Es Faustus Chronicle of Tee Cid. An, an Pantagruel. Ce, by Machiav

MORL EY’

S UNIVERSAL L IBRARY.

1 3. HERRICK’S HESPERIDES.

1 4 . COLERIDGE’S TABLE TALK :WITH THEANGIEMARINER AND CHRISTABEL.

1 5. BOCCACCIO’

S DECAMERON.

I 6 . STERNE’S TRISTRAM SHANDY.

1 7 . HOMER’

S ILIAD,Translated by George Chapma.

1 8 . MEDIEVAL TALES.

1 9 . JOHNSON ’S RASSELAS ; ANDVOLTAIRE’

S CANDI

PL AYS AND POEMS BY BEN JONSON .

2 I . HOBBES’S L EVIATHAN .

2 2 . BUTLER’S HUDIBRAS.

23. IDEAL COMMONWEALTHS MORE’S UTOPI

BACON ’

S NEWATLANTIS ; AND CAMPANEL

CITYO F THE SUN .

24 . CAVENDISH’S LIFE OF WOLSEY.

25 a nd 26 . DON QUIXOTE (Two Volum es).

2 7 . BURLESQUE PLAYS AND POEMS.

G E O R GE R O U T L E D GE A N D S O N S,

L O N D O N A N D,N EW YO R K .

I A L L A N TYN B , HAN SO N A N D c o no m sum u

c almnossrm'

r. L O N DO N

FA B L ES A N D P R O VER B S

from the S flhfikflt

B E IN G TH E

H I T O P A D E S A

TRA N SL ATE D BY

C H A R L E S WI L K I N S

WITH A N IN TR O D U C TIO N B Y H E N R Y M O R L E Y

L L .D ., P R O F E SS O R O I" E N G L ISH L ITE R ATU R E A T

U N IVE R S ITY C O L L E GE , L O N D O N

L O N D O N

G E O R G E R O UT L E D GE A N D s

B R O A DWAY, L U DGA TE H IL L

N E W Y O R K : 9 L A F A Y E T T E P L A C E

1 885

I N T R O D U C T I O N .

IN th e fam ily oflanguag es to wh i c h E nglish belongs, th e IndoE uro p e an F am ily, Sa nskri t is eldest bro th er. Th e p are nt

language was sp oken in a rem o te p re h isto ri c tim e by a p e o plellVlng so m ewh ere about th e fiv e ri v e rs of th e P unjaub. B ym igrati o ns of th a t p e o ple westward th ere were afte rwards

e stablish ed allth e n ati o ns o f th e Ira n ia n, Sla v o n i c , C eltic ,T euto n i c a nd C la ssic alsto cks Th e p are nt language , A rya n ,h as itselflo ng sm c e been lo st but itswo rds, subje c ted to regularv a ri e ti e s o f c h ange , h a v e p assed into m any lands. A dd iti o ns

h a v e be en m any, but th o se wo rds ofwh ich th e ro o ts are c om m o n

to us all, bea rW itne ss to th e c om m o n o rig in ofth e c h ief nati o ns

of E uro p e , a nd to th e irbro th erh o o d with ra c es now in Ind i a .

D esc endants of th a t rem o te p re h i sto ric A ryan p e ople , wh o te

m a ine d in Ind ia and we re less rem o te,but also p reh i stori c , sp o k e

Sa nskri t. Th ey left in th e ir own to ngue sa c red bo oks by wh ic hSanskritwa se stablish ed a s a cla ssi c allanguag e . Itwasc ultiv a tedby th e relig io us o rders and used as th e language in wh i c h allh igh relig i o us tea c h ing wa s ensh ri ned . Th us i ts gram m a rwa s

stud i ed a nd p reserv ed, a nd th e la nguag e itself, firstborn ofth e oldA rya n , h asbe en m a inta ined in its p urity untilth is day. A s th e

v e rna c ula rsp e e c h of a liv ing pe o ple , a p pli ed to allth e ir c om m o n

da ily wants, Sanskrit h as n o t be en used Wi th in th e m em o ry ofm an , but in som e p arts of Ind i a th e v erna c ular

\do es no t d iffer

from it v ery gre atlyT h e oldestSa nskritbo oks are a t th e fo unta in-h e ad ofE uro pe an

li te ra ture . Th ese a re th e fo urVe da s, re ga rded a s th e so urc e ofallo th er Sastra s o r sa c red bo o ks. Th e Vedas a re writte n in

an Iam bic m e a sure o f e igh t syllables, a nd th e e arli est ofth emh a v e be e n assigne d by S irW illi am Jon es to a date as e a rly a s

l500 ye arsbefo re C hri st. T h e wo rdVe da m e ans knowledg e , butth o ugh nam es of auth o rs of th e se v eralp a rts were pre se rv ed ,th e wh ole wa s taken to m e an insp ired knowledg e ,

“th e self

e v identwo rd ro c e ed ing o ut of th e m o uth ofGod , th is is th eVe da .

” Th e rst ofth e Veda s, c alled R ig from a wo rd m e a n i ng

6 IN TR O D U C TIO N

p ra ise , e x presses th e relatio ns betwe en m an and Go d The

se c o nd , c alle d Yajur, from a wo rd m e aning wo rsh ip , c o nta ins

instruc ti o ns up o n c erem o n i al T h e th i rd, c alled S am a , from a

word S ign ifying a praye r arra ng ed fo r sing ing , c o nta ins p i e c es

arra nged as c h ants. A th arv a , th e fo urth Veda ,le ss anc ie nt th anth e rest, c o nta insfo rm sofim pre c ati o n , p raye rs, h ym ns, and fiftytwo th e olo g i c altre ati sesc alled U p a n ish ads A th a rv an isreferred

to in it a s a king ap p o i nted by B ra hm a to p ro te c t i nferi o rbe ings.

Th ere are also de ta c h ed U p an ish ads wh ic h are regarded as of

le ss auth o rity th a n th e fifty-two c o nta ine d in th e A th arv a

Veda . Th e U p an ish a ds, o r a rgum enta ti v e p arts o f th e Vedas,a re regarded a s fo rm ing th e Jnana , o r p h ilo so p h i c alp art o f th esa c red bo o ks

,and th e olo g i c alargum ent i s ba se d o n th e se ; th e

p arts de v o te d to pure te a c h ing of th e relig i o us system , its

c ustom s, sa c rific e s, c erem o n i e s,form th e B ra hm anas a nd th e

p rayers and hym ns in e a c h Veda c o nstitute its Sa nh ita Thus,W ith rega rd to th is m a tter the Veda s are sa id to c o nta in B rah

m ana s, Jnana a nd Sanh ita Th e B ra hm ana s re c ognize a th re e

fold Veda , n o t re cko n ing th e fo urth , a nd de riv e th e th ird fromth e first, th e R ig

-Veda , wh i c h te ac h es th at th ere is o ne o nlysuprem e Go d, a pure sp irit dwelling in e ternalrest a nd S ilenc e ,wh o i s All, a nd in All. H e i s th e suprem e B rahm a ,wh o c re a te d

th e wo rld by th re e m an ife sta ti o ns drawn from h im self, andnam ed B rahm a, Vish nu, S i v a , o rig i nally un ited in o n e e ssenc e ,

so th at th e g rea t O ne be c am e known a s o ne P erso n and th re e

g o ds. B rahm a repre sents C re a ti o n , Vish nu P i eserv ati o n, andS iv a D estruc ti o n . O fVish nu, th e P re serv er

,th ere h a v e be e n

n ine A v a tars o r In c arna ti o ns, th e first S i x were in th e g olde na g e of th e world, th e se v enth wa s a s R am a

,th e e igh th a s

K rish na , th e n i nth a s B uddh a . T h e tenth,i n wh ic h h e Will

a p p e a r a s a wh ite h o rse , i s ye t awa ited In h islast A v a ta r, asB uddh a, Vi sh nu prom o ted sc ep ti c ism to th e end th a t th e g iants,wanting fa i th , m igh t c e ase to obta in by prayer th e p owers th at

th ey m i sa p pli edTh e tim e duri ng wh ic h th e Ve das were pro duc ed e x tended

o v er c enturies, Wi th p e ri o d i c c h ang e s of style , and h as be en

d i v ided in to fo ur p e ri o ds, th e last of wh i c h , from 600 to

200 B C , was th e p erio d of Sutra literature . Sutra m e a ns a

string , and stands for a litera ture of sh ort sayings strung to

g eth er, by te a c h ers wh o stud i e d bre v ity, and o fwh om i t wa s

sa id, in th e i r own pro v erbialway, th a t a n auth o r rejo i c e th i n th e

e c o nom izm g of h alf a sh ort v owela s m uc h a s in th e birth of a

so n .

Th ere were drawn from th e fourVedasfourU p a-Vedas. O ne

was o n M ed i c ine from th e R ig-Veda o ne o n M usi c from th e

Sam a -Ve da o ne o n A rm s and Im plem ents ofWar, from th e

Yajur-Veda a nd o ne o n six ty-four M e c h a n ic alA rts, from th e

A th arv a-Veda . Th e U p a-Veda s are nowlo st.

I

IN TR O ! ) U C TIO N 7

Also th ere we te six Ve danga s, o r lim bs of th e Ve da , ti e a ti ngse v e rally of S i x sc i enc e s n e e ded fo r i nterpreta ti o n of th e sa c red

bo o ks. Th ey we re P ro n i i n C i a ti o n , Gram m ar,P ro so dy, E x pla

na ti o n of d iffic ult wo rds o r p h ra se s, R elig i o us C erem o n i al, an dA sti olo gy. T o th e se were a dde d fo ur U p a ng as o r a dd iti o nallim bs H isto ry (th e P ura na ) ; L o g i c (th e N yaya ) M o ralP h iloso p h y (th e M im a nsal a nd Jurisp rudenc e (th e D h a rm a -Sastra).Th e e arli e st ofth ese sa c red wri tings, in th e ir e a rli e st p erio d,

were p i eserv ed o nly by o raltra d i ti on . Th ey c o nti nued to li v ein th e p erso ns of m en of th e sa c red c aste , a nd thus di fferent

te x ts o r v ersio ns ofth e Ve das, known a s Sa kh as,were p re serv edin d iffe rent C h arana s o r sc h o ols of th e B rahm a ns, wh o pre

serv ed th e bo oks in m em o ry. A n am e fo r a B rahm a n se ttlem e nt

was a P ari sh ad . It wa s sa id th a t“fo ur o r e v e n th re e able m en

from am o ng th e B ra hm a ns i n a Villag e wh o k now th e Veda and

ke ep th e sa c rific ialfire , fo rm a P ari sh ad M em bers ofd ifferentP a rish ads m igh tbe asso c i a te d i n o ne sc h o olo r C h a ra na .

O fth e L aw B o o k s, o r D h a rm a -Sa stra s, th e m o st a n c i ent andm o st fam o us is th at known a s th e

“Insti tutes ofM ann ,

” firsttransla ted i nto E ngli sh by S i rW illiam Jo ne s M anu wa s fabledto be th e so n of B rahm a, to h a v e p rese rv ed th e Veda s fromdestruc ti o n in th e H i ndo o delug e , and to h a v e g i v en in th atB o ok of L aws a n abstra c t ofth e ir c o nte nts.

Th e Ind i a ns h ad also six D arsanas, o r system s of h ilo so phy,allse eking th e h igh est g o o d in e ternalh a pp iness. a n alla c c e p ting th e auth o rity of th e Veda s but interp re ting th em v a ri o usly.

Th e Slx system s are esse ntially th re e . O ne, th e N yaya , brings

knowledge in th ro ugh th e fiv e c h a nn els of th e se nse s o ne , th eS ankh ya , lo oks to th e em o ti o ns, a nd se eks th e so urc e s of

ple a sure , p a in , and th e n eutralsta te of ind ifferenc e , in wh i c h

state s alo ne i t h olds e x ternalna ture to c o nsist ; o ne , th eVedanti n , se eks o nly to de term ine Wh at Is o r Is N o t. B eside sth e

p h ilo sop h y ofth e D arsa na s, th ere were th e te a c h ings ofse v eralse c ts ; am ong wh i c h th e m o st im p orta nt i n th e ir influenc e o n

th o ugh t was th a t of th e B uddh ists, c h i ef o pp o ne nts of th e

B ra h m ans. Th e i r founder, B uddh a Sakya M um,began h is

te a c h i ng a t an un c erta i n da te , but i t p re v a iled in India and

C eylo n i n th e th ird c entury befo re C h rist, a nd was intro duc ed

into C h i na A D 6 1 Th o ugh th e B rahm ans finally pre v a iled i n

Ind i a , th e B uddh ists h eld th e ir own in C eylo n , B urm ah andC h i na . Th ey den ied th e e x istenc e of th e O ne F i rst C auserep resented by th e B ra hm a wh o ga v e forth B rahm a, Vishnu a nd

S i v a to cre ate , preserv e , destroy ; O ne wh o is Allin All, a ndof wh om allfo rms of div m ity

— Indra , th e H eav ens Wi th h is

th underbolt and th ousand eyes ; Surya, th e sun ; A gn i , fire ;P a v ana, wind Varuna , o c e an—are m an ifestati ons. N o t lesswere th e elem ents o f h um an life a nd death suc h m anife statio ns

ofthe God in all,—C anasa , Wisdom , p erfecterofwork ; L akshm i,

8 IN TR O D U C TIO N .

g o dde ss ofprosp erity, form ed by th e c hurning ofth e se a S a ra s

wa ti, g o ddess oflearn ing ; and Yam a , judge of th e de ad .

E p ic and dram atic p o e try form also a p art of Sanskritlite rature . Th e two gre at Sanskrit e p ic s are th e R am ayana , o r

A dv entures of R am a (o ne of th e inc arnatio ns ofVish nu) , a ndth e M ah a -bharata ; bo th of th em le ss anc ie nt th an th e Veda s,but bo th so old th a t, like th e Ve da s

, th ey were lo ng p reserv e dby o raltraditi o n before th ey were c om m itted to writing . Th e

M ah a -bh arata is in e igh te e n bo o ks, c o nta in ing alto ge th er

lines, and is a c olle c ti o n o f nati onallegends. In oldInd i an leg end th ere were two dyn astie s of th e no rth ; th o se of

th e Sun , th o se ofth e M o on . R am a,th e h ero ofth e R am aya n a ,

wa s ofth e line ofth e Sun B h ara ta , th e h ero of th e c h i ef sto ryin th e M a h a -bhara ta , was ofth e line ofth e M o o n .

T h e B h aga v ad-Gita is an e p i so de in th e M ah a bhara ta , a

div ine so ng in th e fo rm of a c alm d i alo gue o n e ightee n subje c tsh eld betwe en K rish na , th e e igh th A v atar ofVi sh nu

,a nd h is

p up ilA rjuna , wh ile tum ult ofbattle ra g ed around th em .

T h e grea t dram a tist i n Sa nsk rit literature was K ah dasa,

auth o r of th e Sakuntala . Th e oldest known c olle c tio n ofF ables is th e P anc h a-Ta ntra , a c ollec tio n into F i v e Tantra s o r

se c ti o ns, wh ic h is represente d by th e bo ok n ow in th e re a der’

s

h and,Th e H ito padesa , o r F ri e ndly Instruc tor, in fo ur bo o ks.

Th e p urp o se ofits i nterwo v en fablesa nd m a x im swa s to p re se nt,in a wa y likely to W in and ke ep a ttentio n, a system of g o o d

c o unselfo r righ t tra in ing of a p ri nc e in allth e c h iefaffa irs oflife . It c om es to us from a fa r pla c e and tim e a s a m a nualofworldly wisdom , insp ire d thro ugh out by th e relig ion o fi ts plac ea nd tim e . Th ere are , in fa c t, so far as c o nc ern th e gre a t fo rc esof N attire , but a c c identald ifferenc es be twe en th e c i ties ofm e n

o r th e ant-h ills of to -day a nd ye sterday. Wh e n allowanc e h a sbee n m ade for som e realp ro gre ss in c iv ilizatio n

,a s in th e

re c o gn iti o n of th e pla c e ofwom en in so c iety, e v ery fable in th eH ito pa desa c a n stillbe ap plied to

_

h um an c h ara c ter ; e v erym a x im quo ted from th e W ise m en of two o r th ree th o usa nd

ye ars a go , wh en p arted from th e lo c ala c c ide nts of fo rm, m ig h t

find its tim e forbe ing quoted now in c hurch , at h om e , o r up o n’C h ange .

H . M .

Sep tember, 1885.

TR A N S L A TO R’

S P R E F A CE .

TH E following translation, begun a nd completed thissum m e r during a tem porary re sidence at Ba th, is afaith ful portrait of a be autiful work, which in th e

opinions o fm any lea rne d m en,nat ivesand E urope ans,

with Whom I had th e honour to conve rse upon th e

subj e ct before I left Bengal , is th e Sanskrit originalofthose ce lebrate d fables, which afte r passing throughm ost of th e O rie ntal language s, ancient a nd m ode rn ,

with vario us alteratioi is to accom m odate them to

th e taste and ge nius of those fo r whose benefit oram usem ent they we re de signe d, and unde r diffe re ntappella tions, at length we re introduced to th e knowledge o f th e E uro pe an world with a title im portingthem to have be en o rigina lly written by P ilpay, orBidpa i, a n ancient Brahm an ; two nam es ofwhich,as far as m y inquirie s have exte nded, th e Brahm ansof th e present tim es are tota lly ignorant . S ir

Wi lliam Jones, whose surprising talents are e v e rem ploye d in se eking fre sh source s o f knowledge , a ndprom o ting the ir cultivatio n

,in a n e legant disco urse

de live red by h im th e a6th o f F ebruary, I 7 86 ,

10 TR A N S L A TO R ’S P R E F A C E .

since m y re turn fro m Ind ia, at a m e e ting of th e

Socie ty fo r inqu iring into th e H istory, civil and

natura l, th e A ntiquitie s, A rts, Sciences, and L ite ratureo f A sia, expresses h is sentim e nts upon this subje ctin th e following words

The ir (th e H indo o s) N iti-Sastra, o r System of

E thics, is yet pre se rved, a nd th e fables ofVishnuSe rm a, whom we ridiculously call P ilpay, are th e

m ost be autiful, if no t th e m ost ancient, colle ction of

A polo gues in th e wo rld . Th ey we re first translatedfro m th e Sanskrit in th e sixth ce ntury, by Buze tch um ihr, o r

“bright asth e sun,”

th e chiefphysician,and

afte rwards th e Viz ie r o f th e gre a t A nush irwa n, and

are extant unde r va rious nam e s in m ore than twe ntylanguages. but the ir origina l title is H ito p adesa , oram icable instructio n a nd as th e ve ry existe nce ofIE so p , whom th e A rabs be lieve to ha ve be en an

A byssinia n,appe ars rathe r doubtful, I a m no t d isla

clined to suppose tha t th e first m oral fables whichappe a red in E urope we re of Ind ian or E thiopianorigin .

”

Granting th e H ito p adesa be th e work it is supposedto be , to save th e learned reade r th e trouble of tefe rring to othe r books to trace its h istory

,I have

he re brought all I have colle cted upo n th e subje ctunde r o ne view .

Th e le arne d F ra se r,in h is ca ta logue o f O rienta l

m anuscripts, unde r th e article A ya r D an ish, spe aks

TR A N S L A TO R’S P R E F A C E . I t

thus : Th e ancient Brahm ins o f India, afte r a

great de a l o f tim e and labour, compi led a tre atise

(whic h they calle d Kurtuk D um n ik*) in whichwe re inserted th e Choice st treasure s o fwisdom ,

and

th e pe rfe ctest rules fo r gove rn ing a people . Thisbook they presented to the ir R ajahs, wh o kept itwith th e greatest se cre cy and care . A bout th e tim e

ofM ah o m m ed’

s birth, or th e latte r e nd of th e six thc entury, N o ish erv an th e Just, wh o then re igned inP e rsia , discove red a g re at inclination to se e that boo kfo r wh ich purpose ohe B urzuv ia , a physician, wh ohad a surprising ta le nt in lea rning se ve rallanguages,particularly th e ’ Sanskrit, Was introduced to h im as

th e prope re st pe rson to be em ployed to g et a copythereof. H e went to India whe re , afte r som e years’

stay, and gre at trouble , h e procured it. It was translated in to th e P e hluv i language by h im , and B uzr

jum eh r th e Viz ie r. N o ish erv an eve r afte r, and all h issuccessors, th e P e rsian kings, had this book in h ighe ste em, and took th e gre atest care to ke ep it se cre t.A t last A bu Jaffer M ansour zu N ikky, wh o was th e

se cond Khal iifo f th e A bassi re ign , by gre a t se arch

g o t a ! co py the re of in th e P e hluv i language , and

orde red Im an Hossau A bdalM o k affa , wh o was

th e m ost le a rned of th e a g e , to translate it intoA rabic. This prince eve r afte r m ade it h is guide ,

The K arattaka and D am anak a o fth e followm g wo rk .

12 TR A N S L A TO R’

S P R E F A C E .

a nd no t only in affa irs re la ting to th e go ve rnm ent,

but in priva te life also .

In th e year 380 o f th e Heg ira , Sultan Mahm udGhazi put it into v e rse : A nd afterwards, in th e ye a r

51 5, by o rde r o f B h eram Shah be n Massaud, th a twhich A bda l M o k affa had tra nsla ted was re translate dinto P e rsic, by A bul Mala N a sse r A llah M ustofi;

a nd th is is that Kulila Dum na which is now exta nt.A s this latte r had to o m a ny A rabic ve rses a nd obso le tephrases in it, Molana A li be n Hosse in Vac z , at th erequest o f E m ir S c heli, ke epe r o f th e se a ls to

Sultan Ho sse in M irza, put it into a m ore m ode rnstyle , and gave it th e title o fA unar S o h eli .

“ In th e ye a r 1002, th e Gre a t M oghol Jala l o ’

D in M ah o m m ed A kba r orde red h is own secre ta rya nd v izier, th e le arne d A bul F a zl, to i llustrate th e

o bscure passages, abridge th e lo ng d igre ssions, andput it into such a style a swould be m ost fam iliar toall capa cities ; which h e acco rdingly d id, a nd gaveit th e h am e o f A ya r D anish , or th e Crite rion of

Wisdom .

”

F rom o the r sources I have drawn th e followingconclusions z—Th at in th e ye ar 1 7 09, th e KulilaDum na , th e P e rsian ve rsion of A bul Ma la N asse rA llah M ustofim ade in th e 515th yea r of th e H egira ,was tra nslated into F rench with th e title o f L es

Co nse ils etle s Maxim e s de P ilpay, Philo sophe Indien ,

sur les dive rs E ta ts de la Vie . This edition re

https://www.forgottenbooks.com/join

14 TR A N S L A TO R’S P R E F A C E .

to a flatte ring portrait, whe re characte ristic features,be cause no t altoge the r co nsonant to E uropean taste ,m ust hav e be en sacrificed to th e harm ony of c o m

p osition .

C H A R L E S WIL K IN S .

Q U E E N’S SQ U A R E , B L o o M sB U R v ,

i s:N ovember, 1 7 87 .

C O N T E N T S .

A U'

rno R’s IN TR O D U C TIO N

C H A PTE R I

TH E A C Q U ISITIO N O F A F R IE N D .

P A B L E

I. Th e story ofth e p igeons, th e crow, th e m ouse, the torto ise ,

and th e deer

II. The trav eller and th e tig er

III. Th e deer, th e jackal, and th e crowIV. Th e blind jack al, the cat, and th e birds

V. Th e h isto ry ofH iranyak a th e m ouse

VI. Th e old m an and h isyoung Wife

VII. Th e huntsm an, th e de er, th e bo ar, th e serp ent, and th e

jackal

VIII. The R ajah ’s so n and th e m erchant

’swife

IX. The jackaland th e eleph ant

C H A P TE R II.

TH E SE P A R A TIO N O F A F AVO U R ITE .

I. The story ofth e bull, th e two jackals, and th e lionII. Th e ap e and th e wedge

III. Th e th ief, th e ass, and th e do g

IV. Th e lion, th e m ouse , and th e c at

V. Th e p o orwom an and th e bell

VI. The adv entures ofK andarpak etu, c om p rising th e story of

th e c owkeep er, th e ba rber, and th e ir wiv es; and th e

h istory of th e m erch ant Wh ose av aric e o c casio ned th e

lo ss ofallh is we alth

16 C O N TE N TS

F A B L E

VII. The farm er’swife and h er two gallants

VIII. Th e crow, the golden ch a in, and th e black serpentIX . Th e lion and th e rabbit

X. Th e partridges and th e sea

C H A P T E R III.

O F D ISP U TIN G.

I. Th e history ofth e geese a nd th e peaco cksII. Th e birds and th e m onk eys

III. Th e ass dressed in a tiger’s sk in

IV. Th e ele phants and th e rabbits

V. Th e go ose and th e crow

VI. Th e Varttaka and th e crow

VII. Th e wh eelwright and h isW ife

VIII. The blue jackal

IX . Th e m an wh o sacrific ed h is own so n

X. Th e barberwh o killed a beggar

C H A P TE R IV.

O F M A K IN G P E A C E .

C ontinuation ofth e h isto ry o fth e geese and the peac o cks

Th e torto ise and th e two gee se

Th e th re e fish

Th e m erch ant and h is artfulwife

Th e bo obies and weasel

Th e m ouse and the h erm it

The bo oby and th e crab

Th e B rah m an wh o brak e th e p o ts and p ans

Th e two g iants

Th e B rahm an and h is go at

The cam el, th e crow, th e tiger, and th e ja ckal

Th e old serp ent and th e fro gs

Th e B rahman and h isweasel

T H E H IT O P A D E SA

F A B L E S A N D P R O VE R B S .

A UTH O R ’

S IN TR O D U CTIO N .

R ev erenee to Garter I

R ev erenee to S araswa tee 1

M A Y th e com ple tion, through th e m e rcy o f

D h o o rjate e ,i o n Whose he ad is pla nted a cresce nta m ong th e frothy stre am s o f Janh a v e e ,§ be fo r th e

e d ific atio n ofth e worthy !

The god o fprudence and policy.

'l' Th e goddess ofh arm o ny and th e arts.

I O ne o f th e ti tles of Sc e v a , th e D e ity in h is destroying quality.

Th e wo rd si gnifies, be tuba wea rer/z Ins Izazr bound about bz: bead m {be

form of a h a m ,as it is now wo rn by th ose p en itentswh o are k nown in

India by th e nam e ofYog e es or Sanyase es.

A nam e of th e riv er Ganga , o r th e Gange s, as it is errone ouslycalled Th is ri v er is sup p osed to flow from th e h a ir o f Se e v a Th e

truth se em s to be , th at Se e v a is th e nam e of th e m ounta in i n wh ich is

th e so urc e of th at riv er ; for am ongst o th er e p i th ets usually g iv en to

th at D e ity, is found th at of Ge ere esa , L ord of m ounta i ns; and h is

c o nsort i s c om m only c alled D o orga , a pla c e of dgfieult a ccess, and

P arv ate e, a p atro nym i c form ed from part/am, a m ounta in.

18 TH E H ITO P A D E SA

Thi s work, entitled H ito p adesa} affordeth

e legance in th e Sanskrit"

? idiom s,in eve ry part

va rie ty o f language , and inculc ateth th e doctrine o f

prudence a nd po l icy.

‘ Th e wise m a n sho uld study th e a cquisition of

science and rich es, as if h e we re no t subj e ct to sickness and de ath ; but to th e duties o f re ligio n h e

sho uld atte nd , a s if de a th had se ized h im by th e

ha ir.‘Knowledge p ro duc eth hum ility ; from hum ility

pro ce ede th wo rthiness ; fro m wo rthine ss riche s are

acquired ; from riches re ligion,1 a nd thence happiness.

‘ O f all things knowledge is este em ed th e m o stpre cious trea sure ; be cause o f its in c apa city to bestole n, to be given away, or eve r to be co nsum ed .

‘ Knowle dge intro duc eth a m a n'

to a cquaintanceand, as th e hum ble stre am to th e oce an, so do th itconduct h im into th e hard-acquired prese nce o f th e

prince , whence fortune flowe th.

A c om p ound o flater, h ealth , welfare , m m, a pre p ositio n, im plying

p rox zm zty , and a’

esa S ign ifyi ng a s/zowm g o r p oz’

ntzng . Th e c o m m o n

a c c e p tati on of th e word i s useful, o rben ey‘iezal, zm truetzon .

1' Th e le arned language of th e B rahm ans is so c alled . It is a c om

p o und of rem (th e m o fra m be i ng , by rule , c h ang ed to 12,befo re a

dentals as th e m of th e L ati n com befo re th e sam e letter in th e wo rd

com tructzon ), a pre p ositio n Signifying eompletzon , and skrzta (fo rbe 1m),done, m a de,fim sbea

’

3: A c c o rd i ng to o ur m o de of th ink ing th is se em s o dd ; butwh e re

relig io n c onsists in sacrific es, and o th er e x p e nsi v e c erem o n i es, a p o o r

m an h ath but a sad c h anc e of pro v id ing fo r h isfuture h app iness.

F A B L E S A N D P R O VE R B S . 19

There are two spe cies of k nowledge in use : th e

knowledge of a rm s, and th e knowledge of boo ks.

Th e first isth e scoffof th e wise , whilst th e last is fore ve r ho no ured .

‘ A s th e im pressions m ade upon a new vesse l areno t easi ly to be effa ced , so he re youth are ta ugh t

p rudence through th e allurem e nt offable .

’

This work is d ivided unde r four heads —Th e

A cquisition of a F rie nd . Th e Separation of a

F avourite . O f D isputing. O f m aking P e a ce . A nd

it is, chiefly, drawn and writte n from th e Tantra and

o the r Sastras.

’

O n th e banks o fth e rive r B h ag e erath e e'l‘ the re is a

re m a rkable city ca lle d P ata ne e p utra ,t whe re the rewas forme rly a R ajah, e ndued with every no blequality

, who se nam e was Sudarsa na .§ O ne d ay h e

he ard th e two fo llowing ve rses, as they we re re

p eating by som e o ne

it Th e translator has re ason to suppose th at th ese words e x te nd onlyto th e m ax im s, wh ic h are , in th e o rig inal, in v e rse , and are known to be

quo tati o ns from o th e r auth o rs , p arti c ularly fro m th e M ah abh a rat, th e

Sm re e tee -sastra ofM ano o , th e Ge eta , and, as th e auth o r h im selfsays,th e Tantra -sastra

‘l‘ Th e ri v e rGa nges

I A n anc i ent nam e for th e c ity wh i c h 15 now c alle d P a tna .

Allth e pro p er nam es thro ugh o ut th i swo rk are , lik e th is, sign ific ant Th ey h a v e an awkward ap p e aranc e wh en transla ted, wh i c h is

th e re aso n so few h a v e bee n rendered into E nglish . Th e nam es ofp er

so ns i a Ind ia are , to th is day, allS ign ificant, and, fo r th e m o st p art,

den i ed from th e Sanskrit.

20 TIIE H ITO P A D E SA

H e wh o is no t possesse d of such a book as willd ispe l m a ny doubts, po int out hidde n tre asures, andis

, as it were , a m irror of allthings, is e ven a n

ignora nt m an .

‘Youth, abundant weal th, high birth, and inex

p erienc e, are , e ach of them , the so urce o f ruin.

Wha t then m ust be th e fate o f h im in who m allfo ura re com bined ?’

Th e R ajah h a d no soo ne r he a rd the se lines tha nh e began to conside r, with a n affl icte d heart, th esitua tio n ofh is so ns, wh o we re ye t unacqua inte d withboo ks, a nd wande ring in th e pa ths o fe rror.

‘Wha t be nefit is the re in a so n wh o is ne ithe rle a rned no r virtuo us ! O r, o fwha t use is a sightlesseye ? Such an eye is but pain !

A ga in

H e is truly born, by who se birth h is gene ration

is exa lte d ; or e lse , wh o is the re in this transitoryl ife

,wh o be ing de ad, is no t born again ?

’

So it is said‘ O f th e child unborn, th e de ad, and th e fool, the

two first, a nd no t th e last, are th e le ast to be

lam ented ; fo r th e two first cause but a transie ntso rrow, whilst th e last is an e te rna l plague .

’

The i e ader, in th is and S im ilar passages, willno t fa ilto re c olle c t

that it is a H m do o wh o sp eaks. fully persuaded of th e m etem psychosis.


TH E H ITO P A D E SA

A las ! m y so n,that so m any n ights have swee tly

passed away, and thou art still untaught ; whe refo re ,in th e socie ty ofth e le arned, thou sink est like a n oxi i i th e m ire .

Then h ow shall these m y sons be now rende redaccom plished ?when it is sa id,

‘Th e ag e , th e actions, th e we a lth, th e knowledge ,and even th e death, o feve ry o ne is de te rm ined in h ism othe r’s wom b .

‘Th e de te rm ined fa te of allbe ings, le t them be

eve r so gre at,inevitably happene th . N ak edness is th e

fa te ofN e elak ant, ’ and ofHa ri 'l' sle eping o n a gre a tserpent.

‘What is no t to be , that is no t to be ; if it be to

O ne of the ti tles of Se e v a .

1 H ari is o ne ofth e ti tles ofVishnu, the D e ity in his preserv i ngquality. N early o ppo site Sultan-gunge , a c onsiderable town in th e

pro v m ce of B ah ar in the E ast Indies, th ere stands a ro ck ofgranite ,

fo rm i ng a sm allisland in th e m idst o f th e Ganges, known to E uro p ea ns

by th e nam e oftbe rock offiba ng ueery , wh ich is h ighly wo rthy of th e

tra v elle r’s no tice fo r a v ast number of im ag es carv ed in reliefup on

e v ery p art o fits surfa c e . A m o ngst the rest th ere i s H art, of a g iganti c

size , re cum bentup o n a c o iled serp e nt, wh ose h eads, wh i c h are num e

rous, th e artist h as c o ntri v ed to spre ad into a k ind of c ano py o v er th e

sle ep ing god ; and from ea ch of its m ouths issues a fo rk ed to ngue ,

se em ing to th reaten i nstant de ath to any wh o m rasli ness m igh t p rom pt

to d isturbh im . The wh ole figure li es alm o st clear ofth e blo ck o n

wh i ch it is h ewn . It isfinely im ag ined, and e x e cuted Wi th gre a t sk ill.

Th e H indo o s are‘

taugh t to beli ev e , th at at th e end o fev ery balp a (c re a

ti o n o rfo rm a ti on), allth i ngs are abso rbed i n th e D e ity, and that i n th e

inte rv alo fano th er c re atio n h e re p o se th h im selfup o n th e serp ent res/ta

(durati o n), wh o is also c alled a na nfa (endless). Th e allegory i s to o

pla in to require any furth er e x planati on.


com e to pass, it cannot be o the rwise . This reasoningis an antidote . Why doth no t th e afflicted

,

drinko fit?

’

But such a re th e idle sentim ents of ce rtain m en

wh o adm it no t ofworks fo r,

‘Whilst a m a n c o nfide th in providence,h e sho uld

no t sla cken h is own exe rt io ns fo r witho ut labour h eis unworthy to o bta in th e o ilfro m th e se ed.

‘ F ortune atte ndeth tha t lio n a m ongst m en wh o

e x e rte th him self. They are weak m en wh o de clarefa te th e so le cause .

‘ Subdue fa te , and exe rt hum a n stre ngth to th eutm ost ofyo ur powe r ; and if, whe n pa ins have be entaken , suc cess attend no t, in who m is th e blam e ?

‘ A s th e chario t will no t m ove upon a singlewhe e l ; eve n so fa te suc c e edeth no t without hum anexe rtion.

‘ It is sa id, fate is nothing but th e de eds c o m

m itted in a fo rm e r state o f e xiste nce ; whe refore , itbeh o v eth a m an vigilantly to exe rt th e powe rs h e is

p ossessed of)“

A s th e potte r form e th th e lum p of clay into what

To enable th e re ader to c om p reh end th is v erse , and m any sim ilar

p assages, i t is ne c essary to i nfo rm h im th at m any of th e H i ndo o s be

li e v e th is to be a plate of rewards and pun ishm ents, aswellas o fpro

bafio n . Thus go od and bad luck m e th e fruit of go o d and eVilde eds

c om m i tted in a fo rm erlife . T o p re v ent th e latter in a future life , zt

beboz/et/z a m a n , &c


eve r shape h e l ike th, even so m ay a m an regulate h isown actions.

“

A ga in

A lthough, in th e story o f th e crow and tall' fru it,o ne was se en to have found a treasure before h im ,

fate o f itse lfdid no t present it : som e exe rtio n wasstill expe cted .

Good fortune is th e offspring o f our e nd e avours,altho ugh the re be no thing swe e te r than e ase . Th e

de e r a re no t wont to pre cip itate them se lves into th em outh ofth e sle eping lio n.

‘

Th e boy wh o ha th be e n exe rcised unde r h ispa re nts’ care , a tta ineth th e state of a n a cc om plishedm an ; but th e child be co m e th no t a P and it whilst inth e state h e dro pped fro m th e wo m b .

‘ Tha t m o the r is a n ene m y, a nd tha t fathe r a fo e ,by Who m no t having be en instructed, the ir so n shine thno t in th e assem bly ; but appe a re th the re , l ike abo oby am ong ge cse i

Th is v erse is c o nne cted W ith th a twh i c h p re c edes it, and se em s to

im ply, th atwe h av e i t in o ur p ower to se cure p i o sperity in a future

birth .

1’ Th e translato r ne v er saw th e sto ry alluded to . P robably i t is som e

fable , wh ere a fo olish crow e x p ec ted th e fruith ere m entio ned , and whi c h

is th at o f the fan p alm ira , sh o uld c o m e to h im , i’ath er th an that he wh o

saw it at a d istanc e , sh ould e x ert h im selfto p ossess i t.

I Th e bird h ere c alled a booby (in th e o rig inalv al'a ), is of th e sto rk

spe c i es, and the emblem ofstup id ity, as fire g oose i s o f elo quenc e andeleganc e , am ongst th e H indo o p o ets. Saraswati , th e ir goddess of

H arm o ny, h as h er g o o se , as M inerv a h er owl


‘ M en defici ent in learning shine no t, although theym ay be po ssessed ofyo uth a nd beauty, a nd o fanoblerace . They are like th e flowe r K insuk , destitute o f

fragrance .

‘ A foo l, too, m ay shine in th e assem bly, dressed infine ga rm ents ; but th e foo l shine th no longe r than h eho lde th h is tongue .

’

Th e R ajah having thus m editated fo r a while , c o nvened a council ofP andits, who m h e addre ssed in th efollowing words Ye le arn ed m en , attend ! Is

the re a m a n to be found wh o shall, by pre ceptsdrawnfrom N e eti be able to pe rfe ct th e birth o fm ysons, wh o are yet un inform ed

, and constantly wande ring in th e paths ofe rror ? F o r

,

‘A s a p ie ce of glass, from th e vicin ity.

of gold,a cquireth th e colour ofa to pa z so a fool m ay de rivesom e consequence from th e presence o f a Wise m an .

’

A ga in

Th e m ind is depraved by th e socie ty o f th e lowit rise tli to equality with equa ls ; and to distinctionwith th e distinguished .

’

O fth is assem bly the re was a great P andit by nam eVishnu-Sa rm ad' we l l ve rsed in th e principles of al l

System s ofm orality and p olicy.

‘I' P and it is an h o norary ti tle gi v en to learned B rahmans. A do ctor

ofth e H indo o laws. A H indo o p h iloso ph er. It is no t easy to dete r

m ine wh eth erVishnu-Sarm a was really th e auth or, or only th e c om

26 TH E H ] TO P A D E SA

th e N e e ti-Sastras, as itwe re ano the r Vrih asp a ti,* wh ore p lied Th ese young p rinces, O m ighty R ajahbe ing ”

th e offsprings o fa n illustrio us rac e , a re capable

o fbe ing instructed in th e N e eti-Sastras but

L abour,bestowed o n nothing, is fru itless : with

infin ite pa ins a booby will no t, presently, talk like aparro t.

In a noble race , levity without virtue is se ldomfound . In a m ine of rubies, when shall we find

pie ces of glass?’

Whe refore , I will engage , tha t in th e spa ce o f six

m onths, I will re nde r thy so ns we ll acquainted withth e doctrines of th e N e eti-Sastras.”

Th e R ajah the n respe ctfully said

E ve n a reptile , when attache d to a flowe r, m ay

m ount upon th e he ad of th e holy ; even a stone ,when set up and conse crated by th e great, atta inethd ivinity.

F o r it is said,‘ A s a thing o n th e easte rn m ountains shine th by

th e presence o f th e sun ; so o ne of h um ble birth,eve n ,

m ay be enl ightened by th e a llurem ents ofgoodbooks.

p iler ofth ese fables but it isworthy ofobserv ation th at th e B rahm ans

th em selv es know noth ing ofP ilp ay, to wh om , we are told, th e P ersiansattribute th em .

1 4 Th e pre c eptor ofth e go od sp irits, and”

the planetJup iter.


M e n of goo d or evil birth m ay be possessed of

goo d qualities ; but, falling into bad com pany, th eybe co m e v icious. R ive rs flow with swe e t wate rs ; but,having joined th e oc ean, they be com e undrink

able .

’

Then be thou an e xam ple to these , m y sons, fo rth e acquisition of v irtue .

”H aving said this, h e

re spe ctfully de l ive re d h is sons into th e charge o f

Vishnu -Sarm a ; and that learn ed P andit, soon afte r,se ized th e opportun ity, when they we re , for am usem e nt, sitting toge the r upon th e te rrace o f the irfa the r’s palace , to introduce h is advice to th e youngp rinces in th e following lines

L e a rning to a m an is a nam e sup e rior to beauty ;learn ing is be tte r than hidde n tre asure . L earn ing isa c om panion o n a journey to a strange country ;le arn ing is stre ngth inexhaustible . L earning is th esourc e of renown , and th e fountain of victo ry in th ese nate . L earn ing is a supe rior sight ; learning is al ive lihood and a m an in thisworld with out le a rningis as a be ast of th e fie ld.

‘ A country deprive d of th e Ganges is sm itte n ; afam ily without le a rn ing is sm itten a wom a n withouta ch ild is sm itten a sacrifice without th e Brahm a n

’

s

rights is sm itten .

‘Wise m en pass the ir tim e in am usem ents drawn


fro m th e works o f th e poe ts ; whilst fools squande rthe irs in use less pursu its

,sloth, or riot .

’

F o r yo ur am usem ent, the refore , sa id h e,

“ I am

go ing to re late som e curious stories o f a crow, a

to rtoise , a nd othe r a n im a ls.



of th e m ountain Charam a, a ce rta in crow, wh ose

nam e was L aghupatanak a ,‘ be ing awak e , chanced to

espy a fowle r c om ing tha t way, wh o appeared to h im

an anothe r ange l of death . H aving regarded h im ,

a nd considered fo r a m om ent, h e sa id to him se lf,This unwe lcom e v isit happene th to day ve ry e arly,and I know no t what m ay be th e conseque nce . So ,

ponde ring upon what h e saw, h e was se ized with apanic

,and flew out of th e way fo r,

A tho usand occasions fo r sorrow, and a hundredfor fear, day by day assail th e fool no t so th e wise

m an .

’

Yet it is said that m en of th e world m ust abso lute lya ct accord ing to these lines

E ve ry tim e we rise , great fear is to be ap pre

hended ; fo r, to-day, o f death, sickness, and sorrow,

wh o knowe th which m ay fa ll upon us?’

Th e fowle r, having first strewed som e rice uponth e ground, spre ad h is ne ts ; a nd wh ilst this was

tranSa cting , it happened that Chitra-gree v a ,'t th e

chiefo fa '

flock ofpige ons, was in th e a ir flying about

with h is attendants. H e saw th e grains ofrice uponth e gro und and pe rce iving tha t h is flo ck showed a n

inclination to partak e o f them , h e addresse d themthus z—Beware , m y friends ! Whe nce , think you,

L ight-flier.‘l' M o tley-neck .

F A B L E S A N D F R O VE R B S . 31

Should rice be pro duced in a p lace like this, vo id o f

inha bitants? L et t h is, the refo re , be investiga te dfo r I conce ive no good c an com e o f it, lest we shoulde x p e rienc e a fate sim ila r to wha t is m e ntioned in th efollowing lines

A tra v eller, t/zrong /z Inst ofg old, being plung ed inlo

an inartrieable m ire, is killed and dev oured by a n old

tzger.

H ow did this happe n dem anded th e pigeons, andth e ir c h iefrelated as follows

F A B L E II.

A S I was trave lling o n th e southe rn road, onceupon a tim e , I saw a n old tige r se ated upon th e banko f a large rive r

,with a bunch o f kusa* grass in h is

p aw,calling out to eve ry o ne wh o passed,—H o ho

trave lle r, take this' golden brace le t. But eve ry o ne

was Efra id to approach h im to re ce ive it. A t length,howeve r, a ce rtain trave lle r, tem pted by avarice , re

g arded it as an instance ofgood fortune : but, saidhe , in this there is p e rsonal dange r, in whi ch we a re

notwarranted to proce ed .

‘ Confidence should no t be put in rive rs ; in

A sp ec ies ofgrass esteem ed sa cred by the B rahm ans, and used in

m o st ofth e ir relig ious c erem o nies. Th e lio n in th is fable i s m ade to

hold it in h isp aw, to ap p earlik e a dev o tee , and to beget c onfidence .

32 TH E H ! TO P A D E SA

a nim a ls which have claws or horns; in m en withwe apons in the ir hands no r in wom en no r in thoseofroyal birth.

It is no t good to pass by that we dislike , e ven to

g a in that wh ic h‘

we l ike ; fo r th e wa te r of life becom e th m ortal when m ixed with a poison.

’

Ye t, sa id h e , the re is risk in eve ry unde rtaking, fo rth e acquisition ofwealth . H ence , it is said,

N o m an beholde th prospe rity wh o doth no t

encounte r dange r ; but having encountered dange r, ifh e surv iv eth , h e beho lde th it.

’

This I have conside red, a nd now let m e ask the e

p la inly, whe re is thy gold B ut stop,tige rs ea t m en

,

and th e opinion o f th e world is hard to be defeated

Th e p e ople , m e re followe rs of o ne anothe r, ho ldup a Brahm an wh o is a c ow-k ille r, as exam ple in o ur

re l igion.

’

I too, replie d th e tige r, have read re ligious books.

H ear what they say,

In granting and in refusing, in joy a nd in so rrow,

in liking and in disliking, good m e n, be cause o f the irown likeness, show m e rcy unto allthings which have

Th is sentenc e undoubtedly alludes to som e vulgarfacts at th e tim e

Wellundersto od .

FABLE S A N D P RO VE R BS . 33

‘ A s the ir own lives are m ost de a r to the m ,so also

are tho se of allcreatures. Good m en, be cause o f

the ir own likeness, sh ow m e rcy unto all things whichh ave life .

‘ A m an, be ca use of h is own l ikeness, sho uld le arnthis saying —A s ra in to th e parched field, so is

m eat to o ne oppressed with hunge r.‘ Ch a rity is to be given to th e poor, and is fruitful .

0 joy o fth e house ofP a ndu.

’

Th e trave ller the n a sked h im,whe re was th e

brace le t ; a nd th e tig e r having he ld out h is p aw,

showed it to h im a nd sa id,— L o ol< at it,it is a go lde n

brace le t. H ow shall 1 place confide nce in the e ?ssa idth e travelle r ; a nd th e tige r replied, —F orm e rly, inth e days o fm y youth , I wa s o fa ve ry wicke d disposit io u

, a nd a s a punishm ent fo r th e m a ny m e n and

ca ttle I h a d m urde red, m y num e ro us ch ildre n d ie d,a nd I wa s a lso deprived o f m y n ife ; so , at prese nt,I a m de stitute o f rela tio ns. T h is be ing th e case:I

was advised,by a ce rta in re l igio us pe rso n, to pra ctise

cha rity a nd o the r re ligio us dut ie s ; I a m now grownextreme ly devo ut. I pe rfo rm ablutions regula rly,a nd am cha ritable . Why the n am I no t wo rthy o f

confide nce ?

T11 13 h em isti ch , and th e pre c ed ing thre e v erses, se em to belo ng to

th e M a h abh ara ta , and to be addressed to i o o n, o ne ofth e fiv e so ns of

P andu.

34 TH E H ITO P A D E S A

‘ Th e study ofwha t is orda ined,‘ charity, m ort i

fic atio ns of th e flesh,a nd sacrifices ; fortitude , fo r

g iv e ness, re ctitude , a nd m o de sty, form th e true way,a nd are re corde d th e e ightfold division ofour duty.

O f these , th e first class, consist ing o f four, is

a tte nde d to fo r th e sake o f he re afte r ; and th e latte rclass offour, presideth in eve ry great m ind .

’

So far, you se e , continued th e tige r, I have an

inte rest in wishing to give away, to som e o ne , this

go lden brace le t from offm y own wrist ; and a s thoua p p e arest to be ra the r a poor m an, I prefe r giving it

to the e ; according to this saying

‘ Make choice of th e poor, 0 so n of K unte en‘and

bestow no t thy gifts o n othe rs. Med icine is to beadm in iste red to th e sick ; fo r of what benefit is

physic to those wh o are in he alth

A nd thus

tTh e gift which is to be given, should be give ngratuitously ; in tim e

,in place , and to a prope r

obje ct ; and such a gift is re corded a righteous gift.’

Then g o , and having purified 1 thyse lf in this

Th e study ofth e div in e law.

1‘ R untee is the nam e of th e m o th er ofthre e of the fiv e so ns of

P anda . P robably th is address is to A rjo o n, th e youngest o f th ose

thre e .

I Th e H indoosno t o nly wash th em selv es after any im pure a ctio n,

but also before div ine worsh ip , and th e re ce ipt of any e x trao rdinarybenefit.

FABLE S A N D P RO VE RBS . 35

stre am ,take th e golden bra ce let—Th e trav e lle r no

soone r beg ins to ente r th e rive r to purify him se lf,than h e sticks fast in th e m ud, and is unable to

escape . Th e tige r told h im h e wo uld he lp h im out ;and cre eping softly towards h im , th e poor trave lle r

is se ized, a nd instantly excla im s to h im se lf,—A las !th e care e r o f m y heart is cut sho rt by fa te l

‘Th e natura l dispo sitio n of eve ry an im al c o n

que reth , and p reside th ove r h is qua lificatio ns fo r

from tha t nature h e passe th no t, e ithe r for qualific ations or ornam ental a ccom pl ishm ents.

H e re ade th no t th e D h a rm a-Sastra,* - is this thec ause ; or doth h e no t study th e VedasH In thism atte r th e naturald ispo sition o fh is wicked Spirit prev a ileth , even as th e m ilk o fth e c ow is by na ture swe e t};What is done fo r tho se wh o have no t the ir

passions in subje ction, is like washing th e ek ph ant.§

Service re nde red to th e unfortunate is, fo r th e m ost

p a rt, like knowledge without practice .

’

I d id no t we l l in that I place d confidence in o ne of

such evil d isposition fo r it is sa id,

B o o ks c o nta ining m en’s m oraland relig ious duties, as enjo ined by

th e d i v ine law.

‘l' Th e wo rd wed, or v eda , sigm fies km ledge o r m em e. Th e sacred

writings ofth e H m do o s are so d istinguish ed:ofwh ich th ere are four

bo o ks.

Th e gre atest p art of th is v erse , in the o rig inal, is so obliterated

that th e tra nsla to r rsby no m eans c ertam th at h e h as g iv en th e m ean

ing ofbxs auth o r

a Washm g th e black am o o rwh ite .

I


Th e na tura l , a nd no othe r qua litie s sho uld be e x .

a m ined fo r th e na tura l qua lities pass o ve r allo the rs,

a nd m o unt upo n th e he ad .

’

But wh ilst th e unfo rtuna te trave lle r h a s th usm ed i ta ting o n h is fa te

,h e wa s devo ure d by th e

t ig e r. I h ave sa id , the refo re , Thro ugh th e lust o fabra ce le t

,&c .

,a nd hence a lso , it is at no tim e pro p e r

to unde rtake a nyth ing W i tho ut exam ina tion ; as inth e fo llowing saying

‘We ll-d ige sted fo od,a well-d isce rn ing child

, a

we ll-go ve rn e d wife , a prince v . ellse rved , a spe e chwe ll co nside red, a nd a n a ctio n we ll we ighed

, are no t,

e ven in ve ry long tim e , a tte nde d by d isagre eableco nseque nces.

’

O n e o f th e pige o ns, wh o was of a haughty spirit,

having he a rd wha t h ad be e n sa id, excla im ed,—H a l

wh a t is th is Is it no t sa id,‘ In tim es of n e cessity th e wo rds o f th e wise are

wo rthy to be o bse rved by wh o se de te rm ina tio n we

m ay fre e ly e ngag e in allthings, eve n in e atm g .

*

‘ A llth ings up o n th e fa ce o f th e e a rth , o ur m e a ta nd o ur drink

,be a r ca use of susp icion ; th e n h ow is

fo rbe a ra n c e to be exe rc ised, a nd life to be suppo rted

A g a in it is sa id,

Th ere is no th ing a H indo o is so scrupulous abo ut as h is eating .

E v e n th e m c m alserv ants o fE uro p e ans, wh o are th e v e ry re fuse o fth e

p e o ple , wo uld ra th e r stan e th an e at o r du nk afte r th e '

r m a ste rs



fo r, should th e wo rk succe ed, th e booty is equal, andifit fail, th e leade r is punished .

’

Ch itra-gre ev a he aring the ir reproaches, said , It isno t h is fault. It is sa id,

T o those wh o a re falle n into m isfortunes, whatwas a blessing be com eth an e v il : to a child in c o n-1

finem ent, its m other’

s kne e is a bind ing post .H e wh o hath th e resolution to extrica te o ne from

h is m isfortunes, wh o is fallen into d ifficulties bya nother’s fault, is a P andit ; no t h e wh o h esitateth

about th e m e ansh e should em ploy fo rth e de liv e ranceo fth e distre ssed .

’

H esitation, in tim es of m isfortune , is th e m a rk of acoward ; whe refore , depend upo n reso lutio n, a nd let arem e dy be thought of; according to these lines :

F ortitude in adve rsity, and m o dera tion in pros

p erity ; e loquence in th e senate, a nd courage in th e

fie ld ; grea t glo ry in renown, a nd la bour in study ; areth e natural pe rfe ctions o fgreat m inds.

’

A g

‘The re are he re six faults, which a m an ought

to avoid : Th e desire o f riche s,drowsine ss, sloth,

idle ness, ted iousness, fe a r, a nd ange r. ’

L et this be done im m ediately : L et us all, with o neaccord, take up th e net a nd fly away with it ; ac cording to the se lines :


‘ Co m bination is best fo r m en, e ithe r with the irown tribe or with stra nge rs ; fo r eve n a gra in o fricegrowe th no t whe n divided fro m its husk.

‘ A com b ina tio n eve n o f sm a llth ings se rve th an

occ asion . A n into xica te d e lephant m ay be bound witha few straws, whe n form ed into a rope .

’

H aring co nside red this, th e p ige ons, with o ne accord

,

to ok up th e n et, and flew away with it. P resently th efowle r, se e ing th e robbe rs o f h is net at a greatd istance , pursued them ; a nd, as h e ra n, these we reh is though ts

‘ Th ese trave lle rs of‘

th e a ir have com bine d to robm e o fm y net ; but when they shall fall down, theywill com e into m y powe r.

’

But soon finding they h ad passed th e confines o fh is

sight, th e poor fowle r turned back fro m th e pursu it.Th e pigeons n ow dem anded what was to be done

and Chitra-gre e v a replied,

A m othe r is a friend, and a fa th e r is a friend but

both these are fro m nature kind but the re are othe rs

wh o are be nevolent fro m casua l m ot iv es.

’

O ur frie nd H ira nyak a ,‘ th e noble m ouse , liv es upon

th e banks of th e Gandak e e .t H e m ay be able tognaw our snare asunde r with h is te e th . H aving c o ne

Wealthy.

1‘ A riv erwh ich em pties itselfinto th e Gangesneat Patna.

4 0 TH E H ITO P A D E SA

side re d this pro posa l, they allflew to th e re side nce o f

H ira nyak a , wh o , from h is constant dre ad of th e

crows, had m ade him se lf a hole with a hundredoutle ts, whe re in h e rem a ined se cured, according tothis ve rse

‘ Th e re was an old m ouse , we llread in th e N e eti

Sastras, wh o , before th e approa ch o f dange r, kepth im se lfwithin a hole with a hundred doors.

’

H e was sta rtle d with fe ar at th e de sce nt o f th e

p ige o ns, a nd stood sile nt ; upo n which Chitra-g re e v acalled out

,— F rie nd H ira nya k a ! what, wilt tho u no t

spe ak to us? A nd H ira nyak a , upon re c olle ctrng

h is voice , slipped out of h is hole , a nd exclaim ed,— Oh ow ha ppy I am ,

that m y dear friend Chitra-gre e v ais arrived t

‘ The re is no t in life a m an m o re happy than h ewh o ha th a frie nd to conve rse with

,a frie nd to liv e

with , a nd a frie nd to em brace .

’

Butwhen h e saw th at they we re confine d in a net, h estood am azed fo r a m o m e nt

,a nd dem anded what it

m e ant . Chitra -g re e v a replied,—What e lse , m y friend,c an it be , but th e effe ct o f th e evil com m itted in aprior existence ? Se e ing thou art e ndued with greatwisdom , what was th e use ofthy question ? F o r is it

no t said,

Whatsoeve r c om e th to pass, e ithe r good or e v il,

FABLE St

A N D P R O VE R B S . 4 1

is th e consequence of a m an ’

s own actions, and

descende th from th e powe r o fth e Supre m e R ule r.S ickness, sorrow,

and d istress ; bo nds and p un

ish m ent to corporeal be ings, are fruit of th e tre e o f

o fth e ir own transgressions.

’

H iranyak a having heard these words, quickly ran

to gnaw asunde r th e cords by wh ich Ch itra-gre e v awas confined. N o t so , m y friend, said Chitra-gre e v a ,until thou hast cut asunde r th e bonds o f these wh o

are unde r m y prote ctio n. H ira nyak a then said, I am

weak, my friend, and m y te e th are but de licate h ow

then am I able to bite open th e sna reswhich e ntanglethem A s long as m y te e th shall no t bre ak, so lo ngwill I gnaw thy snares ; a nd afte rwards, if it shouldbe in m y powe r, I will divide th e co rds which c o nfine th e rest. L e t it be as I say, replied Ch itra

gre e v a ; and to th e utm ost o f thy powe r try to

subdue the ir bonds first .Those

,said th e m ouse , wh o are a cquainted with

th e rules o f prudence , do no t approve,that fo r th e

prese rva tion of those wh o a re unde r our pro te ction,

we sho uld abandon o urse lves.

‘ A m an should ke ep h is riches against accide nts,a nd with h is riches h e should save h is fa nrily but h esho uld

,o n all occasions

,save him se lf, both with h is

fam ily a nd h is riches.

O ur lives are fo r th e purpo ses o f re l igion , labour,

4 3 TH E H I TO P A D E SA

love , and salvation.

’ If th ese are destroyed, whatis no t lost ? If these are p rese rv ed, what is no t

prese rved ?’

This m ay be so , replied Chitra-gre e v a ; but I am

no t, by a ny m eans, able to suffe r th e afflictio ns of

those wh o a re he re unde r m y prote ction.

‘ A wise m an should re linquish both h is wealthand h is life fo r anothe r. A llis to be surre nde re d fo ra just m an, when h e is reduced to th e brink of

destruction.

’

He re is anothe r unparalle led argum ent

‘ In bi rth, substance , a nd quality, they are l ikeunto m e say the n, what will everbe th e fru it ofm ysupe riority ?

A gain‘Witho ut m isfortune

,they will no t forsake m e ;

the n I u illpro te ct these wh o have take n sa nctuarywith m e

,even with th e lo ss o fm y life .

Why dost thou hesita te ove r this pe rishable bodycom posed of flesh

,bo n e

,a nd e x crem e rrts O m y

friend, support m y reputa tio n

A no the r‘ If constancy is to be obtained by inconstancy,

U n ion with th e univ ersalsp rrit ofGod, and a finale x em ptron fromm o rtalbrrth .

F A B L E S A N D P R O VE R B S . 4 3

purity by im purity, reputation by th e body, then,what is the re wh ich m ay no t be obta inedTh e diffe re nce be twe en th e body and th e qualities

i s infin ite . Th e body is a th ing to be destroye d in am om e nt, whilst th e qualities“

e ndure to th e end of

th e cre ation .

’

H ira nyaka having be en a ttentive to what had be enspo ken, and be ing exce ed ingly pleased, exclaim ed,N

i

obly ! nobly lm y frie nd . By such ge ne rosity tothose wh o are unde r thy pro te ctio n, thou art worthyto be e levated to th e suprem e com m and ove r th eregio ns o fth e thre e wo rlds 1 Having said this, H iranyaka gnawed asunde r the ir bo nds and when h e hadaddressed him se lf to all in respe ctful com plim e nts ofc ongratulation

,h e said,—F riend C h itra o

gre e v a, alwayswhe n yo u se e a net, suspe ct great harm will conreo f it ; and learn not to think m eanly of yourse lf.But

,alas l

‘ A bird wh o se e th h er prey before h er, even atth e d istance of a hundred yo ja n, ;t pe rce ive th not,

if h e r tim e be com e,th e sna res which are laid to

e ntrap h er.

Th e H indo os believ e o rganized m a tte r to be go v erned by thre e

princ i ples, wh ich th ey term sat'wa , raj a , and lama . Th e first insp ires

1m m, th e se c o nd p assi on , a nd th e thrrd sin .

'I' C elestial, terrestri al, and infernalregio ns.

I A land m easure ofabo ut e rght E nglish m iles.


‘When I beho ld in e clipses” th e d istress of th e

m o o n and th e auth o r of day ; e lephants a nd se rpentsin co nfine m e nt, and th e wo rthy in ind ige nce ; alas !in m y m ind , destiny is all-powe rful .

‘ Birds m e e t the ir fate whilst sp orting in th e a ir,

and fishes,by artful m e ans, are destroyed from th e

bottom lesswate rs ofth e ocean .

‘Whe n laws are ill-enfo rced, whe re are the ir goodm orals? To wh om is th e m e re gla re o f th e fire a

virtue Tz'

m el‘ is trouble , a nd th e author ofdestructi o n h e se izeth e ven fro m afa r. ’

Th e m ouse having taught this, and pe rfo rm ed th e

dutie s o fho spitality, Chitra -gre e v a took h is le ave , a ndwith h is flock depa rte d fo r tha t country h is inclinatio nled h im to and H iranyak a re tired into h is hole .

Th e crow, L aghu-p ata nak a , having be en a spe cta toro f allwhich h ad pa sse d , now prese ntly appe a red and

ca lle d out—Wha t h o ! H ira nyak a ! Tho u art worthyto be pra ised, to be ado red, a nd to be a p la ce of

refuge , througho ut th e thre e regions o fth e world

‘ Behold h ow m any pige ons,h is friends, even

hundreds, have be en de live red by th e friendship of am ouse 1’

In consequence of th is, I to o am anx io us to form a

‘lTh e rulgar O p inio n ofth e H indo os is, th a t th ese p h enom ena are

p roduc ed by a large serp ent, or drag o n, se iz ing th e sun and m o o n .

'l‘ Trm e rs c onstantly p e rsonified by th e H urdo o p o ets, and m ade th e

unrv ersalagent ofdeath and destruc tio n.


4 6 TH E H 1TO P A D E SA

cham paka“ tre es the re dwe lt, in great good fe llowship, a de e r and a crow. O ne day, as th e de e r, wh owas plum p and fat, was free ly roam ing about th ewoods

,h e was spied by a ce rtain jackal, wh o having

exam ined h im ,said to h im selfi—A h lwith what e x

quisite ple asure could I fe ast upon h is fleshl—B e itso but first let m e rem o ve allsusp icion . S o h avingthus reso lved, be advance d towards h im , and sa id

,

P e ace be with the e , friend ! Who art thou ? saidth e de e r. I am K sh udrabudh e e ,

‘l‘ th e jackal, said h e ;and be ing without re lations, I dwe ll he re in thisforest, as it we re , lrk e o ne de ad but now that I hav efa llen in with a true friend, I am no longe r destituteofconne ctions, and am again e nte red into th e land ofth e living and he nceforward it shall be m y duty toa tte nd thy steps.A ccord ingly, as soon as th e sun had retired to th e

we ste rn m ounta in, th e ja ckal fo llowed th e de e r toh is p la c e o f residence , be ne a th th e branches o f th e

cham paka tre e , whe re with h im lived a lso h is friendth e crow, who se nam e was Su-budh e e .$ Upon se e ingh im

,th e crow sa id

,Wh o is th is se co nd ?and th e

de e r replied, It is a ja cka l, wh o is com e he re desirouso f our frie ndship . F rie nd, sa id th e c row,

it is no t

A tre e wh i ch bears a beautifulyellow flower of a v ery powerfula nd agree able sc ent, known to E uro p eansby th e nam e ofC ham p ak .

L o w-m i nded , m e an-Sprrrted , bad-h earted.

“fell-judg i ng , go o d-h earted .


p rope r to place confidence in o ne wh o com eth witho ut any a pparent cause . It is no twell done

,for it is

said

To one whosefa nzily a nd p rofession a re unknown, o ne

s/zould not g i v e reside nce : tbe j a ckalyam d-g aw was

k illed t/n '

oug /z t/zefa ult of a cut.

H ow was this?said they ; and th e crow re la tedas follows

F A B L E IV.

O N th e banks of th e rive r B h ag e erath e e , and upo nth e m ounta in Gre edh ra -koo ta , the re is a la rge p ark atte e tre e , in th e ho llow ofwhose trunk th e re dwe lta ja cka l, by nam e J a ra d -gava , wh o , by som e a ccide nt

,

was grown blind, and fo rwhose suppo rt th e drffere ntbirds

,wh o roosted upo n th e branche s o f th e sam e

tre e,we re wont to co ntribute a trifle from the ir own

stores,by wh ich h e existed . It so fe ll o ut

,that o ne

day a ce rtain c at,by nam e D e erg a

-ka rna,

* cam e

the re to prey upon th e young birds, who m pe rce iving,th e l ittle nestlings we re gre atly te rrified, and beganto be ve ry clam o ro us a nd the ir cries be ing heard byJa rad-gava

,h e a sked wh o was com ing. Th e c at

D e erga-ka rna, to o , se e ing th e jackal

,began to be

alarm ed, and so cried to him se lf,— O h ! I sha ll c e rta inly be killed, fo r now that I am in h is sight

,it will

L o ng-ear.

4 8 TH E H ] TO P A D E SA

no t be in m y powe r to escape ! Howeve r, let whatwi llbe th e consequence , I will approa ch h im . Sohaving thus reso lved, h e we nt up to th e jackal, andsa id, —Maste r, I sa lute the e ! \Vh o art thou ? d em ande d th e ja cka l . Said h e

,I am a c a t. A h !

wicked a n im al, crie d th e j a cka l, g et the e at ad ista nc e ; fo r, if tho u do st no t, I will put the e todeath. H ear m e fo r a m o m e nt

,replied puss

,a nd then

de term ine whe the r I m e rit e ith e r to be pun ish ed o r

to be killed.

What, is a ny o ne , sim ply by birth, to be pun ishedor appla ude d ? Whe n h is de eds h ave be en scrut in ized, h e m ay, inde ed, be e ithe r praisewo rthy o r

pun ishable .

‘ M e n are th e sa m e as othe r an im als,in e ating ,

sle eping, fearing, and pro paga tion. R e aso n, a lo ne ,is m a n

’s supe rio r d istrrrc tio n . Deprived ofreason, h e

is upo n an e qua lity with th e brutes.

’

Th e jacka l afte r th is desired th e c at to give som e

a cco unt o fhim se lf, a nd h e co m plied in th e fo llowingwords —I am ,

sa id Ire , in th e constant habit o f p erfo rm ing ablutions o n th e side of this rive r ; I neve re at flesh, a nd I le ad that m od e oflrfe wh ich is ca lle dBra hm a -clrarya .

* S o , as th o u art d istinguishe da m o ngst those o f thy own spe cies noted fo r skill in

F o rsalu rrg a lrrc rltrly c o r'

c crns to le ad a go dlyltte .


re lig ious m atte rs, as a rep ository o f confidence ; andas th e birds he re are always spe aking before m e in

praise o f thy go o d qua lities, I am com e to he a r fro mthy m o uth, wh o art so old in wisdom , th e duties o f

re ligion . Tho u, m aste r, art a cqua inted with th e

custo m s o f life ; but these y o ung birds, wh o are in

ignorance , would fa in drive m e , wh o a m a strange r,away. Th e dutie s o f a h ouseke epe r* are thuse njoine d :

‘ Hosp ital ity is co m m anded to be exe rc ised,eve n

towa rds a n e nem y, when h e co m e th to thine h o use .

Th e tre e doth no t withdraw its shade , even from the

wood-cutte r. ’

A nd if there be no bre ad, th e stra nge r should bee nte rta ined with k ind words, a nd wh ateve r c an be

spared, a s in these lines‘ So m e straw,

a roo m , wate r, a nd in th e fo urthplace , gentle words. These th ings a re neve r to be

refused in good m e n’

s ho uses.

’

A nd in ano the r ve rse it is sa id

it Th e H i ndo o drv rnes o rdarn four m o des o flife , wh rc h are thus

d eno m rna ted B rabm a -eba ey a , Graba -st/za , Va n a -p rartba , Sa n nyara .

T h e followers ofth e first m o de h v e rn so c ie ty, but are no t allowed any

o fits plea sure s. Th o se o f th e se c o nd are th e h ousek e ep ers, wh o are

e njo ined h o sp itali ty and e v ery so c ralduty. Th e th ird m o de rs re trre

m e a t from so c rety m to th e W ilde rness, as th e term im p orts. A nd th e

fo urth a to talforsakm g of allwo rldly th ings. Th o se wh o p refer th e

la tte r m ode are,fo r th e m o st p art, wanderers. In th e D h aram a ~Sastra

o fM ano o th e p artrcular dutresofe a ch are v ery fully treated o f.

so TH E H 1TO P A D E SA

‘ Th e strange r,l

wh o turne th away from a h ousewith disappointe d hopes, leave th the re h is own

offences, and departe th, taking with h im all th e goodactions ofth e owne r.”

A gain

‘ P ire ‘

i‘ is th e supe rio r o f the Brahm ans, th e Brah

m an is th e supe rior o fth e tribes; and th e husband isth e only supe rior ofwom e n ; but th e strange r is th esupe rior o fall .Go od m e n exte nd the ir p ity, even unto th e m ost

desp icable a n im a ls. Th e m o o n do th no t withholdth e l ight, eve n from th e cottage o fa

T o all this th e jacka l replied, - Ca tshave a taste fo ra nim a l food, and abo ve is th e re side nce ofth e youngbirds : it is o n th is a cco unt I spe a k to the e . Th e

c at having to uched h er two c a rs, a nd then th e

Th rs do c trine is stro ngly rnculcated in ev ery H indo o system of

m o ralrty, and , seem rngly, wrth a v ery p owerfuleffe ct for a beggar 15

ne v e rse en to turn away fro m a do or rn Indra wrth drsapp o rnted h o p es.

1' This elem ent, rn a ncrent trm es, se em s to h a v e been univ ersallyde ified . Th e H rndo os are enjo ined by th ose laws th ey este em ofdrv rne

o rig rn, at a c erta rn p e riod to ligh t up a fire , w hrc h m ustbe p roduc ed

by th e fric tion o f two p re c es ofwo od of a p articula r sp e e res, and to

ke ep rt up aslo ng as th ey li v e . W i th th is fire allth e irsa c rrfic es are

burnt, th err nup tialaltarflam es, and , finally, th e funeralprle rs krndled .

I Th ese tubes we re, o rigrnally, o nly four : th e B ra/27m m (d i v ines),K rbetreer(nobles and m rlrtary), s yar (cultiv ators o f th e land, he rdsm en , m erch ants, and m e chani cs), and S oodrar(m e n talserv ants).

A n o utc ast. O ne of th e v ery lowest o rderm so c ie ty, em ployed inallth e d irty ofiic esfor the foursuperior tribes.


g ro und, ill excla im ed,— I wh o have read books uponth e duties o fre ligion, and am fre e d fro m inordinated e sires

,have forsaken such a n evilpractice ; a nd,

inde ed, eve n am ongst tho se wh o d ispute wrtlr o ne

a nothe r a bo ut th e authority of th e Sastras, the re are

m any by whom this sentence,

“ N o t to kill is a suprem e duty

,

”

is altog e the r approved as in th isve rse

Those wh o h ave fo rsake n th e killing o f all tho sewh o are helpm ates to all those wh o are a sanctuaryto all ; tho se m en a re in th e way to lre a v e n .

’

A gain

The re is o ne friend, even R e l igions!” wh o atte ndethe ven in death ; whilst all things e lse go to de caywith th e body.

‘ Behold th e d iffe rence be twe en th e o ne wh o

e a te th fle sh, and h e to whom it be lo nge d Th e firsth a th a m om e ntary e njoym e nt

,wh ilst th e latte r is

d eprived ofexistence

So it is said,

A fe llow-cre ature should be spa red, eve n by thisa na lo g y th e pa in wh ich a m an suffe re th whe n h e rs

at th e point o fdeath.

’

He ar this also‘Who would com m it so great a crim e aga inst a

“f A v ery e x pressiv e way o fde claring abh orre nc e .

1' The o rig inalwo rd (dbarwa ) rnclude s e v ery m o raland relig io usduty.


poor a n im al, wh o is fed on ly by th e h e rbs wh ich

grow wild in th e wo ods, and whose be lly is burnt upwith hunge r ?’

Th e c at by these m e a ns having sa tisfied h im ,h ere m a ined in th e ho llow o f th e tre e with th e ja cka l,a nd pa ssed th e t im e in a m using co nve rsa tio n ; a nd

th e ja cka l to ld th e young birds tha t they h ad n o

occ asio n to g o o ut o f th e way .-A fte r th is

,whe n

m a ny da ys h ad passed, it was d isco ve red th a t th e cath ad , by degre e s, drawn th e l ittle birds down into th eho llow o f th e tre e , a nd th e re devo ured them ; butwhe n h e fo und inquiry was about to be m ade by tho sewho se yo ung ones h ad be en e ate n

,h e slipped o ut o f

th e ho le a nd m ade h is escape . In th e m e a ntim e,

th e bo nes o fth e yo ung o n es having be e n d isco ve re din th e ho llow o fth e tre e by th e birds, wh o h a d be e nse a rching he re a nd the re

,they co n c lude d tha t the ir

l ittle o ne s h ad be en devo ured by th e ja cka l , a nd so,

be ing jo in ed by o the r birds, they put h im to de a th .

Whe refo re I say , T o o ne whose fam ily a nd pro fe ssion are unknown

, 81 C .

Th e ja ckal having heard allthis, replied in ange r,H ear m e , thou fo o l ! Th e first tim e tho u wa st se e nby th e de e r

,thy fam ily a nd p rofe ssion we re un

‘known . H ow is it, the n , that yo ur m utua l kindn essand a ttentio n g ro w h ighe r a nd h ighe r ?

‘ Is t/zis one qfus, or’

is lee a stra ng er? Such is th e



and by m eans of th ese de ce itful sna res, m y wishe swill be a ccom plished in g reat abundance ; fo rwhenh e is c ut up, I shall g et h is bones all cove red withflesh a nd blood . Th e de e r was exce ed ingly glad tose e h im , and called out to h im

,—F riend ja cka l, pray

gnaw m y bonds asunde r, a nd spe e d ily de live r m e !

‘ A friend m ay be known in adve rsity, a hero inbattle , an honest m an in a loan

,a wife whe n riches

are spent, and a re lation in trouble .

’

Th e jackal eyed th e de e r in h is confinem ent aga inand again, and conside re d whe the r th e knots we rese cure . These snares, m y frie nd, o bse rved h e , a re

m ade ofle athe r thongs,and it be ing Sunday, h ow c an

I touch them with m y tee th ?‘ But, if it will suit

the e , m y frie nd, e a rly in th e m orn ing I will do whateve r m ay be thy wish . So having m ade th is proposal,h e went o n o ne side

, and laying him se lf down, rem ained silent .In th e m e a ntim e th e crow,

Subuddhi, finding th ede e r d id no t com e home

,had go ne about in se a rch o f

h im . A t le ngth h e fo und h im in th is condition, upon

which h e e x cla im edr—What, m y friend,“

is this th eprom ise 1 Is th is th e fru it o fth e word o fa friend

Go o d H indo os esteem allan im alsubstanc es unclean ; but, th e

questron is, why th e j ackalwas scrup ulous abo ut to uchrng th em of a

Sunday ; unless rtwas out ofre sp e ct to th e God qf day , afterwh om it

P A R L E s-

A N O P R O VE R B S . 55

H e wh o do th no t hearke n to th e voice o f a frienda nd we ll-wishe r in adve rsity, is th e de light of h is

e nem ies.

’

But whe re rs that jacka l ?adde d th e crow. A las !said th e de e r, h e is he re anxiously waiting fo r m y

flesh ! My friend , obse rv ed th e crow,I fore told this

from th e beginn ing.

‘ I am no t to blam e : h e was no t a subje ct fo rconfide nce . F rom th e cruel, even th e virtuous havecause fo r apprehe nsion.

’

S aying this, h e he a ved a de ep sigh,a nd cried, O

de ce itful wre tch ! wha t h ath be e n brough t to pass bythe e , thou agent ofwickedness !

H ow hard is disappo intm e nt in this world , tosuch a s have be e n de luded by fa ir words ; to thosewh o by pre te nde d se rvice s have be en seduce d intoth e powe r o f the ir ene m ies ; to th e hope ful to thosewh o have fa ith

,a nd to expe cta nts !

‘A m an should fo rsake such a frie nd as spe ak e th

kindly to h is fa ce , a nd beh ind h is back defe ate th h isdesigns. H e is lrke a p o t o fpo iso n with a surfa ce o fm ilk .

O go ddess Vasudh a H ow sup p o rte st tho utha t tre ache ro us m a n

,wh o exe rc ise th h is wicked ness

upo n h is innocent a nd co nfide nt ia l c om pa n io n

Th e e arth .


Is no t this,cont inued th e crow, th e characte r o f

bad m e n

‘ A m an sho uld no t fo rm a ny acquaintance , no r

e nte r into a ny a m usem e nts, with o ne of a n evilcha ra cte r. A pie ce o fcharcoa l, ifit be hot, burne thand ifco ld, it bla ck e neth th e hand .

‘ A ltho ugh o ne of a n evil characte r spe ak kindly,tha t is no m ot ive fo r h is be ing trusted . Th e se rpe ntis o rnam e nted with a g em ,

"E but is h e no t to bedre aded

‘ Befo re one ’

s fa ce , h e fa lle th at one’

s fe e t behind ,h e bite th th e fle sh o f o ne

’

s back . In one ’

s e ar,

do th h e no t softly h um h is tune with wo ndrous a rt !

A nd whe n h e finde th a ho le , fe a rle ss, h e bo ldly

e nte re th . Thus doth th e gnat ’

rperfo rm th e a ctionsofa de ce itful m an .

’

A bo ut this t im e th e owne r of th e field was se e n

co m ing, with a staff in h is hand,and h is eyes re d

with ange r. S o th e crow,having conside red wha t

wa s to be do ne , sa id,—F rie nd de e r

,fe ign thyse lf

dead, a nd stay qu ie t till I m ake a noise , a nd then g e tup a nd run away a s fast as tho u canst. Th e de e r

It rs a v ulgar no tro n rn India th at in th e heads ofsom e sp ec ie s of

serp ents pre c ro us sto nes are fo und .

t Th e wo rd m th e o rrgrnalsrgnrfies a m orguzto , wh ich , as far as th e

tra nsla to r h as e arn ed h rs obse rv ati o ns srnc e h rs re turn to hrs n ati v e

c o untry, rs no ways drfferent from th e c om m o n E nglrsh gna t, e x c ep tth a trt m ak es a louder no rse , and rs m ore v enom ous.

FA BLE S AND P R O VE R B S . 57

was now pe rce ived by th e m aste r o f th e fie ld, who seeye s sparkled with joy ; but upon h is appro achingne are r, a nd thinking h im de ad, h e e xcla im ed, -H a !

thou art de a d o f thyself from co nfinem e nt, art tho u ?fa nd having sa id so , h e beg an to em ploy him se lf incolle cting a nd bundling up h is snares ; a nd upo n h ism oving to a l ittle dista nce , th e de e r hearing th e voiceof th e crow, sta rted up in gre a t disorde r, and ran

away. Th e m aste r of th e fie ld, upon se e ing this,flung h is staff at h im , wh ich, by ch ance , struck th ej ackal, and so h e was killed, and no t th e de e r. It is

said, that‘ A m an reape th th e fruit of any extraordinary

g ood or bad action in th e space o fthre e years, thre em onths, thre e fo rtn igh ts,’ or thre e days.

‘Whe refo re I repe at, H arm o ny be twe en th e fo odand th e fe e de r

, &c .

’

To all this th e crow repl ied‘ In e a ting the e , I sho uld no t enjoy a ple nteous

m eal. But,like Chitra-gre e v a , I l ive but in thy life .

‘ E ven am ongst brutes, confidence is pe rce ive d inthose , in who se eve ry action the re is innoce nce . Th e

innate dispo sitio n ofth e good doth no t vary from th e

principles o fintegrity.

The H indo o s h a v e div ided th e ir lunarm onth into what th ey de

nom inate th e soobla -p abs/za , and th e Iv eesbn a -pabsba , th at is, th e ln t

:zde and th e dark si de (o f th e m o o n ) th e fo rm er c omm enceswrth th e

newm oon, and th e latterwrth th e full.

TH E H ITO P A D E SAU103

Th e m ind o f a go od m an do th no t alte r, e ve nwhen h e is in d istre ss : th e wa te rs o f th e oce a n a re

no t to be he a te d by a to rch o f stra w.

’

B ut, friend crow,o bse rve d th e m o use H ira nyak a ,

thou a rt a n unste ady a nd inco nstant an im a l, a nd o n e’

s

affe ctio ns sho uld, o n no acco unt,be pla ced o n such a

cha ra cte r as is de cla re d in these l ines

‘ A cat, a buffa lo , a ram , a crow, a nd a m an o f

we a k j udgm e nt a re excluded from confide nce : it isno t expedie nt to put any trust in them .

’

Besides, thou art o n th e side of our enem ies, and

o n this he a d they say ,‘ A m an should no t e nte r into al liance with h is

e n em y, e ven with th e tightest bonds ofun ion . Waterm ade eve r so hot, will still quench fire .

’

A nd aga in‘Tha t is no t possible which is im po ssible . Tha t

which is po ssible is e ve r possible . A ca rt m o v e th no t

upo n th e wa ters, no r a boa t upo n dry gro und .

’

I have heard every boo k upon these subje cts, sa id

th e crow L aghu-

p atanak a , neve rthe le ss m y m ind isim pre ssed with th is ide a , tha t I m ust abso lute ly fo rma frie ndly a cqua intance with the e ; but if I shouldfa il, afte r o ur separatio n I shalldestro y m yse lf. It

is sa id, tha t those ofevil cha racte r are l ike an earthen

p o t- e asy to be bro ke n, but hard to -be re -united

FABLE S AND P R O VE R B S . 59

and that those ofa good chara cte r re se m ble a vesse lo f gold, which , though difl‘i c ult to be broken , m ay

e asily be joine d again . It is said,‘ Me tals unite from flux ility ; birds and be a sts

from m otives o f conve nie nce ; fo o ls from fe a r a ndstupidity ; a nd just m e n at sight.

‘ A ltho ugh frie ndship be twe e n go od m en be inte rrup te d, still the ir principle s rem a in una lte red . Th e

stalk o f th e lo tus m ay be broken, a nd th e fibres

rem ain conne cted .

‘ Th e qua lities o f a friend should be , since rity,

libe rality, brave ry, constancy in joy and so rrow,re cti

tude , attachm ent, ve racity.

’

Whom,the n

,but thyse lf shall I find e ndued with

allthese ?Upon he a ring this, H iranyak a slippe d out o f h is

h ole , a nd sa id,—We ll, by th e im m o rta l wa te r o f thy

words, I have even ventured o ut ; fo r it is said,

‘ N o r bathing with cool wate r, no r a n e ckla ce o f

pe arls,’ no r ano inting with sa nde rs,1

'

yie lde th suchc o m fort to th e body o ppressed with he at, as th e

language o f a good m an,che e rfully utte red, doth to

Strings o fbeads fo rm ed of v arious m aterials are un iv ersally worn

about th e ne c k in Indra , by m en , wom en, and c h ildren.

1‘ Th e H rndo o s ne v erwash m th e Ganges, but th ey m ark th em selv es

o n th e foreh e ad, ac ro ss th e arm s, and up on th e breast, with a k ind o f

pigm ent m ade of th e wh rte sp ec ies of sanders, or sandalwo od, m ix ed

wrth water, whrch th ey suffer to dry o n .


th e m ind . To be surrounded with a good connectio nis, am o ngst m e n o ffair characte r

,equal to th e charm

o fa ttra ction .

’

A nd in anothe r pla ce‘ Be traying a se cre t, irrsolic itude , seve rity, inse nsi

bility, ange r, want o f ve racity, gam ing : allthese are

fa ults in a frie nd .

’

But o f allthese fa ults in due orde r, no t o ne is to befo und in th e e . It is said

,

E loquence , a nd ve rac ity of spe e ch , are to be d iscove re d by conve rsation ; th e be ing in im ical withinconstancy or unstead iness, m ay be pe rce ived at

sight .‘ Th e friendship o f those wh o are o f a pure and

ge n tle d ispo sition, a c te th o ne way and tha t o fthose

who se he arts are affe cted with hollowness and de ce it ,a no the r. ’

The n,as lo ng as we bo th shall liv e

,so lo ng le t this

our frie ndsh rp be no urished,l ike that wh rc h existe d

be twe e n R am a a nd Sug re e v afl"

S o H ira nyak a having pro m ised h is friendship,

a nd ente rta ine d th e crow with such pro v isio ns as h e

\Vh a t th e nature o fth e ch arm alluded to m ay be , th e translato r is

a t a lo ss to e x plarn .

1' A babo o n c elebra ted m th e R am ayan, o r h rsto ry o f R am , as h is

farthfulfrrend and ally, rn h rs wars agarnst R a v ana , th e tyrant of

C eylo n .



Whe re is it? replied th e m ouse ; and th e crowreplied, - In D a ndak aranya the re is a rive r ce lebra tedby th e nam e K arp o o rag ow, whe re the re resides m y

friend, by m any years accum ulated kindness, atorto ise of innate virtue , whose nam e is M a nth ara .

It is sa id ,

‘ In giv ing adv ice to anothe r, th e‘

e x p erie nc e of

e ve ry o ne m ay be beneficia l ; but in re ligion,the

prope r exam ple ofso m e one ofa v ery exalted m ind .

’

H e will treat us, added th e crow, with a varie ty o f

choice fish . H iranyak a then said,—If I stay he re ,what sha ll I do ? It is said,

‘A m an sh ould abando n that country, whe re inthe re is ne ithe r respe ct

, no r em plo ym ent, no r c o n

ne c tio ns, no r th e advancem ent ofscience . ’

A gain‘ A m an should no t reside in a pla ce , whe re in these

fiv e things are no t to be found wealthy inhabita nts,Brahm ans learned in th e Vedas, a rajah,* a rive r, and ,in th e fifth place

, a physician.

’

In th e anc ient H indo o go v ernm ent, befo re th e M ussulm an c o n

quest, wh ich se em s to h a v e be en feudal,th is title was granted by th e

sup eriorlord, wh o wasstyled M ah a-R ajah (gre atR ajah ), orA dh e eswara(sup errorlo rd), to th e c h i efs of th e K sh e tre e o r m rlrtary tribe o nly, as

a reward fo rm erit, or as an ap p endag e o f ofli c e , wrth th e c erem ony o f

sprinkling c o nse cra ted water up on th e h ead but at p resent th efirm er”

o f th e k ing of D elh i is, but to o often, issued to ennoble c olle cto rs o f


S o conduct m e the re also, added th e m ouse .

Th e crow accordingly se t o ff with h is frie nd, anda s they am used th e tim e by conve rsing upo n a va rie tyo f ple a sing subj e cts

, they arrive d with e ase upo n th e

banks of th e rive r. They we re pe rce ived at a c o n

side rable d ista nce by th e torto ise M a nth a ra . H e ro seto re ce ive them , and having first pe rfo rm ed th e dutie so fhospita l ity to L aghu-p ata nak a , Ire next extendedthe m to H ira nyak a accord ing to these lines

‘Whe the r a child, or a n old m a n, o r a yo uth, bec o m e to thy house , h e is to be tre ated with respe ctfo r o fallm e n

,thy guest is th e supe rio r.

F ire is th e supe rio r of th e Brahm ans, th e Brahm an is th e supe rio r o fth e tribe s, a nd th e husband isth e only supe rio r ofwom en but th e strange r is th e

’

supe rio r o fall.‘Whe the r h e wh o is com e to thy house be o f th e

h ighest or even o f th e lowest ra nk in so cie ty, h e isworthy to be tre a ted with due re spe c t ; fo r o fallm e n

thy guest is th e supe rio r .’

F rie nd, sa id th e crow to th e to rto ise , pray p ay

atte ntio n to this stra nge r ; fo r h e is th e very axis o f

those wh o a re fam ed fo r virtuous de eds. H is nam e

is H iranyak a , th e prince of m ice , to ce lebrate whose

re v enue , and wretc h es of th e lowest class, desti tute o fe v ery m errtbut

thatof im m e nse wealth . The term is deri v ed from a ro o t signifying

to app earwitbsplendour.

6 4 TH E H ITO P A D E S A :

gre a t qua lities, th e ch iefo fse rpe nts " m ay so m etrm e s

have occasio n to em p loy a se cond tho usand tongue s.Having said this

,h e re la te d th e story o fth e pige o n

C h rtra -

gre e v a . Th e torto ise M anth ara , having m ade resp e c tfulinqu irie s afte r h is he a lth, said to th e m ouse ,B e ple ased to inform m e of thy m otives fo r qu ittingthy own uninhabited wilds ; and H ira nyak a replie d,I will re co unt them .

F A B L E V.

B E it known,sa id h e , tha t the re is a city called

C h am p ak a v ate e , whe re m any m e ndica nts are wo nt toreso rt. A m o ngst th e re st the re was o ne whose nam e

was C h o o rak arna .

-l~ This m e ndica nt, having pla ced th ed ish co nta in ing wha t was left o fth e a lm s h e co lle ctedupo n a forked stick fixed in th e wall, use d to g o to

sle ep, wh ilst I, eve ry day, co ntrived to j um p fro m a

d istance and devour th e ho ard. A t length,o ne day

h is frie nd,ano the r m e nd icant, who se nam e wa s

Ve e na k arna,cam e in

,a nd whilst h e was e ngaged with

h im ta lking o ve r va rio us subj e cts, C h o o rak arna , inorde r to frighte n m e away, struck th e gro und with a

p ie ce o fbam boo . Thisbe ing o bse rved byVe e nak arna ,h e sa id,—What, at present, thou a rt inatte nt ive to m y

The se rpent Se sh o r A nanta . E m plo ying th e emblem o feternrty

wrth a th o usand to ngues rn th e ch ara c ter ofF am e , rs no t 111 rm ag ined.

'l' R i ng-e ar.

FABLE S A N D P R O VE R B S . 65

story, and em ploye d about som e thing e lse ? It is

sa id,

‘ A pleasant counte nance , a nd a m ie n withoutpride ; gre a t a tte ntio n to wh a t is sa id , and swe e tnesso fspe e ch a gre at

~degre e o fkindness, and th e appe a rance o f awe ; are a lways tokens o f a m an

’

s atta chm e nt.’

‘ G iving unwrllingly, re nde ring void what h e d idbefo re

,d isrespe ctful behaviour, unkind actions, prais

ing othe rs, and, by th e assista nce oftales, ca lum niatingbe hind one ’

s back, are th e signs o f o ne wh o is no t

attached.

’

T o all this C ho o rak a rna repl ied,—I am no t inatte n

tive to thy sto ry ! Behold wha t it is ! Th is m o use ism y plunde re r. H e isfo r e ve r devo uring th e m e at I g e tby begging, out ofthat d ish . Upo n this

,Ve e nak a rna

h aving exam ined th e forke d stick in th e wa ll, said,Wha t, is it this little we ak-lo o king m ouse wh o c o n

trive s to jum p so ve ry fa r? The re m ust be so m e

re aso n to a ccount fo r th is as in th e subj e ct of

the se l ine s

Witbout a n app a rent ca use, a y oung wom an by force

drawet/z a n old m a n to leer, a nd k isser/z Izi nz. Wben a

lensba nd is em bra ced w itlzout afleetion, tbere m ust be

som e reasonfor it.


C h o orak arna having dem anded what th is m e ant,Ve enakarna re lated th e following story

F A B L E VI.

IN th e c ountry which is called Gowr,’ the re is a city,by nam e K owsam v e e , whe re dwe lt Chandana-dam a, am e rch a nt o fim m ense we a lth. Whe n in th e last stageo f life , h is unde rstanding be ing bl inde d by desire ,by th e g lare o f h is riche s h e obtaine d fo r h is wifeL e ela v ate e ,1 th e daughte r ofano the r m e rchant. Sh e

was youthful, a nd, as itwe re , th e victoriousbanne r o fM ak arak etu,¢ th e g o d o f love ; so

'

h er aged partne rwas illcalcula ted to be agre e a ble to h er ; fo r,

A s th e hearts o f those wh o are pinched with co ld,

de light no t in th e rays of th e m oon ; no r o f thosewh o are oppresse d with he a t, in th e beam s of th e

sun ; so th e he art o f a wo m an delighte th no t in a

h usband strick en in years.’

A ga in

What nam e shall we g ive to th e passions of m en,

when the ir hairs are turned grey since wom e n, withthe ir hearts fixed o n othe rs, regard them as a nause ousdrug

Th e anc ient city ofGowr, wh ich is now in ruins, was th e cap italo fa pro v inc e of the sam e nam e , now included in that ofB engal.

‘I‘ Sp ortiv e , wanton.

3 O ne of th e titles ofth e H indoo C up id, who is comm only calledK am a-den , th e god oflo v e .


But h er old husband was exce edingly fond of h er ;ac c ording to these sayings

Th e Inst o fwealth, and th e h 0p e of life , are eve ro fim portance to m an but a youthful wife to an oldm a n is deare r than l ife itse lf. ’

N eve rthe less, L e elav ate e , through th e intoxicationo fyouth, attached he rse lfto a ce rtain m e rchant ’s so n .

‘To o m uch libe rty whilst reside nt in h erfa the r’sh ouse , attend ing festive processions, appearing in

com pany in th e presence of m en contrary to pro

p riety, th e sam e in byways, and associating withwom e n ofbad characte r, are th e im m ediate destructiono f innate m orals. Sporting with the ir husbands’

infirm ities, too, is to wom en th e c ause ofruin .

’

‘ D rinking, ke eping bad com pany, staying awayfrom h er husband , gadding about, slothfulness, a ndliving at anothe r’s house , are six things inj urious to awom an .

‘Wom en, at all tim es, hav e be en inconstant e venam o ngst th e ce lestials, we are to ld . Happy is th e

p ortion of those m en whose wives are guarded from

error !‘Wom en ’

s virtue is founded upo n a m ode st.

c oun

tenanc e , pre c ise behaviour, re ctitude , and th e want of

suitors.’


They say,

Wom a n is like a pot o f o il,a nd m an a burning

co a l . A wise m a n wi ll no t put th e o iland th e fire

to ge th e r.In infancy th e fathe r sho uld gua rd h er, in yo uth

h er husband should gua rd h er,and in old ag e h er

ch ildren sho uld guard h er ; fo r, at no tim e,is a

wom an prope r to be truste d with libe rty.

’

O ne day , as sh e was care le ssly sitting with th e

m e rcha nt ’s so n, in agre e able conve rsatio n, upon a

so fa white as cam phire , and fringed with strings o fge m s, having unexpe ctedly disco ve red h e r husbandco m ing towa rds the m ,

sh e rose up in a gre at hurry,se iz ed h im by th e ha ir, a nd e age rly em brac ing, bega nto kiss h im whilst th e ga llant found m eans to esca pe .

But o ne wh o saw this unde rstood h er m otiv e , andL e ela v a te e wa s corre cted by a hidden rod .

*

‘ E ve ry book o f knowledge which is known toUsa na

,or to Vrrh asp ati, is by nature planted in th e

unde rstand ing o fwom e n .

’

Upo n th e who le,I say ,

“Without a ca use a youngwom an, &c . A nd he nce the re m ust be so m e hidde nca use fo r th e extra o rd ina ry strength o f this m o use .

H e co nside red fo r a m om ent, a nd a t le ngth de te rm ined that th e reason m ust be in a hoard o fwe a lth

Th at rs, sh e was obliged to silenc e the woman with hush m ohey.



fo ol is em pty ; and eve rything is e rrrp ty, whe re the reis pove rty.

’

They say also,

Those faculties are no t inj ured . Th is is a m e resaying .

“ Tha t judgm ent is un im paired .

”Tha t also

is but an expression ; fo r th e m o m ent a m an is de

p riv ed o f th e com fo rt o f riches, h e is quite anothe r .Is no t this curious

x H a v ing heard allthis, I looked about m e , and re

solve d that itwould no t, by any m e ans, be prope r fo rm e to stay the re“

: n e ithe r, by-th e—by, is it prope rthat I should com m unicate m y affairs to othe rs ; fo r,

‘ A wise m an should no t m ake known th e lo ss o ffortune

, a ny m alpract ices in h is house ; h is be ingcheated, no r h is having be e n disgraced .

’

They say, l ikewise ,‘When th e frowns o f fortune are e x cessive , and

h um a n '

e nde a v o urs are exe rted in vain whe re , but in

th e wilde rness, c an com fo rt be found fo r a poor m an

o fsensibil ityA m an of nice fe elings willingly enc o untere th

de ath, rather than subm it to pove rty. A fire m e e te th

extinct ion,before itwill yie ld to be cold .

’

A gain

Th e fate of a m an offe e ling is, like tha t of a tuft

F A B L E S A N D P R O VE R B S . 7 !

o f flowers, twofold : h e m ay e ithe r m ount upo n th e

h ead of all, or go to de cay in th e wilde rne ss.

’

To l ive despised is reprobated exce edingly. Hence ,

It is be tte r that th e (fune ral) fire should be blownup by th e breath o flife “

of a m an deprive d ofriches,

th an tha t h e should be so licite d by th e poor, whend estitute o fth e m eans ofre l ief.’

A gain

F rom pove rty a m an com e th to sham e and be ingo verwhe lm ed with disgrace , h e is totally deprived of

p owe r. Without power h e is oppressed, and fromo ppression com e th grief. L oaded with g rief, h e bec om e th m elancholy ; and im paired by m e lancholy,h e is forsake n by re ason ; and with th e loss ofre ason,h e goe th to destruction . A las ! th e want o f richesis th e foundation ofeve ry m isfortune .

’

A g

‘ It is be tte r to guard sile nce , than that th e wordswhich are utte red shou ld be untrue. It is be tte r tobe nothing, than to seduce th e wife of anothe r. It is

bette r to abandon l ife , than to de l ight in crue l c o nv e rsation . It is be tte r to l ive by begging one ’

s

bread, than to gratify th e m outh at th e expense ofothe rs.

’

D eath itself is preferable to th e want ofthe m eans ofaffo rding

reliefto th o se in drstress.

7 2 TH E H ITO P A D E S A

Want m ake th e v e n se rvitude honourable l igh t, to taldarkness ; beauty, deform ity ; a nd even th e words o fB a ri, with a hundred goo d qualities, crim es. Whatthe n ,

sha l l I nourish m yse lf with ano the r’s cake ?T h is would be to o pen a se cond doo r to de a th .

F o r,

When a m a n is in indigence , picking he rbs is h isphilosophy th e e njoym e nt o fh is wife h is o nly c o mm e rce , and vassalage h is fo od .

’

A gain‘ De ath is life to h im wh o is subje ct to sickness,

wh o hath be en lo ng a n exile , wh o live th upon an

oth e r’s bread, o r sle epe th unde r anothe r’s roof; fo rdeath e aseth h im o fall h is pain .

’

Having conside red allth is, I have aga in, through

cove tousness, m ade up m y m ind to accept o f som e o f

thy provisions. But it is said,

‘With cove tousne ss reason depa rte th : cove tousne ss e ng e ndereth ava rice ; a nd th e m a n wh o is

torm ente d with avarice e x p e rie nc eth pain, bo th he rea nd he re afte r. ’

Hence , afte r I had be en struck with th e broken pie ceo f bam boo by Ve e nak a rna , I bega n to conside r, th at

Th ere rs no word in th e Sansk rit wh rch a nswers e x a c tly to th is

term Th e o rrgrnalrsp a ndzty a , an abstra c t fo rm ed from pa ndet


th e c o ve tous we re unhappy,a nd assuredly the ir own

e nem y. It is said,‘ H e whose m ind is at c a se is possessed o f all

riche s. Is itno t th e sam e to o ne who se fo o t is e nclosedin a sho e , as if th e who le surfa ce of th e e a rth we reco ve red with le a the r ?

A gain

‘Whe re have they, wh o are runn ing he re a nd th e rein se a rch o f rich es

,such happiness as those pla cid

spirits enjoy, wh o a re gra tified a t th e im m o rta lfo untain of happ iness

‘ A llhath be e n re ad, allha th be e n he a rd, and al lha th be e n fo llowed by h im

,wh o having put hope

behind h im, de p e nd eth n o t upo n expe cta tio n .

‘ F o rtuna te is th e life o f tha t m a n, by who m th e

do o r o f th e no ble ha th no t be e n a tte nded by who mth e pain o fsep a ra tion ha th no t be en e xpe rie nced ;a nd by whom th e voice of a n e unuch" ha th no t be enhe a rd.

’

A ga in

‘ To o ne , O N a rada ,‘l‘ borne away by th e thirst o f

gain, a hundre d Yojana a ppear no t far ; eve n afte rh e hath th e tre asure in h is hand .

’

H ow greatly do th e tastes ofna tio ns differ‘l‘ O ne o fth e se v en wise m en , to wh om is attrrbuted th e rnvention of

the m usicalinstrum e nt c alled D ee na .


It is good, the n, to be entire ly separated farfrom th e

usua l occasions of life .

Wha t is re ligion Com passion for allthingswhich have life . What is happ iness To anim alsin th isworld, he a lth. Wha t is kindness? A principlein th e good . What is philosophy? A n entire separation from th e world.

’

It is sa id,

‘ A m an m ay forsake o ne pe rson to save a fam ily ;h e m ay dese rt a who le fam ily fo rth e sake o fa village ;a nd sa crifice a village fo rth e safe ty ofth e com m un itybut fo r him self h e m ay abandon th e whole world .

’

But,‘To those wh o se ek em ploym e nt, it is este em e d a

favour to be a n appendage o n ly o f a gre a t m an ’

s

sta tion . Th e se rpe nt Vasuk e e " is conte nted to fe edo n a ir, wh ilst hanging to th e ne ck of Hara .

‘l'

‘ It is,e i the r wate r without labour, or swe e t bre ad

a tte nded by fe a r and dange r. I have exam ined this ;and I pla inly se e

,that is happiness whe re in the re is

e ase .

’

S o , having conside red allthis,I am com e to a n

un inhabited wi lde rne ss ; fo r,

if Th e serpent em ployed in churning th e o c e an fo r th e water oflrfe .

O ne of th e titles of Sc e v a , th e de stroyrng p owe r of the de ity,wh ois re presented wrth a larg e snak e abo ut h rsne ck by way of ne cklac e ; a

p ro per o rnam entfor th e God ofTerrors.


‘ It is be tte r to dwe ll in a fo rest haunted byt ige rs and lions, th e tre es o ur habitation , flowe rs,fruits a nd wate r fo r food , th e grass fo r a bed , a nd th eba rk o f th e tre es fo r garm ents, than to live am ongstre lations, afte r th e loss ofwealth.

’

Whe refore , as long as th e stock o f virtue acqu iredby birth shal l last

,

’ I will, with th is true frie nd, beattached to the e by kind se rvices and by this singlevirtuous act

, I m ay o btain tha t pla ce in he ave n whichis conse crated to frie ndship ? They say ,

O f th e poisonous tre e , th e world , two spe cies o ffru it are produced, swe e t as th e wa te r o f life poe try,whose taste is like th e im m orta l juice , a nd th e socie tyo f good nren .

’

A gain‘ Socie ty, fa ith in K esav a ,1

'

and im m e rging in th e

wa te rs'

of th e Ganges, m ay be e ste em ed thre e ve rye ssential things in this transito ry world .

R iches are as th e dust o f th e fe e t, youth like th e

rapidity of a rive r flowing down a h ill, m anhoo d like

Th is sentenc e is agre eable to th e no tio n, th at th e joys ofh e av en

are to la stfo r a p errod m easured by o ur go o d a c tio ns in th islife .

‘l‘ The H indo o d iv ines h a v e drv rd ed h e a v en into d ifferent reg io ns

wh ich th ey calllob. Thus th ere is th e p etri-Iob, o r reg io n o f fa th e rs,

a nd th e m a tri-lob, o r regio n ofm o th ers but th ere is no regrou allo tted

fo r old m a rds and ba ch elors: th ese are obliged to renew th e iryouth in

th islrfe , and try th e irluck o nc e m o re .

1: O ne o fth e nam es ofVishnu m h is inc arnation ofK reesh na .

7 6 TH E H ! TO P A D E SA

a drop of wate r, transient a nd unsteady and

hum a n life like froth . H e wh o doth no t pe rfo rm th e

dutie s o f re l igio n, with a steady m ind, to ope n th e

ba rs o f He ave n ’

s ga te,will, he reafte r, when sm itte n

with sorrow, a nd bent down with old ag e , burn withth e fire of contrition.

’

T o allth isth e tortoise M a nth ara replied — Sir, yourfa ult was this : you laid up to o large a sto ck . It is

said,

Giving away is th e instrum en t fo r a c c unrulatc d

tre asures : it is l ike a bucke t fo r th e distribution of

th e wate rs deposited in th e bowe ls of a we ll.‘ H e wh o , in O ppo sit ion to h is own happiness,

de l ighte th in th e a ccum ula tion o f riches, ca rrie thburthe ns fo r othe rs, a nd is th e veh icle oftro uble .

’

A nothe r

‘ Ifwe are rich with th e rich es o fwhich we ne ith e rgive no r e nj oy, we a re rich w ith th e riches wh ich are

buried in th e cave rns o fth e e a rth .

With o ut e njo ym e nt, th e we alth o fth e m ise r is th esam e to h im as if it we re a no the r ’s. But whe n it is

A dro p o fwater upo n a le afo f th e lotus, m ust be unde rsto o d;

agre e able to th e following h em rstrc h e ngra v ed o n a c o pp er-plate be arrrrg

date fiftyo srx yearsbefo re th e C hrrstran e ra , a nd wh ic h , abo ut th e ye ar

1 7 8 1 , was sent from India as a p resent to L o rd M ansfield :

R ic h es and th e lrfe o fm an are transrent as dro ps ofwate rup o n a

c afof th e lo tus. —Translated by C . W. 1 7 8 1 .


7 8 TH E H ITO P A D E SA :

F A B L E VII.

A C E R TA IN huntsm an, by nam e B h ira v a, an inhabi

tant o f Kalyana-k attak a ,* be ing fond o fflesh,once

upon a tim e we nt to hunt in th e forests o f th e

Vindhya m ountains,1

'

a nd having kille d a de e r, as h e

was carrying h im away, h e chanced to se e a wild bo a ro fa fo rm idable appe a rance . So laying th e de e r upo n

th e ground, h e wounded th e boa r with an arrow ; but,upon h is approa ch ing h im ,

th e ho rrid a n im al set up a

roar dre adful as th e thunde r o f th e clouds,and

wo unding h im in th e groin, h e felllike a tre e c ut o ffby th e a x e . A t th e sam e tim e

,a se rpen t, of that

spe cies which is ca lled A jaga ra,pressed by hunge r

and wande ring about, rose up and bit th e boar, wh oinsta ntly fellhe lpless upon h im ,

a nd rem ained uponth e spo t . ‘ or,

‘ Th e body having encounte red som e efficie ntcause , wate r, fire , po iso n, th e sword, hunge r, sic kness,or a fa ll from an em inence , is forsake n by th e vita lSpirits.

’

In th e m e antim e , a jackal, by nam e D e ergh a-rava,1

prowling abo ut in search ofprey, disco ve re d th e de e r,th e huntsm an, a nd th e boar ; and having obse rve d

P robably an anc ient nam e fo rth e pro v ince we callC attack.1' Th at c h arn wh i ch rs seen about C hunar-ghur.

I L o ng-c ry.


th em ,h e sa id to him se lf,—H e re is a fine feast pre

pared fo r m e .

‘A s, to corpo re al be ings, unthought-of troubles

arrive ; 50, in l ike m anne r, do blessings m ake the irappearance . In this, I think providence hath e x

te nded them farthe r than usual .’

B e it so , as long aswith the ir flesh I shal l have fo odto e at. Th e m an willlast m e fo r a whole m onth, andth e de e r and th e boar fo r two nro re ; the n th e se rpentwill se rve m e a day ; and let m e taste th e bow-stringtoo. But, in th e first pla ce

,le t m e try that wh ich is

th e le ast savoury. Suppo se , the n, I e a t this ca tg utl ine which is faste ned to th e bow : saying so

,h e drew

ne ar to e at it ; but th e insta nt h e had h it th e gut in’

two , h is be l ly was ripped ope n by th e spring o f th ebow ; and h e was reduce d to th e state o f th e fiv e

I say, th e refo re , “A hoa rd,

”&c .

That I este em wealth which is give n to th e worthy,and wha t is, day by day, e njoyed th e rest is a rese rvefo r o ne knowe th not whom .

’

Then, at prese nt, what is th e purport ofthis excessiveuse ofth e force ofwords to exem plify?

M e n o f philosophic m inds do no t long forwha t isno t a ttainable , and are no t willing to lam ent wha t is

E arth , a ir, fire , water, and eth er.


lo st ne ith e r are theywont to be e m barrassed in tim es

o fca lam ity.

‘Those wh o h ave eve n studied g ood boo ks, m ay

still be fools. Tha t m an is le a rned wh o reduc e th h is

le a rning to practice . Tha t m edicine iswe ll im aginedwhich do th, m ore than no m ina lly, resto re th e he altho fth e afflicted .

‘ Th e pre cepts o f p h ilo sophy effe ct no t th e le a stbe nefit to o ne confirm ed in fe ar. T o a blind m a n ,

o f

wha t use is a lam p, a lthough it be burning in h rs

hand ?’

A fte r all, added th e to rtoise , it is best to be sa tis'

fied in this regio n o fgo od a nd evi l de stiny.

I cannot agre e to tha t, replied H ira nyaka fo r,

To a he ro of a so und m ind,what is h is own, and

wha t a fo re ign co untry ? Whe reve r h e ha lte th, tha tpla ce is a cquire d by th e Sple ndo ur o f h is arm s. H e

que nc h eth h is th irst with th e blo o d o f th e roya le leph ant, eve n in th e forest which th e lion te a re th up

with h is te e th,a nd h is claws th e we apons o fh is fe e t. ’

A ga in‘ A s frogs to th e poo l, as birds to a lake full o f‘

wate r ; so do th e ve ry sp e cies o fwe alth ne cessarilyflow to th e hands o fh im wh o e x erte th him se lf.’

They say,

‘Whe n pleasure is a rrived, it is worthy o f atten

F A B L E S A N D P R O VE R B S . 8 !

tion ; wh en tro uble p re se nte th itse lf, th e sam e . P a ins

a nd ple asures have the ir revo lutions like a whe e l

A ga in‘ L a kshm e e

" h e rse lf atte nde th a m an in se arch of

a re side nce , wh o rs e ndued with resolut o n, o f no bleprinc iples, a cqua rnte d with th e rule s o f a ctio n , un

ta inted with lawle ss p le asures, brave , a judge o f

m e rit, and o fste ady frie ndship .

’

A ga in‘ A wise m a n , even destitute o f riches, enjo ye tlr

e levate d a nd ve ry ho no urable sta tio ns ; wh rlst th ewre tch

,e ndowed with we alth, a c qu ire th th e po st o f

disgra ce .

‘

O ne , although no t posse ssed o f a m ine o f go ld,

m ay find th e o ffspring o f h is own na ture , tha t no blea rdo ur, which ha th fo r its o bj e ct th e a cco m plishm ento fth e who le asse m blage o fvirtues.

’

H e ar this,m y friend, replied th e tortoise

Wha t . tho ugh tho u we rt rich a nd o f h igh e ste em,

do st thou yie ld to sorrow, be cause o f thy lo ss o f

fo rtune ? Th e risings a nd sink rngs of hu ara n affa irsare like tho se ofa ballwhich is thrown by th e ha nd.

’

O bse rve ,

Th e shadow of a cloud, th e satisfaction o f th e

Th e goddessofgo od fo rtune .

82 TH E 111TO P A D E SA

vulgar, new c orn, wom e n, youth, and riches, are to beenjoyed but fo r a short tim e .

’

A gain

M an should no t be ove r-anxiousfor a subsiste nce ,fo r it is provided by th e Creator. Th e infant no

soone r droppe th from th e wom b,than th e breasts of

th e m othe r begin to stre am .

’

M y friend

H e , by whom th e ge ese were form ed wh ite ,parrots are stained gre e n

, and p e acocks painte d of

v arioushues—even H e will provide fo r the ir support.’

A ttend a lso, m y frie nd, to these se cre ts ofth e wisem en

H ow are riches th e m eans of happiness? In

acquiring they cre ate trouble , in the ir loss theyoccasio n so rrow, and they are th e ca use of e ndlessdivisions am ongst kindred lIt we re a blessing, fo r th e sake of virtue , if h e

wh o hath a Inst of gain we re deprived o f de sire .

Whe re there is a Splash ing o f dirt, it is goo d no t tom eddle , and to ke ep far away.

‘ A s m e at is devoure d by th e birds in th e a ir, byth e be asts in th e fie ld

, and by th e fishes in th e

wate rs ; so , in eve ry situation, the re is plenty.

‘ Th e rich m an hath cause of fear, from th e

m agistrate , from wate r, from fire , from th e robber,


not less from h is own people , eve n as from death th eliving.

In this l ife o f m any troubles, what pa in is greate rthan this —desire without ability, when that desireturne th no t away !

‘ M an should conside r this : Tha t riches a re no t

ea si ly a cquired when acqu ired, th ey a re withd ifficulty prese rved ; and that th e loss ofwhat hathbe en acquired is like de ath.

’

50 also‘We re th e th irst of gain entire ly forsake n, wh o

would be poor ? Who would be rich Ifway we re

g ive n to it, slave ry wo uld sta nd upon th e head .

‘Whateve r a m an should long fo r, from that h isinclination turne th away. H e whose inclinationturne th away from an obj e ct, m ay be sa id to haveobta ined it.

’

B ut why so m uch upon this subj e ct ? L et us begu ileth e tim e tog e the r in am using conve rsation .

M e n wh o are acquainte d with the ir own nature ,pass the ir days, until th e pe riod ofde a th, in gladne ss,fre e from ange r, in th e enjoym e nt of th e prese ntm om ent, unm indful of th e world, and fre e from a p

prehe nsion .

’

A gain

Th e life of a n anim al,until th e hour o fh is de a th ,


passe th away in disciplines, in e leva tions and depres

sio ns, in un ions and separations.

’

O ! thou a rt a worthy pe rso n, M a nth a ra ,o bse rved

th e crow ; a place o f co nfide nc e, and a be ing fo r

prote ctio n

Th e go o d are a lways ready to be th e upholde rso fth e go od in the ir m isfo rtunes: E lepha nts eve n are

wo nt to be a r th e burthens o f e lephants wh o havesunk in th e m ire .

’

S o ,

Th e virtuo us de l ight in th e virtuous but h e wh ois de stitute o fth e pra ctice ofv irtue , de l ighte th no t in

th e virtuous. Th e be e retire th from th e fo re st to th elotus, whilst th e fro g is destitute o fa she lte r. ’

A ga in

H e is o ne in th is world wo rthy to be pra ised o f

m a nkind , h e is a gre a t a nd a go o d m a n, from whomth e ne edy, or tho se wh o co m e fo r p rote ct io n, g o no t

away with disappo inted ho pes, a nd disco nte nted countena nc es.

’

In this m a nne r did they pass the ir tim e ; a nd, c o nte nted with the ir particula r fo o d, they dwe lt happilytoge the r.A fte r a wh ile , o ne day a ce rta in de e r, by nam e

Vic h itranga , wh o h ad be en ala rm e d by so m e o ne ,

cam e the re with h is he art panting with fe ar, and was



H e a te o fwhat was h is usual fo od, a nd having drankso m e wa te r

,h e la id him se lf down in th e sh ade of a

tre e wh ch grew in th e stre am .

‘We l l wate r,th e shade o f a Batta tre e} a swarthy

wom an, a nd a brick ho use , should be warm in th e

cold,a nd coo l in th e h o t se ason .

’

F rie nd de e r, sa id th e tortoise M anth ara , bywhom we rt thou a larm ed ? Wha t, a re the re huntsm en com ing to this de so la te fo rest ? The re is so m e

ve ry im po rtant news,sa id th e de e r, which I will

com m un ica te . In th e country which is called K a

ling a f the re is a prince who se nam e is R ukm a n~

gadad: H e is just re turne d from h is co nque sts of

th e countries about h im ,a nd h is ange r be ing alto

ge the r appe ased, h e h as take n up h is residence upo nth e banks o f th e rive r Cha ndra-bhaga . T o -m orrowe arly h e h as reso lve d to com e to fish in th e riv erK arp h o o ra . Th is I o ve rhe ard from th e m o uth o f

o ne of th e sp ortsm e n . Having investiga te d thisaffa ir, so m uch to be dre aded, le t th e ne cessarym eans h e p ursue d fo r our safe ty. Th e tortoise uponhe aring these words fearfully exclaim ed,—I will fle eto th e wa te r fo r prote ction ! Th e crow and th e

Th e B anian tree .

1‘

P robably th e anc ient nam e ofa drstrrct on th e c oast o f C oro

m andel.

I Golde n eleph ant.

FABLE S A N D P R O VE R B S . 8 7

de e r said,—B e it so . Th e m ouse H iranyaka c o n

sidered fo r a m om ent, and said,‘When M anth ara shall be in th e wate r, it will be

go o d fo r h im . It appeare th to m e im p ro p e r that h eshould be found c rawl ing upondry ground.

’

They say,

Th e stre ngth o f aquatic an im als is th e wate rs ;ofthose wh o dwe ll in towns, a castle o ffoot-sold ie rs

,

the ir own ground o f princes, an obed ient arm y.

’

But, friend L aghu-p atanaka , I hope by this advice ,h e will no t suffe r th e regre t expe rience d by a ce rtainm e rchant .‘

H ow was this? said they -and H iranyaka re

counted asfollows

F A B L E VIII.

IN th e country o f Kanya-kubja the re was a R ajah,whose nam e was Ve era -se na,1~ by who m h is royalso n

,by nam e Tung a-vala ; had be en appointed

Yuva-rajah§ ove r th e c ity ofVe e ra -pu ra . H e was

young and possessed o f great riches. O nce upon a

tim e, as h e was walking abo ut h is own city, h e took

Th e v erse wh ich usually introduc es th e fable , be ing in th is plac ev ery defec tiv e , is om itted .

1 Wh o se tro o ps are bra v e .

I F ro m tzmg a , fierc e , and m id , streng th

{3 L iterally Yo ung R ajah . The ti tle form erly borne by the heir

ap parent.


no tice o f a ce rta in m e rcha nt’s wife , wh o was in th eve ry prim e o fyouth, a nd so be a utiful, tha t sh e was,

a s it we re , th e sta nda rd o f conque st of Maka ra -ke tu.

Sh e a lso , wh ose nam e was L a v a nya v a te e} havingobse rv ed h im ,

h er bre ast was re nt in p ie ces by th ede structive a rrows o f th e g o d o flo ve , a nd sh e gladlybe cam e of o ne m ind with h im . It is sa id,

Unto wo m e n no m an is to be ~fo und d isagre e able ,no o ne agre e able . They m ay be co m pa red to a he ife ro n th e pla n

,th a t StlII lo nge th forfresh grass.

Infide lity, vio le nce , de ce it, e nvy, extrem e avaric io usne ss, a to ta l wa nt o fgood qua litie s, with impurity, are the innate fa ults o fwom a nk ind .

’ “l”

Th e young R ajah be ing re turned to h is pa lace ,with a he a rt quite o ccupied with lo ve , se nt a fem alem esse nge r to h er

,to who se words having atte nded,

L a v a nya v ate e m ade such a reply a swa s ca lculate dto de ce ive . Sa id sh e

,

— I am fa ithful to m y husband,and I am no t accustom ed even to to uch anothe rm a n ; fo r,

‘ Sh e is no t worthy to be called a wife,in whom

th e husba nd de l ighte th n o t. Th e husba nd is th e

B e autiful.Th e fa i r reader willple ase to observ e th at tlns se v ere judgm ent

o f th e sex was probably wri tte n by one under a v ow of p erp etualcelibacy.


asylum of wom en and ofh is honour th e fire beare thte stim ony.

Th e beauty of th e Kokila ‘l‘ is h is voice th e

beauty o f a wife is consta ncy to h er husba nd ; th ebe a uty o f th e ill-favoured is science ; th e be a uty ofth e pen itent is pa tience .

‘S h e is a wife wh o is cleve r in th e house ; sh e is

a wife wh o is fruitful in children sh e is a wife wh o isth e so ul o fh er husband sh e is a wife wh o isobed ientto h e r h usba nd .

’

A nd ac co rd ing to this doctrine,I m ake it a rule to

do wha teve r th e lo rd o f m y life d ire cts, witho ute xam ina tion . T o th is th e m e sse nge r replre d,— It

is right ; a nd L a v anya v ate e obse rved, tha t it wa seve n so .

T h e m essenge r having heard th e who le o f whatL a v a nya v ate e had to say , reporte d it to Tung a v ala ,wh o o bse rved that h e would invite h erwith tha t de a rhusba nd o f he rs

,a nd, in h is prese nce , pay h e r gre a t

atte nt io n a nd respe ct . T o this th e m esse nge r re

pl ied ,—This is im pra cticable . L e t art be used ; fo r

it is sa id,

Th rs sentenc e alludes to th e orde alby fire , wh rc h is pra ctised, e v en

at thrstrm e , ln Indra .

‘l' A bla ck bird , v ery c o m m o n ln Indra , wh rch sings in th e nrght, and

wh o se no tes are as v arrons and m elo d i ous asth e nrgh trngale’s, butm uch

louder.


Tba t w/cz'

clz ca nnot be effected by force m ay be

a cizz'

ev ea’by cunn ing . A n elepba nt was billed by a

j ackal, by g o ing ov er a swa mpy pla ce.

H ow was this?dem anded th e R ajah’

s so n . A nd

th e m essenge r re lated th e following story°

F A B L E IX .

IN th e forest B rahm ara nya the re was an e leph ant,whose nam e was K arp h o o ratilak a ,‘ wh o having be en

o bse rved by th e jackals, they all de te rm ined , tha t if

h e co uld by any stratagem be k illed, h e would befour m onths provisions fo r them all . O ne ofthem ,

wh o was exce edingly viciously incl ined, and byna ture treache rous, de clared , that h e wo uld e ngag e ,by th e strength o f h is own judgm ent, to effe ct h isde ath. Som e tim e afte r, this dece itful wre tch we ntup to th e e lephant, and h aving saluted h im ,

said,Godlike sir ! Co ndesce nd to grant m e a n audience .

Who art tho u dem anded th e e lephant, and whe nceco m est tho u ? M y nam e

, replied h e , is Kshudrabuddh ifi

”

a jacka l, se nt into thy prese nce by allth e

inhab itants of th e fo re st, asse m bled fo r that purpo se ,to re p re se nt, that as it is no t expedient to re side inso la rg e a forest as this, without a chief, yo ur H igh

M ark ed with wh ite sp o ts.

t L ow-m inded, m ea n-sp irited, bad-hearted.


n ess,e ndued Wrth all th e ca rdinal virtues, hath be en

se le cte d to be anointed R ajah of th e woods.

It is said,

H e wh o , by walking fo r eve r in th e ways of tho sewh o a re prefe rred , is exce edingly pure , o f a no blem ind, virtuous a nd j ust, a nd expe rienced in th e rule so f policy, is worthy to be chose n m aste r o f th e

e a rth.

’

A g ain

‘ Th e lord of th e land, lrk e th e clouds,re se rvo ir o f th e people ; fo r when th e cloudsthey n o tfind succour in the ir king

B ut,

In this world, which is subj e ct to th e powe r of

O ne a bove,a m an o fgo od principles is hard to be

found living in a country fo r th e m ost pa rt g ov e rne dby th e use ofth e rod .

F rom th e dread ofth e rod, l ike a wom an of goo drepute unto h er husband , h e will repair fo r prote ctio ne ve n unto th e weak or unfortunate ; to th e sick, or toth e poor. ’

~Th e n,tha t we m ay no t

'

lo se th e lucky m om e nt,

continued th e jackal, be ple ase d to follow quickly .

Saying this, h e cocked h is ta il a nd went away. Th e

e lephant, who se reason was pe rverte d by th e lust o f

92

p o wer, took th e sam e road as th e jackal, and followedh im so exa ctly that, at length, h e stuck fast in a gre atm ire . O m y friend ! cried th e elephant, what is to bedo ne in this disaste r ? I am sinking in a de ep m ireTh e jackal laughed, and said,—P lease your divineH ighness, take hold o f m y tail with your trunk, and

g e t o ut ! This is th e fru it ofthose words whic h tho ud idst place confidence in .

They say,‘ A s often as thou shalt be deprived ofth e socie ty

o fth e good, so often sha lt thou fall into th e com pany

ofknaves.

’

A fte r a few days, th e e leph ant dying fo r want of

fo od, h is flesh was devoured by th e ja ckals. I say,

the refore , “Thatwh ich cannot be effe cted by fo rce , &c .

Th e young R ajah, by th e advice ofh is m esse nge r,se nt fo r th e husband of L a v anya v ate e , a nd havingtre a ted h im with great m arks o f attent io n, to o k h iminto h is se rvice , a nd e m plo yed h im in th e m ostconfidential affairs. O ne day,whe n th e young R aja hhad bathed and a no inted him se lf, a nd was clo thed inrobe s o fgo ld

, h e sa id to th e husband, -C h aruda nta , I

a m going to give a feast to th e goddess Gowre e ,‘

Gowre e is one ofth e nam esofth e c onsort ofSc e v a ; but as th e

sam e wo rd m ea ns a young wom an (literally, a fa ir one ), itwirlagree

be tte r with the co nte x t, ifth e readerwrllbe so go od ss to substitute ,to tire y oung wom an, instead ofto M e g oddessGowree .



M anth ara having a ttended to wha t h ad be en sa idby th e m o use , in gre a t fe ar cried o ut,

— M y frie nds,I m ust go fo r se curity into th e wa te r. Saying this,h e m arched away, a nd H ira nyak a a nd th e restfo llowe d h im ; but they had no t gone far

,before

M a nth ara was se ized by a ce rta in sportsm an, who

chanced to be hunting about in tha t forest, a nd wh o ,

finding him se lf hungry a nd fa tigued, im m edia te lyfa ste ne d h is gam e to th e end o fh is bo w, a nd turnedh is face towards hom e . Th e de e r, th e crow, and

th e m o use we re exce edingly sorry fo r this eve nt ;a nd H iranyaka expressed h is lam entatio ns in theselines

Befo re I have attained th e end o f o ne trouble ,bo undless as th e great oc e an, strlla second is re adyto succe ed ! H ow m any m isfortunes com e upon m e

fo r m y faults‘ A frie nd , wh o is so by nature , is th e g ift of pro

v ide nc e . Such unfe ign ed friendship is no t e x tin

guish ed, even in m isfortunes.

M e n have no t th a t co nfidence in th e ir m o the rs, inthe ir wive s, siste rs, bro the rs, no r in the ir own o ff

springs, as in o ne wh o is a friend in principle .

’

In this m anne r having lam ente d th e fa te o f the

tortoise , th e m ouse continued, crying out, - O h h ow

hard is m y fate in th e following words

‘ By m e have be en e x pe rienced, eve n he re , as


th e fru its of th e sta te o f existence , in som e c er

ta in birth , th e goo d and e v il shut up in tim e , whichare th e se ek ings of th e o fl

’

springs of our own

works.

Th e bo dy is c om pounded with disorde rs, th estate of opulence with calam ities, adv antages withdisadvantages ! Thus everything is produce d witha c om panio n wh o shall destroy it.’

H aving again po nde red fo r a while , h e e x

cla im ed,

By whom was co nstructed that jewe l of a wo rd,

th e m onosyllable F R IE N D , that disp e lle r offear, th e

Th is v erse iswritten in a k ind ofm ea sure wh ich th ey calleendra

m in : (th e ligh tning ofthe Go d o f th e h e a v ens) . The c urrous m ay no t

drslrk e to se e it in rts o rig inalfo rm from wh rc h,and th e v erbaltransla

tion, h e m ay judge of Sanskrrt c o m p o srtro n in general, and find an

ex cuse for th e quarntness o fth e translatro n rn som e parts:

swa-karm a-santana-v ee ch eshteetanee

kala-’ntara-’v re etta -so obha -

’so obhanee

tzm e-m tlzm -slmtg ood-no t-g ood

e ebr-’v a dre esh tane e m ayr

-v a tane e

h ere ev en seen by m e ev en M ore

j anm a-’ntarane e-

’v a dasa -

’

ph alane eberth-with er a s ztwere stag e oflrfefruits.

Th e first and sec o nd lines c o nta in but o ne c om p ound wo rd ea ch for

th e re is no Sign of e ither case , ge nder, o r number, trllyo u ge t to th e

end, wh ere th ere isth e term rnatio n of th e pluralnumber m th e neuter.

This m anner ofwri ting , wh ich is v ery c o m m o n, rs called sam asa (throw

ing o r placrng to geth er), and is a m ost h appy m ode for th e B rahm ans,

wh o are the interpreters of th e law.


harbinge r of grief, and th e confide ntia l repository of

our joys

B ut,

A frie nd wh o is a ple asing collyrium to th e eyes,th e de light of th e heart, and a vesse l in which m ay

be deposited both joy and sorrow,is hard to be found

by a frie nd .

‘ A llo the r frie nds, ta inted with th e lust o fga in,are everywhe re to be found in tim es of prospe rity ;a nd adve rsity is the ir touchstone .

’

H iranyak a h av ing in th is m anne r greatly lam entedth e fa te of h is frie nd , sa id to th e de e r C h itra ng a a nd

th e crow,- L e t o ur effo rts be exe rte d fo r th e de live r

ance of M anth ara , before th e hunte r depa rts fro mth e fo rest. L et us, sa id they, be instructed in wha t wesho uld do . L e t C h rtra ng a go n e a r th e wate r, saidH ira nyak a , a nd fe ign him se lf se nse less a nd d e ad,a nd let th e crow appe a r a s if h e we re pe cking at

h im ; whe n th e hunte r, spying a de e r, a nd lo ngingto ta ste o f h is flesh, wrllbe o ve rjoyed, a nd so layingth e to rto ise upon th e ground, will run to se cureh im . In th e m eantim e I will gnaw asunde r th e

co rds by which M a nth ara is co nfined. Th e de e r a ndth e crow d id as they we re instructed im m ed ia te ly.

T h e hunte r be ing th irsty, la id th e torto ise upo n th e

g ro und, a nd having drank so m e wa te r,sa t down in

th e shade o f a tre e , whe n h e d iscove re d th e de e r in



‘ M ay th e co nduct o f tho se wh o a c t,we ll

affo rd ple asure to th e m ind ! By Words a loneno o ne is great. May h e o n whose d iadem is

a cresce nt,

’ cause prospe rity to th e people of th e

e arth ! ’

Se ev a , th e god o fgo od and e v ildestiny, who isrepresented with acresc entm the front of hrs crown .


CH A PTE R II.

TH E SE PA R A TIO N o r A F AVO U R ITE .

H A VIN G,sir, sa id th e young princes, he ard Th e

A cquisitio n of a F rie nd, we a re now anxious to beinform ed of what respe cts Th e Separation of a

F avourite .

A ttend then, answe red Vish nu-Sarm a, and yoush a llhear conce rning th e Separa tio n of a F avo urite ,ofwhich these lines are an introduction :

In a certa in forest t/zere subsisted a g rea t a nd in

crea sing friendsizip between a lion a nd a bull, w/n'

c/c

is destroy ed by a cruela nd v ery env iousj a ckal.

H ow was this?dem ande d th e R ajah ’

s sons and

Vishnu-Sarm a re lated th e following story

F A B L E I.

O N th e southe rn road is a city, by nam e R atnav ate e

,

’ whe re used to dwe ll a m e rchant ’s so n, wh o

R ich in pre c ious th ings. P robably th e nam e was m ade for th e

o c casro n.


was ca lled Va rddh am a na ,‘ though po ssessed ofa bun

da nt we alth, se e ing othe rs h is re lations ve ry rich, h isre so lution was th a t h is own greatness should still beincre ased . They say ,

Greatness do th no t approach h im wh o is fo r eve rlook ing d own ; a nd all those wh o are lo oking h ighare growing poor. " i‘

A gain

E ven ao

m an wh o ha th m urde red a Brahm an is

respe ctable , ifh e ha th abunda nt we a lth . H e m ay be

o fa ra ce like tha t ofth e still, ifh e be withoutriches, h e will be desp ised .

L akshm e e , as a yo ung wom an likes no t an old h us

ba nd , do th no t like to take unto h er o ne withoute ne rgy, th e idle , h im wh o truste th in fa te a lo ne , o r th em an wh o isbe co m e destitute by h is own e xtravagance .

Idle ness, th e wo rship o fwom e n ,th e be ing afflicte d

with d iso rd e r, a fo o l ish partiality fo r one’

s own nativepla ce

,d isco nte ntedness, and tim id ity, are six obstrue

tio ns to gre a tness.

’

Growrng gre at, ric h , o r O pulent. Th is is th e true nam e ofth at crty

and pro v rnc e rn B engal, wh ic h we c om m o nly c allB urdwan.

1' Wh eth er thrsbe th e literalm eaning of th e auth o r, th e translato r

is no t c ertarn ; if rt be , h e is a t a loss to rnterpret i t to h rs own

sa trsfa c tro n . [N e ith er elated no r dej e c ted , lo ok strargh t at th e wo rk

befo re yo u.—H . M .]

I Th e H rndo o g enealo grsts m entro n two ra c es from wh ich th ey bo ast

desc ent t/ze S om e -ba ng s, and M e C ba na’

ra -v a ngs th at’

rs, t/ze ra ce oftire sun

,and Ike 1 ace oftbc m oon.


102 TH E H 1TO P A D E SA

‘ Having behe ld th e de cre ase o f a co llyrium , a nd

th e co lle cte d he ap o f th e white anti“ a m an sho uldspend h is days, which a re no t to be re tarded, in actsofcharity a nd th e study ofvirtue .

By th e fall o f dro ps o fwa te r, by degre es, a pot isfilled . L et th is be a n exam ple fo r th e acquisitio n of

all knowledge , virtue , a nd riche s.

’

These we re th e co gita tio ns of th e m e rcha nt ; wh oaccordingly took two bulls, th e o ne called Sa ng

je e v ak ad'

th e othe r N andana ,I and having yo ke d them

to a cart loade d with sundry p re cious articles, departed fo r K asm e era ,§ fo r th e purpose o ftrade .

F o r,

‘What is too gre at a load fo r those wh o havestre ngth ? Wha t is d ista nce to th e indefa tig able ?What is a fo re ign country to those wh o have scienceWho is a strange r to tho se wh o have th e habit o fsp e aking k indly

A s they we re going ove r th e m ountain which iscalled Sudurg a , “Sa ng-je e v ak a fe ll down and brakeh is kne e ; se e ing which, Varddh am ana m ed ita ted in

this m anne r

Th ese destructiv e inse c ts rarse c ones of c em ented e arth o f an

asto nrshrng m agm tude Th ey are frequently se en m B engale igh tor ten

feet h igh , and of a pro p o rtio nate bulk .

1' L iv ing toget/zer, allud ing to h isbe ing yoked .

I R ejo rc ing .

a Th e p ro v inc e of C ashm ere

II O f v ery difficult asc ent.


‘ O ne a cqua inted with m en a nd m a nne rs m ay

exe rcise h is ende avo urs he re a nd the re ; but, afte rall

,th e fru it wil l be wh ateve r is in th e wrllof prov i

d e nc ef

But,

H esitation should be abando ned as th e o ppone nto feve ry a ctio n whence , having forsake n hesitatio n,le t success a ttend th e pe rfo rm ance .

’

H aving thus de te rm ine d, Varddh am a na quittingSang-je e v ak a , pursued h is journey ; a nd th e poorbullby resting h is who le we ight upon th re e fe e t c o ntriv ed to g et up fo r,

‘ Th e destine d ag e of eve ry o ne defe ndeth th e

v ita ls of o ne plunge d into th e wa te r, falle n from a

pre cipice,or bitten by a se rpent .’

In a few days, by fe ed ing we ll upon what wasm o st agre e able to h im ,

h e grew plum p and full o fSpirits and as h e wa nde re d abo ut thro ugh th e tra ckso f th e fo rest, h e m ade a great be llowing. In this

sam e forest the re resrded P ing alak af a l io n, in th e

full enjoym e nt o f th e ple a sure s o f a do m in io n

acquired by th e stre ngth o f h is o wn arm ; fo r it

is said,‘The re is n o ce rem o ny of anointing, or inauguration

, p erform ed by th e othe r an im a ls upon th e lion .

A word ex pressiv e ofth e c olour ofa lio n.

19 4 TH E H ITO P A D E SA .

T o be head of th e be asts is th e natural right of h imwh o subdue th th e kingdo m by h is prowess.

’

O ne day, th e l ion be ing th irsty, we nt to th e rive rside to drink o fitswa te rs wh e n ,

fh earing th e be llowing o f Sa ng-je e v a ka , a kind o f n o ise h e h ad n eve rhe a rd befo re , and which to h im appeared as dre adfula s th e unse aso nable ro aring o f a clo ud

,’ h e turne d

away witho ut drink ing, a nd we nt ba ck to h is abo detre m bling with fe a r ; whe re h e sto o d sile ntly m editating wha t it co uld be . In this situa tio n th e R ajahhaving be e n d isco ve red by two j a cka ls o f h is co unc i l,K a rattak a and D am anak a ,

'l' th e la tte r sa id to th e

fo rm e r,— H ow is this

,m y friend, tha t th e l io n,

a ltho ugh thirsty, h as no t drunk h is usua l dra ught,a nd stays at hom e so dull a nd dej e c ted ? F rie ndD a m a nak a , repl ied K arattak a , in m y O pin io n we

o ught no t to se rve this sam e R ajah a ny lo nge r ; andtha t be ing th e case , fo r what purpose should we

A few ye ars srnc e th ere ha pp ened o ne of th ese unse aso nable claps

o fthunder, W i th out th e leastwarn i ng , from a single clo ud th a t h ad by

no m eans th e ap p e a ranc e of o ne of th o se wh i c h th rea ten thunder. The

lightn ing be ing attra c te d by th e obelisk e re c ted in C alc utta to th e

m em o ry o fth o se wh o sufl'

ered i n th e bla c k h ole , i ts sh aft wa s gre a tlydam ag ed , and a larg e slab of m arble , o n wh ic h was th e insc rip ti o n,

burst from th e i ro n clam ps wh i ch h eld it to th e bri c kwo rk , and

sh a ttered to p i e c es.

Th ese are th e o riginalnam eswh i ch th e P e rsi a ns, and, after th em ,

th e E uro p e ans h av e c o rrup ted i nto K alila and D am na . T h e fo rm er

m ay sign ify one wbo [wet/z a r¢ roaclzfullrfe, and th e la tter, one wnoclzastzsetb, correcteIIz, tam etb.



coward ; a nd if h e wi ll no t suffe r patiently, fo r th em o st pa rt, h e isno t prefe rred .

Se en o n o ne side , h e is,undoubte dly

,sitting

down ; and if standing a t a distance , h e is no t to be

fo und . Th e duties of se rvitude a re e xtrem e ly profo und, and im practicable , eve n to Yoge es.

’

What thou p rO p o se st, m y frie nd, sa id D am anaka ,

is by no m eans to be put in practice .

H ow ! are . no t th e m ighty lords to be d ilig entlyse rved by the e , wh o ,

witho ut de lay, gladly fulfil th edesire s o fth e he a rt ?

‘Whe n do tho se witho ut em ploy e njoy tho se ele

v ated stations distingu ish e d by th e C h am ara ,‘l‘ th e

white um bre lla spread upo n a lofty pole , th e horse ,th e e lephant, a nd th e sple ndid l itte r S

‘;

N o twithstanding all this, o bse rved K arattak a , whathave we to do with this affa ir O ne sho uld a lways

avo id m eddl ing with othe r fo lks’ business. S e e what

is sa id upon this occasion

Tbe m an wlzo willIza v e to do in m a tters wit/z w/zic/z

Suc h asby se v ere a c ts of p enanc e , and a totalabstrac ti on , fancyth em selv es in un ity Wi th th e Suprem e B e ing .

'l' A k i nd o fwh isk m ade of th e ta ilof a particular sp e c ies of c ow,and so m e tim es of p ea c o ck s

’

fe a th ers, finely o rnam ented, used to c h ase

th e firesaway. In th e v ulgar d iale ct o fH indostan th is i nstrum ent is

c alled c/zowry , wh i ch se em s to be a c o rrup ti o n of th e Sanskrit term .

I Th e pala nqum , p ro p e rlyp alkee .

g Th e lio n’

s return ing fro m th e riv erwith out dri nking .


be lea tlc no business, m ay be repulsed and sleey) up’

on be

g round lik e M e ap e w/zo drew out th e wedg e .

H ow was that ? dem anded D am anaka ; and be

re lated th e following sto ry

F A B L E II .

IN th e country wh ich is ca lle d M agadh af“ Subha

da nta , a m an o f th e Kayastha tribe , ’

i‘ had begun to

burld a the a tre fo r an ente rtainm e nt . O ne of th e

ca rpente rs having with h is saw cut som e way thro ugha pie ce o ftim be r, put a wedge into th e slit. A tro o pof apes com ing tha t way in se a rch o f the ir usualfo o d, o ne of them

,as if dire cted by th e wand of

T im e , too k hold of that wedge with h is two ha nds,and sitting down, h is lowe r pa rts hung with in th e

slit. A t length, from th e naturalgiddiness o f h is

spe cies, with great d ifficulty h e drew o ut th e wedge ,so tha t th e bo ards closing, what was be twe en themwas e ntire ly de stroyed, and be deprived of h is l ife .

Whe refore , I say,

Tlie m a n wh o will, é'

c .

F o r all this, said D am a nak a , th e conce rns of th e

P robably th e anc i ent nam e ofso uth B ah ar.

1' Th e sc ribes, c om m o nly c alle d kay ts, o fwh ich class are m o st of

th ose em ployed by th e E nglish , and o th er E uro p eans, i n India , as

writers and a cc ountants, under th e titlesS arca r, B a n n i an , Gra nny , &c

and th ey are p articularly fam ousfor grand and e x p ensi v e enterta inm ents

in h o no ur o f th e ir d i v ini ties, wh i c h are generally g i v en in tem p orary

th eatres ofsuffic ient capa c i ty to c o nta in m a ny hundred spectators.


m aste r sho uld Ce rta in ly be lo oked into, eve n by th eserva nt . Th e prim e m in iste r

,obse rved K a rattak a ,

be ing em plo yed in th e sup e rinte ndence of allaffa irs,let h im do it. A n infe rio r sh o uld, o n no o ccasio n ,inte rfe re with th e de p a rtm e nt o fanothe r fo r,

H e w/co s/zallm eddle wit/c t/ze dep a rtm ent of a not/zer,

out of zealfor M e welfa re ofbis m aster, m ay rep ent

like tlze ass who wasp unts/zed for bray ing .

D am anak a inqu ire d h o w tha t happe ned ; and

K arattak a re counted th e fo llowing story

F A B L E III .

A T Va ra nase e " the re live d a wash e rm anfl’

who sen am e was K arph o o ra

-pa tta .1‘

O nce upon a tim e ,

having spe nt th e evening until it was very la te in th eagre e able com pany of a yo ung wo m an

,h e we nt to

bed fa tigued, and slept so undly. In th e m e antim e, a

thiefgot in with a n inte ntio n to rob th e house . In

th e co urt the re we re a n a ss a nd a dog. Th e a ss

said to th e dog, upon hearing th e thief,— This is

thy business ; the n why dost tho u no t g et up, a nd byba rk ing contrive to ro use thy m aste r? Wha t h ast

Th e c ity we callB enares, wh ich is a c orrup tio n ofth e fo rm er. It

is a c om p ound of two wordsdeno ti ng th e two ri v uletswh i ch bound th atan c ient c i ty.

1' Washing isseldom p erfo rm ed by wom en in India, e x c ep t as h elpm ates to th e irhusbands.

i Wh ite-clo th .



‘ Th e sun should be worshippe d o n th e back, th e

g o d o ffire o n th e be lly, a m aste r in eve ry way, andth e world above without de ce it.’

H aving repe a ted th ese l ines, h e began to m akea gre a t noise by braying so tha t th e washe rm an

was alarm ed ; but, a lthough exce ed ingly drowsy, h egot up a nd gave th e ass a go od beating with alarge st ick . I repe a t, the refore , H e wh o shallm eddle ,

”

&c .

O bse rve : O ur em ploym e nt is se a rch ing fo r gam e ;

the n let us atte nd to our prope r business. But now Ihave co nside red, I think the re is no t any occasio nfo r our do ing tha t to-dav fo r the re is plenty of

provisions fo r us, a nd som e to spare .

D am anak a , disple ase d at this obse rvation ,e x

claim ed,—What ! D o st thou se rve h is H ighn ess, th eR ajah, m e re ly fo r th e sake o f food ? This is veryunwise as is de clared in the se l ines

By th e wise th e patronage of princes is sought togain th e assistance o ffrie nds, as we ll as a id againstth e treache ry of enem ies ; fo r, wh o doth no t sim plyfill h is be lly ?’

They say,‘L et h im l ive , in whom living m any l ive . D oth

not even th e booby fill h is be lly with h is bill ?’

O bse rv e

F A B L E S A N D P R O VE R B S . i i i

What m an with fiv e P o o rans“ is reduced to serv itude ? Who upon a paralle l with riches is no tfoundby riches 1

“

M ankind be ing by birth upon an equality, th estate o fse rvitude is reproachful . H e wh o is no t th e

first ofh is sp ecies, is counted am ong those wh o are

depe ndents.

’

It is said also,

Th e d iffe rence which is be twe en horses, e lephants,and vehicle s ; woo d , stone , a nd cloth ; wom en , m e n,

a nd wate r, is a ve ry great d iffe re nce .

’

F o r,

‘ A dog having found a bone with a few sinews

sticking about it, dirty, loathsom e , and without a bito f m ea t upon it, is rende re d e x ce edingly happy

,

a lthough it be no t sufli c ie nt to satisfy h is hunge r.’

Whilst,‘Th e lion p erm itteth th e jackal to com e ne ar and

escape , and kille th th e e lephant . E ve ry m an , althoughreduce d to d istress, longe th fo r fruit suitable to h isstre ngth .

’

Th e term p o o tan (literally anc i ent) rs g iv en to such H indoo bo oks

as tre at of creatio n in g eneral, with th e p articula r genealogy, and

h isto ry ofth e ir g o ds and h eroes of antiquity. B utwhy th e numberfiv e

is ch o sen i n th is pla c e is no t e asily to be e x pla ined.

Wh ic h se em s to sign ify, wbo m ay not a cquire wealt/z if be ex erts


O bse rve th e d iffe rence in th e behaviour o fh im wh o

se rve th , and ofh im wh o is se rved :‘ Shaking th e tail, falling down at th e fe e t, and ,prostra ted upon th e gro und , lo o king up at h is facea nd stom ach : allth is th e do g pe rfo rm e th to h ism aste rwh o fe ede th h im . But th e no ble e lephant looke thbo ldly, and e ate th n o t

,unless h e like th, with a

hundre d kind entre a ties.

’

But,‘ Tha t life , alth o ugh it e ndure but fo r a m o m ent

,

which is ce lebrate d by m ankind, a s be ing a ttendedby knowledge , valo ur, a nd re nown ,

is,by tho se wh o

know it, a lo ne d istingu ished by th e nam e o f'life . A

crow live th a lo ng tim e,a nd a rave n e a te th .

’

F o r,

H ow is that brute -l ike m an d ist ingu ished fro m a

beast, whose unde rstanding is vo id of th e p owe r tod iscrim ina te be tu e e n g o o d and evil, wh o is de stituteo fth e m any benefits o fth e sacred re cords, and who se ,

only incl ination is th e filling o fh is be lly ?

But wha t have we , inte rrupted K ara ttak a , to dowith these refle ctio ns ; we ,wh o are oflittle powe r, a ndno t th e principa l ? In a ve ry sh O rt inte rva l o f tim e

a m iniste r m ay e nj o y th e principal station, o r th e

reve rse , replied D am anak a fo r, they say,

N o o ne is, by nature , n o ble , respe cted of a ny o ne ,


r14 TH E H ! TO P A D E SA

F rie nd, sa id K arattak a , thou art unacquainted withth e ways o f se rvice .

H e wh o e nte re th uncalled fo r, unquestio nedspe ake th m u ch, and rega rde th h im se lfwith sa tisfa ctio n,to h is prince appe a re th o ne o f a we ak judgm e nt.’

H ow am I the re in igno ra nt o f th e ways o f se rvice ,dem a nde d D am a nak a fo r

,

‘ Is the re a nything o f its o wn nature be autiful o rno t be a utiful ? Th e be a uty o f a th ing is e v en tha tby wh ich it sh ine thfi‘

‘ O ne of a so und j udgm e nt having pursue d a m a n

with tho se ve ry qualit i es o fwh ich h e is possessed,m ay prese ntly lead h im into h is powe r. ’

A ga in

Upon he a ring, Wh o is he re h e sh o uld answe r,“ I —ple ase to co m m a nd.

”

A nd h e should exe cute th eorde rs o f h is sove re ign to th e be st o f h is abil itie s.

’

It is sa id,

‘ D iso bed ie nce of o rde rs to th e so ve re ign,and

disrespe ct to th e Brahm ans, is death without th ea pplica tio n o f a knife .

’

A ga in

H e wh o is ste ady in trifl ing m a tte rs, wise , like a

“3“ Th is p assag e se em s to im ply, th at beauty sh ould be estim ated by

g o o d qualiti es, rath er th an by o utward sh ow.

l

F A B L E S A N D P R O VE R B S . n 5

shadow constantly in attendance , and wh o be ingo rde re d m ay no t hesitate , is a prope r pe rson to dwe llin th e court of a prince .

’

So m e tim e s,obse rved K a rattak a , thy m aste r is dis

ple ased with the e fo r thy unse a sonable intrusions.

It is true , replied D am anak a ; n eve rthe less, a tte ndants m ust, unavoidably, m ake the ir appearance .

They say,‘Th e no n-com m encem e nt o f a nything, from th e

fe a r o f o ffence , is th e m a rk o f a we ak m an . Who,brothe r, leave th off e ating entire ly, from th e dre adof indigestion?’

O bse rv e‘ Th e sove re ign se rve th th e m an wh o is near h im ,

although de stitute of le a rning, of no fam ily, or witho ut a cquaintance . P rinces o ften, like wom en and

v ines, twine about h im wh o sitte th by h is side .

’

We ll, said K arattak a , if thou go the re , what wiltthou say to h is H ighness? A ttend, replied Dam anaka : F irst o f all I will find out whe the r h e isattache d to m e , or no t attache d . What signs,dem ande d K arattaka , are the re o fsuch a discove ry ?

I wil l te ll the e , said D am anak a th e signs ofattachm ent a re ,

Th is se em s to argue tha t princ es are ap t to serv e sc ph ants, a nd

the p anders of th e ir pleasure s, in prefe re nc e to go od and learned m en .

i 16 TH E H ITO P A D E SA

‘

Joy a t discove ring at a dista nce , great a ttentio na nd respect in inquiries, com m end ing qual ifica tio nsin abse nce , and rem e m be ring in tho se things whichare fa v o urites.

Such knowledge o f atta chm e n t,eve n in a se rvant,

is a n add itio n to o ne’

s happin ess. Th e m a rks o f

a tta chm ent, eve n to a fault, a re a n accum ulation o f

virtues.

‘ A wise m an m ay also discove r these signs in thosese rv ants wh o a re n o t a ttache d : squande ring of tim e

in id le ness,increasing of hopes, and destroying th e

fru it .“

Whe n I have m ade th is d iscove ry,I will de cla re wha t

m y purpose sh a l l be . K aratta k a the n sa id , -N o t

withsta nd ing this,it do th no t behove the e to spe ak

untilth o u hast fo und a prope r opportun ity. F o r,

E ve n Vrih a sp atin‘sho uld h e utte r wo rds unse ason

ably, wo uld incur contem pt fo r h is unde rstanding,and e te rna l d isgrace .

’

D o no tbe ala rm ed , m y friend, cried D am anak a , I

shall no t spe ak unse asonably fo r,

‘ In m isfortune , in e rror, a nd when th e tim e ap

po inted fo r ce rtain affairs is about to e lapse , a

D isap p o inting .

'l' A m o ngst o th er ti tles g i v en to th is di v i nity, is th at of M aster ofL anguage .


i 18 TH E fflfO P A D E SA

sho uld indispe nsably attend th e prese nce at pro pe rtim es a nd thence it is tha t I am now he re .

Tho se wh o a re pe ne tra ted with th e tim id princi

ples o fthe ir instructo rs,despise th e spe e ches o fthose ,

whe n a ppro aching th e pre se nce o f th e sove re ign, bywhom ,

in wars, Surabh i,‘ ofpo nde ro us form a nd tall,th e e a rth e ve rlastingly to be ado red, hath be e np ie rced by th e fa ll o fa hundred we apons.

’

A nothe r poe t says

The m an whose he a rt is ta inte d with fe a r, al

though profuse o fspe e ch,in th e pre se nce o fth e k ing,

am ongst learned m e n, or in th e com pany ofwom e n

we llinclined fo r a husband, is a coward .

’

The re is a use fo r th e m ost trifling im plem ents ; asis m e ntioned in the se lin es

Sove re igns, O prince , have occasio n e v en fo r

straws, and th ings to rub th e te e th , or pick th e e a rsbut h ow m uch m o re fo r an able speake r, and adexte rous obvia tor o fdifficulties

P e rhaps m y noble m aste r suspe cts, that be ingoppressed with years, m y unde rsta nding islost fo r,

Those wh o are possesse d o fgoo d or bad qualities

a re no t se nsible o fit them se lves. Th e go od trave lle r

Th is nam e is also g i v en to th e core ofplenty , and th is IS th e first

tim e th e translato r h as se en it ap plied to the e arth butth e e arth m ay

wellbe c alled th e c ow ofplenty.

F A B L E S A N D P R O VE R B S . i 19

doth no t pe rce ive tha t th e K asto o rik ar h a th a ny

e njoym e nt o fh er pre cious pe rfum e .

’

N eve rthe le ss,

‘ A ltho ugh a g em: m ay tum ble at th e fe e t, a nd a

p ie ce of glass be wo rn upon th e he ad , ye t, at th eseason o fbuying a nd se lling , glass is glass, a nd gem s

are gem s.

‘ It should no t be suspe cte d of a m an,whose l ife

ha th be en sp ent in n o ble d e eds, th a t h is re aso n is lo st ,whe n h e is o n ly invo lved in tro uble . A fire m ay be

o ve rturned , but its flam e will n eve r de scend .

’

P le ase yo ur d ivine H ighne ss, th e m aste r sho uldconduct h im se lfwith distinctio n fo r,

‘Whe n th e m aste r p asse th o ve r alla like,without

distinctio n, then th e e nd e avours o f tho se wh o are

capable o fexe rtio n a re e ntire ly lo st.The re a re , 0 R ajah, thre e degre es am ongst m a n

k ind th e h igh est, th e lowe st, and th e m iddling a nd

acco rding ly, they should be e ngaged in thre e degre eso fem plo ym e nt.S e rvants and ho uses should be suited to th e

situa tio n . A g e m sho uld no t be placed a t th e fe e t .Th e sam e is to be unde rsto od o fa n able m a n .

