© Munindra Misra
It is unwise to poke your nose in affairs that do not concern you
Who interferes in other's work, surely comes to griefCuriosity killed the cat
A merchant building a temple in the middle of his garden
eagerly,
Masons and carpenters
were working for the merchant adequately,
For their lunch they took time off every day to go to the town
daily,
One day when workers had
left for lunch came a batch of monkeys.
Panchatantra Book 1. 17.
One of these monkeys then
observed a sawed log of wood partially,
And a wedge that was fixed in it – so it did not close up
completely,
Curious to know what it was, he tugged at the wedge furiously.
Panchatantra Book 1. 18.
At last the wedge came
off, but trapped the legs of the monkey,
And very soon, not able to free his legs, the monkey died in
misery,
Karataka: “It is unwise to poke in affairs not concerning us
surely,
We have a food store - so
why bother about the lion unnecessarily?”
Panchatantra Book 1. 19.
Damanaka retorted, “Food is not centre of our life
unquestionably,
The wise say seek help of king to help friends and harm foes
truly,
Many ways to get food – but
in life learning, courage, wealth do be,
If living is just the
goal, even the crow lives eating leftovers only.”
Panchatantra Book 1. 20.
Karataka: “True – but we no longer are ministers that is a
certainty,
The wise have ever said that the dim-witted person only does be,
Impatient and ever eager to offers uncalled for advice
unhesitatingly,
To the king - which but invites, not only insult but is deceit
clearly”.
Panchatantra Book 1. 21.
Damanaka: "They earn his favour who serve the King
devotedly,
And do not remain where they
are but they do ever rise steadily,
They rise in office who realize
why the king is generous or angry,
It is necessary to be in
the good books of the king undoubtedly.”
Panchatantra Book 1. 22.
“Okay, what do you want to do now?” asked Karataka patiently,
Damanaka: “You know the king is scared - we will inquire earnestly,
The cause - so get close
to him - using the six ways of diplomacy”;
Karataka: “How do you recognize the king is scared in reality?”
Panchatantra Book 1. 23.
Looks and expression indicate the working of the mind surely,
I will approach the
fear-struck king and with my intelligence truly,
Dispel his fear and once again become his minister positively”.
Panchatantra Book 1. 24.
Karataka: “How can you do it, you know not service principles fully?”
Damanaka: “I know what makes the king’s loyal servant
certainly”,
Karataka: “In that case, I wish you all good luck with all
sincerety”.
Taking leave of Karataka; Damanaka called on the king humbly.
Panchatantra Book 1. 25.
Seeing son of his old minister, King Pingalaka ordered his
sentry,
To bring him into his presence and Damanaka came immediately,
Then Damanaka paid his respects and bowed low modestly,
“We have not seen you for some time” the king spoke evidently.
Panchatantra Book 1. 26.
“I do not know of what service I can be to you, my majesty,
Yet, according to wise, all
persons however high or low they be,
Can be of use to the king, but I beg your indulgence hopefully,
For generations we served
the king, I beg your favour Majesty.”
Panchatantra Book 1. 27.
“All right, competent or incompetent you our old minister’s son
be,
Tell me whatever you have
in your mind,” the king stated moodily,
“What made you come back -
may I ask you my lord ever humbly,
From the lake without drinking water” Damanaka asked reluctantly.
Panchatantra Book 1. 28.
Because of all this I wanted to depart from the banks
immediately,
This strange animal that
could make such loud sounds ferociously,
Must to be powerful as the sounds he makes – I fear undoubtedly.”
Panchatantra Book 1. 29.
Damanaka: “If it is only sound that is your problem - Your
majesty,
I wish to submit that the sounds can sometimes misleading be,
May I tell you the jackal’s story, how it overcame sound’s fear
fully”
The King ordered “Let us hear it – that appealing story completely.
Panchatantra Book 1. 30.
© Munindra Misra 
No comments:
Post a Comment