāḥ |

vighnaiḥ sahasra-guṇitair api hanyamānāḥ

 prārabdham uttama-guṇā na parityajanti || 3.244 ||

Base men do not undertake any work apprehending obstacles. Mediocres make a start, but cease working when they encounter hindrances. The men of excellence, however, after commencing a job do not give up despite recurrence of impediments.

( This sloka is from Bhartruhari’s Niti satakam )

ऋण-शेषं चाग्नि-शेषं च शत्रु-शेषं तथैव च ।
व्याधि-शेषं च निःशेषं कृत्वा प्राज्ञो न सीदति ॥ २४५ ॥

ṛuṇa-śeṣaṃ chāgni-śeṣaṃ cha śatru-śeṣaṃ tathaiva cha |
vyādhi-śeṣaṃ cha niḥśeṣaṃ kṛtvā prājño na sīdati || 3.245 ||

Remnant of a debt, sparks of fire, traces of enemy and the final twinges of  illness,  having totally removed it , the wise man does not come to grief.

शस्त्रैर् हता न हि हता रिपवो भवन्ति

प्रज्ञा-हतास् तु रिपवः सुहता भवन्ति ।
शस्तं निहन्ति पुरुषस्य शरीरम् एकं

प्रज्ञा कुलं च विभवश् च यशश् च हन्ति ॥ २४६ ॥

śastrair hatā na hi hatā ripavo bhavanti

 prajñā-hatās tu ripavaḥ suhatā bhavanti |
śastaṃ nihanti puruṣasya śarīram ekaṃ

 prajñā kulaṃ ca vibhavaś ca yaśaś ca hanti || 3.246 ||

It is not the sword that destroys a foe

It’s the wit that utterly lays low;

Swords kill the body; Wit destroys

Fame. family, and regal joys. (A.W.Ryder)

प्रसरति मतिः कार्यारम्भे दृढीभवति स्मृतिः

स्वयम् उपनयन्न् अर्थान् मन्त्रो न गच्छति विप्लवम् ।
स्फुरति सफलस् तर्कश् चित्तं समुन्नतिम् अश्नुते

 भवति च रतिः श्लाघ्ये कृत्ये नरस्य भविष्यतः ॥ २४७ ॥

prasarati matiḥ kāryārambhe dṛḍhībhavati smṛtiḥ

svayam upanayann arthān mantro na gacchati viplavam |
sphurati saphalas tarkaś cittaṃ samunnatim aśnute

bhavati ca ratiḥ ślāghye kṛtye narasya bhaviṣyataḥ || 3.247 ||

When a man destined to prosper undertakes an action, his intellect broadens, memory becomes steady and firm; his plans in achieving the desired results are not obstructed; his planning for the future proves successful; his mind attains great heights; and he is delighted to carry out extraordinary tasks.

 त्यागिनि शूरे विदुषि च संसर्ग-रुचिर् जनो गुणी भवति ।

गुणवति धनं धनाच् छ्रीः श्रीमत्य् आज्ञा ततो राज्यम् ॥ २४८ ॥

tyāgini śūre viduṣi ca saṃsarga-rucir jano guṇī bhavati |
guṇavati dhanaṃ dhanāc chrīḥ śrīmaty ājñā tato rājyam || 3.248 ||

A man becomes meritorious by association with the learned, magnanimous, and brave; Having merits he gets wealth, and from wealth follows fame, and from fame personal authority, and with authority attains a kingdom.

तीक्ष्णोपाय-प्राप्ति-गम्यो ऽपि यो ऽर्थस्
तस्याप्य् आदौ संश्रयः साधु युक्तः ।
उत्तुङ्गाग्रः सार-भूतो वनानां
मान्याभ्यर्च्य च्छिद्यते पादपेन्द्रः ॥ २४९ ॥

tīkṣṇopāya-prāpti-gamyo ‘pi yo ‘rthas
 tasyāpy ādau saṃśrayaḥ sādhu yuktaḥ |
uttuṅgāgraḥ sāra-bhūto vanānāṃ
 mānyābhyarcya cchidyate pādapendraḥ || 3.249 ||
Even if victory is attainable through violent means, one should prefer peaceful means in the beginning; the lofty tall tree in forest is never cut down without a prayer. ( Mega varna to Stirajeevin)

SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH