The Pancatantra

by Visnu Sarma

  A crab who also lived among the fishes, noticed this, and came up to the crane to ask, ‘Hey! Uncle, how is it that today you do not seem to be engaged in your favourite pastime of gobbling fishes, as you always do?’ To this the crane replied, ‘Ah! As long as I could catch fish, I did so and I was well-nourished and content. I spent my days in comfort relishing all your delicious meat. But it now seems that in the near future, a terrible disaster is going to overwhelm all of you, as a consequence of which, in my old age, this pleasant existence of mine will also come to an end. Thinking upon this I have grown extremely dejected.’

  ‘I see,’ observed the crab; ‘and now, tell me, Uncle, what kind of a terrible disaster are you talking about?’

  The crane answered sadly, ‘You see, just this morning, I heard a group of fishermen talking among themselves as they were walking by our lake. And this is what they said, “Look, friends, see this great lake that has a plentiful supply of fish; let us fish here tomorrow and the day after, casting our nets far and wide. Afterwards, we shall proceed to the deep lake that lies close to the city and fish there.” Considering that in the circumstances, once all of you are destroyed, I myself can expect nothing but the termination of my own existence, my heart is filled with such sorrow that I have no mind to eat.’

  Hearing the crane’s wicked, dissembling speech, all the lake-dwellers were fearful for their lives, and trembling, began crying out to the crane, ‘O Uncle! O Father! O brother and friend! O wise ancient one! If danger threatens, then, some means of averting that danger can be found. O, sir! It is up to you to save each one of us from the jaws of death.’

  The wily crane then answered, ‘My friends, what can I do? I am only a bird; how can I fight against human beings? But… there is one thing which lies within my powers… what I can do is to transport each of you from this vast expanse of water to another lake, immeasurably deep.’

  Then all the dwellers in the lake, being completely fooled by the crane’s deceitful words, crowded around him, clamouring and pleading, ‘O friend, O dear Uncle, O kinsman devoid of all self-interest! Take me, take me first.… Ah! Has Your Honour not heard the following verse:

  (162) Imbued with a passion for benevolence,

  saints on earth, possessed of steadfast minds, cherish

  service to others alone, and count as nothing

  even the sacrifice of their own life for a friend.’

  At this, the malevolent wretch laughed up his sleeve and congratulated himself, thinking, ‘Ah! These fishes have been totally bamboozled by me; they have fallen into my clutches, and now, I can devour them with the greatest ease.’ He made a show of assenting graciously to the request of the fishes. Picking them up, a few at a time in his beak, the crane flew to another spot, where on one side of a rough plateau of rocks he ate them quietly. With supreme satisfaction he went back and forth daily on these trips, constantly beguiling his victims with bits of false information.

  One day, the crab, who was becoming increasingly agitated by the prospect of his impending death, crawled up to the crane and implored him repeatedly, ‘O, Uncle, why aren’t you saving me from the jaws of death?’

  The crane listened and after a while started thinking, ‘Well, well; I am just about fed up with this monotonous fare… fish day in and day out. Let me have a change of diet… a taste of crabmeat, delicious… out of this world.’ With this thought, he grabbed the crab in his beak and flew up into the sky. After a while, the crab noticed that the crane had passed over many spots where there was water, avoiding them, and was now preparing to alight on a sunbaked ridge of rock; he asked, ‘Uncle, Uncle, where is this fathomless lake that you talked so much about?’

  And the crane laughed, taunting the crab with, ‘Ah! A lake? There, don’t you see those sun-scorched rocks… where, all those lake-dwelling friends of yours are resting comfortably? Soon, you will also find your rest there.’

  As the crab looked down, what he saw was a huge slab of rock heaped high with fish bones… a hideous place of execution. And the crab said to himself: ‘O, my god, what is this?

  (163) Friends appear foes; foes appear friends;

  and all to gain their own ends;

  a few are farsighted enough

  to tell the difference.

  (164) Better take a walk with a snake;

  or share your home with rogues or foes;

  never put your trust in evil friends,

  false, fickle and foolish.

  ‘These piles of bones lying around must be the bones of the fishes that this rascal has already devoured… no doubt on that score. My time seems to be up; what on earth can I do now? On the other hand why spend thought on it?

  (165) Even a parent or preceptor

  if launched upon the path of evil,

  in arrogance undiscerning of right and wrong,

  deserves punishment as the teachings say.

  ‘Moreover:

  (166) Fear danger while it’s still to come;

  once you’re face to face with danger,

  strike hard, with no hesitation.

  ‘So, as this fellow is about to dash me on the rock, I shall grab hold of his neck with all four claws.’ Even as the crane was about to do just that, he found himself firmly seized by the throat with the crab’s claws squeezing it. Through sheer ignorance of how to get out of the crab’s pincer-like grip, the crane got himself decapitated.

  Then the crab crawled back painfully to the lake where the other fishes still lived, holding on tightly to the crane’s slender neck, slender as a lotus-stalk. When the fishes asked in surprise, ‘Brother, why have you returned?’ the crab displayed the severed head like a trophy, and explained, ‘You see, friends, this crane enticed the water-dwellers around here with his dissembling speech and carried them to a large rock not far from here, only to dash them on the rock and eat them at his pleasure. But, because I was destined to live longer, I saw through his tricks and told myself, “This fellow is a betrayer of the trusting.” I got him and have brought his head and neck. Forget all your fears; all the water-dwellers will live safe and happy from now on.’

  The jackal, who was the crow’s friend, concluded with these words, ‘Therefore, I say to you, “Having devoured a horde of fishes…” and so on.’

  The crow now pleaded, ‘Advise me, noble friend, how is that vicious black serpent to be destroyed?’ To which the jackal, his friend, replied, ‘Sir, go to a place frequented by royalty and great lords and be on the look out for a piece of jewellery, a gold chain, a string of pearls or any other ornament left lying around carelessly by some wealthy man or other. When you find it, pick it up and drop it in a place where the search for it and its recovery would result in the slaying of the deadly serpent.’

  From that moment, the crow and his wife started flying around as their instincts prompted. Soon, the hen-crow chanced upon a lake where she saw the queen with her ladies in attendance bathing and playing in the water, having left their clothes, their chains of gold and necklaces of pearls and other jewels at the edge of the lake. The hen-crow swooped down, picked up a gold chain and flew off towards her own tree-home. Seeing her flying off, the royal chamberlain and some of the palace attendants armed with staves and cudgels immediately followed in hot pursuit. The crow quickly dropped the chain into the hollow where the serpent lived, flew off some distance and watched.

  When the king’s men climbed the tree, they came upon the black serpent holed up there, hissing, with expanded hood. They set upon it and cudgelled the cobra to death. Retrieving the gold chain they returned to the lake with a light heart. The crow and his wife lived happily ever after.

  Wily concluded his tale with this comment: ‘To get something done, a proper stratagem ought to be devised; and what’s more:

  (167) In blind arrogance, men often mistakenly disdain

  a weak foe; only to find that foe

  easily put down at first, soon growing unassailable

  like a disease that flares if not contained in
time.

  ‘Nothing in this world is impossible to an intelligent person. As it is said:

  (168) An intelligent man possesses power;

  what power does a fool possess?

  The raging lion in the wild woods

  was laid low by a humble hare.’

  Wary asked with interest: ‘And how did that happen?’ Then Wily began the tale of Dim Wit and the Hare.

  In a certain forest there lived a power-drunk lion named Dim Wit,11 who ceaselessly hunted down the animals living in that forest. He could not set eyes on an animal without slaughtering it at once. Then all the animals of that forest assembled: antelopes and wild boars, wild buffaloes and wild bulls, hares and all others and went to the lion. With woebegone faces, heads bent low and knees rooted to the ground, they began to speak in humble tones: ‘O, great lord! Enough of this killing of the animals living here; it is an extremely cruel and senseless slaughter; an act which is unlawful; which runs contrary to the writ of the world beyond. For we hear that:

  (169) The sinful acts the ignorant commit

  for the sake of a single life,

  bring them only sorrows that extend

  over a thousand recurring lives.

  ‘And again:

  (170) How can a wise man do such acts,

  by which he gains an ill repute,

  by which he loses public trust,

  and goes straight down to the infernal pit?

  ‘And then again:

  (171) For the sake of this wretched body alone,

  a thing perishable and ungrateful,

  a veritable sink of impurities,

  do the ignorant commit sinful acts.

  ‘Realizing this. Your Honour ought not to extirpate all our species in this manner. We on our part shall send one animal by turns, daily, for your food, if only our lord and master would stay at home and wait for it. This way neither our royal master’s earthly existence nor our own species will come to an untimely end. This is the duty of monarchs; pray follow it. For it is aptly observed:

  (172) When the protector of the earth enjoys

  his kingdom lightly, a little at a time,

  as if he were tasting the Elixir of Life,

  in the full knowledge of its resources,

  then prosperity to the fullest extent is his.

  The lord of the earth, who through folly,

  (10) slays his subjects as if they were goats,

  derives satisfaction once only;

  for him there is no second chance.

  (174) A king who aspires to great success,

  should greatly strive to nurture his people

  with gifts, honours, other marks of esteem,

  as a gardener waters his tender sprouts.

  (175) As a cow is milked at the proper time,

  as a vine needs to be watered first

  before its flowers and fruit can be gathered,

  so, too, subjects should be cared for well.

  (176) A king is a lamp, wealth, the oil

  gathered from the people.

  Who has ever perceived him as shining

  lit by in-dwelling virtues radiant.

  (177) As the fine seedling flourishes

  nurtured with care to yield fruit in time,

  so, too, subjects well protected.

  (178) Gold, grain and gems and drinks of various sorts,

  and whatever else kings enjoy

  all come from the people.

  (179) Great monarchs prosper greatly,

  working for the people’s good.

  It’s only in the people’s ruin,

  they find their own ruin, without a doubt.’

  Dim Wit listened to his people attentively and answered, ‘Well and truly spoken, sirs. But, let me make one thing quite clear. If one animal does not present himself here daily, where I sit waiting, then, I promise you, I shall set out and devour all of you.’

  ‘Yes, so be it,’ they chorused their assent. And with a great weight off their minds the animals began to roam in the forest without fear. Each day, at noon, an animal presented itself without fail before Dim Wit, for his midday meal; each species by turn providing one individual, grown old or unworldly, grief-stricken or fearful of losing wife or child.

  One day it was the turn of a hare. When the assembly of animals had instructed him to go to the lion’s lair, the hare set out, thinking as he went along, ‘Now, how on earth is this vicious beast to be got rid of? Let’s consider:

  (180) What is impossible if you have intelligence?

  What is unachievable if your will is firm?

  Who will not fall prey to a sweet and smooth tongue?

  What is unattainable if you persevere?

  ‘I shall destroy that lion.’

  Determined to do this, the hare proceeded very slowly, planning to arrive well beyond the appointed time; and with an anxious heart deliberating all the while as to how best to kill the lion. He finally arrived at the lion’s lair at the close of day. As for the lion, he was in a murderous rage, his throat pinched by hunger and he was licking his chops, thinking, ‘Oho! The very first thing that I’ll do in the morning is to kill all the animals.’

  As Dim Wit was contemplating this prospect, the hare drew near, walking slowly, step by step; he bowed low to the lion and stood respectfully. Seeing that the hare had been so long in coming and was pitiably thin and small as well, the lion, blazing with fury, burst out menacingly, ‘Hey! you rascal! For one thing you are hardly a miserable mouthful; for another, it is long past my dinner-time. As a punishment for this grievous offence, I shall kill you straight away; and then in the morning I shall extirpate all the animals here, every one of them, do you hear?’

  The hare bowed very low and in utmost humility quavered, ‘O, my lord, the offence is not mine; nor is it any offence of the assembly of animals that this has happened. Patience, my lord, please listen and I shall tell you the real reason.’

  The lion retorted grumpily, ‘O, well, all right, tell me quickly, before you find yourself stuck between my fangs.’

  The hare began, ‘My lord, this morning the assembly of animals decided that it was the turn of the hares to provide your meal for the day. Seeing that I was rather small, they picked five other hares to accompany me. On our way, out sprang a lion, from a huge hollow in the ground and confronted us, demanding, “Where do you think you are going? Call upon your chosen deities; say your prayers.” We stood terrified and then answered. “Sir, we are on our way to the lair of our lord, the lion, Dim Wit; according to our contract with our lord, we are his midday meal this day.” And this other lion retorted, “Oh! Is that so? If there is a contract that the animals here have made, it should be a contract with me, since this forest in my domain. That Dim Wit you mentioned is an imposter. Call him out to come and meet me here; and come back quickly. There shall be a trial of strength between the two of us and whoever is the victor will be the king here; and he will have the right to eat the animals in this forest.” Ordered by him, my lord, I have come to Your Majesty. This is the reason for the delay in my arrival. Your Majesty may now do what you think right.’

  At these words, Dim Wit roared, saying, ‘My good fellow, if this is so, come, show me that false lion, that imposter, so that by venting my anger against the animals on this fellow, I can regain my peace of mind. For it is wisely observed:

  (181) Land, friends, or gold are the triple fruits of war;

  in the absence of even one of these

  a man is foolhardy to start a war.

  (182) Where no rich booty awaits him;

  where only defeat faces him;

  a wise man does not look for grounds

  that may give rise to a war.’

  The hare said, ‘What you say is indeed true, my lord. Warriors fight when they see a threat to their territory. This fellow however, is safely holed up in a fortress. He emerged from his fortress and blocked our way, as you know. It is a fact that an enemy ensconced in a fortress, is a formidable ene
my. As it is excellently noted:

  (183) Not a thousand elephants,

  and not ten thousand horses,

  can furnish kings with the power

  that a single fortress can.

  (184) A lone archer stationed on the ramparts

  can hold his own against a hundred foes.

  Therefore it is that experts on statecraft

  sing the praises of a fortress secure.

  (185) Of old, guided by his preceptor

  Indra, fearing the Titan, Gold Robe,

  had a fortress framed and built for himself

  by the Divine Architect’s12 skill and powers.

  (186) Then Indra bestowed the boon

  that a king who held a fortress,

  a conqueror would be. Therefore,

  the earth abounds with fortresses.’

  Dim Wit listened to the words of the hare, and said, ‘Ah! My good friend, show this imposter to me, even, if as you say, he is skulking within his fortress, so that I might kill him. For how aptly is it observed:

  (187) The mightiest of heroes

  if he fails to nip disease in the bud

  or fell a foe the instant he rears his head,

  can expect to be struck down himself

  by disease or foe greatly grown in strength.

  ‘On the other hand:

  (188) A hero who goes forth girt in energy and pride,

  having taken the measure of his own power and strength,

  can single-handed smite his foes, even

  as the Bhṛgu Chief13 hacked down the princes.’

  The hare demurred. ‘That is all very well, my lord. But, even so, the lion that I saw earlier today was prodigiously strong. I really don’t think it is wise on the part of our lord to go forth and seek him without being fully aware of his strength and prowess. As the proverb says:

  (189) To rush headlong in rash impatience

  before measuring one’s own strength and power

  against the other’s is to court disaster,

  like the moth that plunges into a blazing fire.