’

Thus‘ If a g em be d iscove red at th e fe e t, wh ich is

'l‘ Th e m usk de er.


wo rthy to be worn in an ornam ent o f gold, a nd itdoth no t co m pla in,‘ a nd it doth no t a lso app ear withsplendour, h e wh o placed it the re is to be spoken to .

’

O bse rve

This is a m an ofjudgm e nt, and a ttached ; andthis a g iddy fe llow, a nd und iscipl ined . Th e ch ief,wh o knowe th h ow to judg e of serv c nts in thism anne r, is we ll se rv ed .

’

They say

‘ A ho rse , a we apo n, a boo k, a Ve e na ,'l' a spe e ch,

a nd a m an or wo m a n , are , or a re no t, to be em ployed,when the ir m e rits have be e n exam ined .

’

A ga in

Wha t is to be do ne with a fa ithful se rvant wh o iswitho ut a bil ity o rwith a n able m an wh o is a n opponent ? It do th no t beho v e the e , O R ajah, to despisee ithe r th e o ne o r th e othe r. ’

F o r,

‘ Th e atte ndants o f a prince,be cause o f h is d is

In th is e x pression th e allego ry se em s to be carried to o far.

1 A n instrum ent of th e stri ng k ind , v ery m uc h este em ed in Ind ia .

It is c o nstruc ted o f a lo ng p i e c e ofwo o d up o n wh i ch a num ber o f

ste elstrings are stra ined , and wh i ch serv es also fo r th e finger-bo ard , it

be i ng furn ish ed w ith frets alm o st from o ne e x trem i ty to th e o th er, with

e a c h end fix ed h o rizo ntally up o n th e p ole (ifth e e x pressi o n be allowed )of a la rg e pum pk i n, o r an obla te sp h ere o fwo od h ollowed for th e

p urp o se .


1 22 TH E H I I O P A D E SA :

refused to drink, and now re m ains at hom e in a stateo fam a zem e nt ?It is we ll spoken, answe red P ingalak a . H o w

ple a sant it is to repose a se cre t in a pla ce o f c o n

fide nc e ! I am about to te ll the e . A ttend ! Knowtha t this forest is infested by som e be a st, before un

known to us ; whe refo re it beh o v eth us to abandon it.Hast thou no t he ard a strange lo ud noise ? T o

j udge by h is voice,th e stre ngth o f this m onste r m ust

be excessive !P le ase your d ivinity, replied D am anaka, th e re is

inde ed g reat cause fo r apprehe nsion . We to o haveh e a rd th e voice ; but h e is unworthy to be a m in iste rwh o , in th e first insta nce , adv ise th e ithe r to qu it th efie ld o r to fight. Besides, your H ighness h as n ow a n

opportunity to e x pe rie nce th e use o f yo ur se rvants ;fo r

,

By th e touchstone ofm isfortune a m an discove re thth e quality o fwife , re lations, and se rvants a nd o fh is

own stre ngth and j udgm e nt . ’

It is good, replied th e lion ; but I am preve ntedby m y gre at apprehe nsions.

D am a nak a having co nside red wha t h e should do ,at le ngth said

,—What ! do st thou spe ak to us abo ut

a to tal abdication o fth e enjoym e nt o fthy dom in io ns?

I te ll your H ighness pla in ly, tha t as long as I liv e , Ishall no t be afraid but it is ne cessa ry that th e m inds


o fK arattaka a nd th e rest should be pacified ‘ also ; fo rin tim es o fne cessity, it is difficult to assem ble peopleto ge the r.A fte r tha t K a ra tta k a and D am anak a toge the r,

having re ce ived the ir so ve re ign ’

s gracio us co m m issio n, pro m ise d to defeat th e thre ate ne d da nge r, and

d eparted a ccordingly.

A s they we re go ing a long, K arattaka sa id to

D am anak a ,—Is th e cause o f apprehe nsio n possibleto be defe ated, or no t possible ? T il l this h as be ende te rm ined, why d id we , in pro m ising to apply arem edy

,a ccept o f this great appointm ent ? F o r it

i s said, tha t no o ne , unle ss h e hath th e powe r tope rform , should a ccept of any one

’

s com m ission, and,in particular, tha t o fa k ing .

O bse rve ,‘ H e is all-glorio us, o n who se pleasure fo rtune

waite th , in whose va lo ur victo ry, a nd in who se ange rde a th .

‘ Th e sove re ign, although but a ch ild, is no t to bede spised, but to be respe cted as a m a n ; o r as am ighty divin ity, wh o p reside th in hum a n fo rm .

’

D am a nak a , laughing, sa id,—Ho ld thy peace , friend ;I am a cqua inte d with th e cause o f this fe ar : it iso nly th e be llowing o f a bull, our prope r food, aswe lla s that of th e lion . If this be th e case , obse rv edK a rattak a , why we re not h isH ighness

’

sfe ars instantly

124 TH E H I TO P A D E S /1

appe ased ? If, replied D am a nak a ,

they h ad be e nsa t isfied im m ed ia telv h ow wo uld this gre a t com m issio n have be e n o btaine d ? They say,

Tlee m a ste r s/zould nev er be renderedfreefrom ap pre

lzenszon by Ins serv a nts for a serv a nt lza v ing qui eted

t/ze fea rs of li is m a ster m ay ex perience t/ze fa te ofD ad/zzba rna fl'

H owwa s tha t ? dem a nded K arattak a ; and Dam anaka re lated th e following story

F A B L E IV .

UP O N th e m o unta in A rbuda -sikha ra , the re was alio n, who se nam e wa s M a h a v ikram a ,

‘l‘ th e t ip s o f

who se m a ne a m o use wa swont to gnaw, as h e sle p ti n h is de n . Th e n o ble be ast, having d isco ve red tha th is ha ir wa s bitte n , was ve ry m uch d isple ase d a nd

as h e was unable to ca tch th e o ffe nde r, wh o alwaysslip p ed into h is ho le , h e m edita ted what was be st tobe do n e ; and having reso lved, sa id h e ,

‘Who so ha th a trifling e nem y, wh o is no t to beo ve rco m e by dint of va lo ur, should em plo y aga insth im a fo rce o fh is own like ness.

’

With a review o f th is saying , th e lio n repa ire d to

th e Vi llage , and by m e ans o f a pie ce o fm eat thrown

Wh o se e ars are th e c olo ur o f curds wbzte-ear.

1 Great c o urage .



dim a‘ proclaim e th this, sound ing , Th e m ise rable aredefeate d .

”

Sang-je e v ak a , with a lo ud voice , said,—Wha t, 0Ge ne ral, a m I to do ? A nd K a rattak a replied,—Ifitbe thy wish to rem ain in these forests, bow down toth e dust of h is H ighness’

s fe e t . Give m e thy word,that the re is no dange r, said Sang-je e v ak a , and upo nthose te rm s I am ready to go . These suspicions,observed K arattaka , are unne cessary fo r,

‘Th e tem pest ne v e r ro o te th up th e grass, which isfeeble

,hum ble , and shoote th no t up o n high but

e x erteth its powe r even to distress th e lofty tre esfo r th e great use no t the ir m ight, but upon th e

great . ’

Saying this, leaving Sang-je ev ak a at a l ittle d is

tance , they repaired unto th e presence ofth e l ion, bywho m having be en re ce iv ed with attentio n , they m adethe ir reve re nce , a nd sat down a nd th e R ajah waswe ll ple ased—Know, your H ighne ss, sa id D am anak a ,

we have se en this an im al,a nd h e is hum bled neve r

th eless, h e is o f am az ing strength A ccord ing to

your divine com m ands, h e is desiro us o fvisiting yourHighne ss’

s fe e t, wherefore , arm yourse lf, and le t h imdraw ne ar fo r,

A sm alldrum wh ich it is supp o sed Sc e v a , th e destroying ang el,wrllsound on th e last day, wh en allth ings sh allbe d issolv ed.

F A 5 1 5 5 A N D P R O VE R B S . r27

‘Th e ban k is p ene trated by th e wate rs, although

p rote cte d by a charm friendship is broken by m a lic io usness, and a coward is to be ove rcom e by wordsalone .

’

B y this it is se en tha t o ne should no t be a larm eda t a m e re sound fo r, it is said,

It is notp rop er to be ala rm ed a t a m ere sound, wlzen

tne ca use of tlta t sound is unknown . A p oor wom a n

obta inetle consequence for d isco v ering t/te ca use of a

Th e lion asked h ow that was ; and D am anak a

re c ounted th e following story

F A B L E V.

B E TWE E N th e m ountains Sre e -p arv ata the re is a

city called Brahm a-pure e} th e inhabitants ofwhichuse d to be lieve , that a ce rtain giant,whom they ca lledGh a ntta -k arnad

‘ infeste d o ne of th e adjace nt h ills.

Th e fa ct wa s thus : A thief,a s h e was running away

with a be ll h e had stole n,wa s o ve rcom e and devoured

by a tige r and th e be ll fa lling from h is hand havingbe en picke d up by som e m onkeys, eve ry now a nd

the n they used to ring it. N ow th e p eople of th e

Th ere are m any pla ces in India called by thisnam e ,wh ich srgnifith e c ity ofGod.

1. B eu' eal'

.


town finding that a m an had be en killed the re , andat th e sam e tim e he aring th e be ll, used to de cla re ,that th e giant Gha ntta -karna be ing e nraged , wasdevo uring a m a n , a nd ringing h is be ll ; so tha t th ecity was abando ne d by allth e principa l inhabita nts.

A t length, howe ve r , a ce rta in po o r wo m a n havingco nside red th e subj e ct, disco ve red tha t th e be ll wa srung by th e m onkeys. Sh e a cco rdingly we nt to th eR ajah, a nd sa id,—If, divine sir

,I m ay exp e ct a ve ry

gre at rewa rd, I will e ngage to silence th is Gh a nttaka rna . Th e R ajah was exce edingly we llple a se d, a ndgave h e r som e m o ney. S o having displayed h e rco nseque nce to th e priestho o d o f th e co untry, to

th e leade rs o f th e a rm y, and to allth e rest o fth e pe o ple , sh e pro vide d such fru its as sh e c o n

c e iv ed th e m o nkeys we re fo nd o f,a nd we nt into

th e wood ; whe re strewing them abo ut,they p re

sently qu itted th e be ll, a nd a ttached themse lv e sto th e fruit. Th e po o r wom a n, in th e m e a n

tim e , too k away th e be ll, a nd repa ired to th e c ity ;whe re sh e be cam e a n obj e c t o f ado ra tion to its

inhabitants. Whe refo re,I say,

It is no tp rop er to be afra id of a m ere sound, & c .

Having concluded h is sto ry,D am anak a a nd

K a rattak a bro ught S a ngje e-vaka, a nd intro duced h im

to th e lio n afte r wh ich th e bull reside d in that fo restin gre a t go o d fe llowsh ip.


r39 TH E H ITO P A D E SA :

F o r,

‘ H e is th e best m iniste r wh o e nrich eth th e Sta tebut a K ak ine e “l Th e tre asury is th e vita ls of h imwh o ha th a tre asury .

’

r Th e anim a l Spirits a re no t

th e v i tals of princes.

‘ F o r a m an will no t arrive at th e sta te o f be ingrespe cted by a ny o the r m e a ns. When a m an is

d e stitute o f riches, h e is som e tim es forsake n, eve n byh iswife , and h ow m uch m ore by o the rs

What great evils these are also in a State

O bse rve

Great expenditures,a nd th e want o f inspe ction ;so

,un lawful a ccum ula tion,

plunde ring, and a dista ntsituatio n,i a re ca lled th e evils o f th e tre asury.

Th e rich m a n spe nde th like Visra v ana,§ wh o

squa nd ereth , acco rding to h is inclinations, h is inc om e

im m edia te ly, without rega rd to its am ount .’

Stabdh a -ka rna , th e R ajah ’

s bro the r, having a t

tended to these wo rds o f th e bull, de clared h issentim ents as fo llowsH e a r m e , brothe r it is m y opin io n that these two ,

K arattak a and D am a nak a , be ing em ployed in th e

A smallc o in ofth e v alue of twenty c owries(sm allsh ells).A so v ere ign .

I It m eans probably, th atwh en p ri nc es are absentfrom th e seat of

g o v ernm ent, th e i r o ffi c ers are ap t to be to o pro d igalof th e ir tre asure.

O ne ofth e titles ofth e H i ndo o god ofri ch es.

F A B L E S A N D P R O VE R E s. 1‘

31

supe rintende nce o f th e affa irs of peace a nd wa r, are

im prope r pe rsons to presid e a t th e head o f th e

tre asury . I will j ust repeat what I m yse lfhave he ardupon th e subj e ct ofpe rsons to be em ployed.

A tte nd then

A priest, a soldie r, and a re lation, are no t pro perto be e m p loyed at th e he ad o f affa irs. Th e prie st,e ve n whe n th e o bje ct fo rwhich h e was e ngage d hathbe e n com ple te d, refuse th to re sign .

‘ If a so ldie r be em plo yed in a n affa ir,h e d ire ctly

sho weth h is sword a nd th e re lation, pre sum ing uponh is re la tio nship, swallowe th up all th e pro fits.

Ifa n old se rva nt be appointe d, h e will be fearless,’

e ven in th e com m ission o fcrim es and, in despite of

h is m aste r, h e m ay quit h is se rvice witho ut reproof.‘ O ne wh o ha th be e n useful

,in o ffend ing, paye th

no attention to h is o ffe nce . H e m ake th h is se rvicesa standard, unde r wh i ch to plunde r a nd destro y.

What m iniste r is ina ttentive am ongst richesTh e m a n fo rc eth him se lf to be atta che d ; and fromintim acy h e is fo r eve r sure to behave with inso lence

a nd contem pt.A m in iste r is always incorrigible , when h e sha ll

be grown too gre a t . It is a m ax im o f tho se wh o are

e ste e m ed pe rfe ct, that abundanc e is th e perverte r of

re aso n .

O r,from a cqua intance.


Th e m a n wh o thinke th o fnothing but th e acquisitio n ofwe a lth, always d evoure th th e who le with outrese rve . Th e e agle a nd th e vulture m ay se rv e aprince as exam ple s o fsuch a m iniste r.

‘ N o t tak ing th e adva ntag e s whic h are fo und ,‘

co nce a ling th e expend iture of things, ina tte ntio n,

wa nt o f j udgm e nt, a nd th e be ing a ddicte d tople asures, are all faults in a m in iste r.

‘ Th e co lle ct io n o f th e reve nues is th e busine ss o f

th e o ffic e rs but a co nsta nt circum spe ctio n,th e p ay

m ent o fstipends, a nd o fth e re turn fo r labo ur, a re th eduties o fth e so ve re ig n .

Until they are pressed,they wil l no t d isg o rge

th e ro ya l tre asures they have em be zz led ; fo r th e

o ffice rs of revenue , fo r th e m ost pa rt,a re a co rrupt

class.

‘ A nd th e co m pulsiv e powe r of th e sove re igns o f

th e e a rth sho uld be exe rted repe a tedly upo n th e iroffice rs ; fo r will a pie ce o f clo th, by be ing o ncesque e zed

, yie ld up allth e wa te r it m ay have imbibed ?

’

T he who le o f this advice , co ncluded th e lion ’

s

bro the r, sho uld be put in pra ctice , as o ften a s the reis fo und o c casion .

T h e R ajah then sa id,—It is even so , that these

two a re no t a lways re ady to o bey m y co m m a nds.

N o t c olle c ting th e k ing’s re v e nues.



w ife , for lea v zng bound Herself t/ze m ere/ta nt, for

lea v ing a ttemp ted to steala j ewel allthese snfieredfo r

H air ownfa ults.

H ow was th is ? dem anded K arattaka and D am a

naka re lated th e fo l lowing stories

F A B L E VI.

IN th e city wh ich is called Kanch ana -pura * th e re wa sa R ajah, who se nam e was Ve era -v rkram asl' O nceupo n a tim e , as h is chief office r o f justice was c o n

ducting a ce rta in ba rbe r to th e pla ce o fexe cutio n , o n eKandarpa-ke tu, wh o was a trave lle r, acco m pan ied bya m e rchant, tak ing h im by th e skirt o f h is ga rm e nt,cri ed out,—This m a n is no t guilty ! H ow so ! sa id

th e king’s o ffice rs ; no t gu ilty, sayest tho u ? H e a r

m e ! sa id h e , a nd h e im m ed ia te ly began to repe atthe se l ines Having touched Swa rna -rekha ,

”&c .

What does this m e an ?dem anded th e o ffice rs ; andth e trave lle r re counted th e fo llowing adventureTh e king o f Singha la-dwe e p a ,1

’

whose nam e is

Je em o o ta -ke tu,§ hath a so n ca lled Kanda rpaa nd I am h e . O ne day a boa tm a n, wh o a ttendedin th e pleasure ga rde ns, to ld m e tha t, o n th e fourth

Th e golden c ity.

'l' P o ssessing th e c ourage ofa h ero .

It. Th e island ofC eylo n .

yeem oota srgnrfies a cloud, and Reta aflag .

O ne ofth e titles ofth e H indo o C up id .

F A E L E s A N D P R O VE R B S . 135

day of th e m oon, the re was to be se en in th e se a ,

which wa s ne ar,unde r what had th e appe a rance of

th e Ka lpa-taru, o r tre e of tho ugh t,seate d upo n a

silve r so fa,ornam e nted with a fringe o fpre c io us gem s

,

a ce rtain nym ph playing upon a Ve ena, as it we re

th e go ddess L akshm e e )“ A t th e prope r t im e I se ntfo r th e bo a tm a n , a nd ge tting into th e bo a t, set sa ilfo r th e appo inted p la ce and the re I behe ld a dam se l,with o n ly o ne halfo f h er bo dy appe a ring abo ve th esurface o f th e wate r. In sho rt, a ttracted by th e

be autifulness of h e r appe arance , I gave a jum p withintention to ca tch h er ; but faili ng, I la id ho ld of a

branch of th e tre e o f thought, and was im m ed iate lytranspo rted to h er golden palace whe re I fo und h erwaiting in an apa rtm ent o fgo ld, se a ted upo n a bed o f

th e sam e m ate ria ls, attende d by Vidya-dh are es.1' I

no soone r saw h er, than ,spying m e at a d istance

,sh e

addresse d m e with respe ct, a nd o ffe re d to be m y

bride , to wh ich I co nse nte d with m y eyes ; and we

we re im m e d ia te ly un ited by that m o de ofm a rriagewhich is ca lled Ga ndharva-v iv ah a .1 H er nam e was

Th e goddess of g o od fo rtune . B ut as Saraswate e is m o re p ro

p erly th e go ddess ofh arm ony, i t is ap preh ended h er nam e sh ould h ere

be substi tuted for th at ofL akshm e e , wh i ch probably is a m istak e ofth e

c o pyist, wh o , in g eneral, is v ery igno rant, and often unacqua inted withe v ery p art ofth e languag e but th e ch ara c ter.

1 L iterally, fem ale lwlders qfsc i enc e . Th ey are always represented

asbe autifulatte ndants, and are sa id to be ofd i v m e o rig in .

1 Th is k ind of m arri ag e requires n o th ing but th e c o nsent of th e

p arti es, and in anc i ent tim eswaslawful.

136 TH E H ITO P A D E S /1

R atna a nd sh e was th e daughte r o f

Ka ndarpa -k ele e ,1~ th e k ing o fth e Vidya -dha ra 1 O ne

day, a s we we re in priva te to ge th e r, sh e sa id ,— H us

band, tho u m ayest e njoy e v e rything which is he rea cco rding to thy wish

,except it be th e be a utiful

Swarna -rekh a , a ce rta in Vidya -dh are e , wh o is no t to

be to uched o fa ny o ne . So m e tim e afte r this. at a n

e nte rta inm ent, be ing in a m e rry m ood, I was tem pte dto to uch h er, a nd fo r m y presum ption sh e spurne dm e with th e so le o f h er fo o t ; afte r which I fo undm yse lfin this co untry ; a nd, at leng th, trave lling abo utin gre a t d istress, I chanced to d isco ve r th is city, a ndhaving wande red about allda y, I we nt to sle ep a t th e

ho use o f a certa in cowke epe r. This m a n , too, p e rc e iv ing th e se aso n fo r th e co m m issio n o fcrim es§ wa s

a ppro a ching, prude ntly quitted th e co nve rsa tio n o f

h is frie nds, a nd cam e hom e . whe re h e fo und h is wifeplann ing e vil with a no the r wo m an S o , having giv e nh e r a good be a ting

,h e m ade h e r fa st to a p o st, a nd

we nt to sle ep . A bo ut m idnight, th e o the r wo m a n ,

wh o was th e ba rbe r’s wife , re turn ing, sa id to th e c o w

ke epe r’s wife ,— Such a o n e,burn ing with th e fire o f

se p a ra tio n, is re ady to d ie fo r the e . Go , the n , to

spe ak to h im,a nd re turn qu ick ly ; a nd in th e m e a n

‘l‘ A string o fjewels.

'l' Th e sp o rt oflo v e .

Th e pluralofVidya -dh ara , in th e m asculine gender.N igh t.



Th e sun and m oo n,fire a nd a ir, he aven, e a rth,

and wa te r ; th e heart, and co nscience ;’

day a nd

n ight, with m o rn ing a nd eve ning ; justice a nd all,

are witne sses o f a m an ’s a cti o ns

.Then, let thisbe th e tria l o f m y innoce nce :

‘ Ye m ighty a nge ls wh o gua rd th e unive rse ! ’

if I am a n i nno cent wife , let this m y co untenancerem ain no longe r witho ut a nose

N ow, said sh e , look at m y fa ce ! A ccordingly, h erhusband, having brought a l ight, e xam ine d h er face ;and when h e behe ld that it was fre e from a ny

appe a rance o f having be e n wounded, h e fe l l down a t

h er fe e t , a nd, with a jo yful he a rt,re le ased h e r fro m

h e r co nfinem ent, and put h er into bed. A nd now I

have la id befo re yo u allthis, I ca nno t he lp m ed ita tingupo n th e circum stance of th e barbe r’s wife havingbo und he rse lf; but,

E ve ry book o f knowledge which is known toUsana,‘ or to Vrihasp ati, is by nature in th e

unde rstandings ofwom en .

‘ Ho ney dwe lle th upo n a wo m a n’

s spe e ch ; but inh e rbre ast the re is noth ing but po ison .

’

N ow atte nd to th e histo ry of th e m e rchant : H e

left h is own house , and afte r an absence o ftwe lve

r: The planetVenus, and the tuto r ofthe ev rlsp irits.


years, h e re turned to this city, having bro ught withh im , fro m M anasotk anth a ,

‘ a gre a t m any j ewe ls, andwe nt to sle ep a t a ho use . Th e m istress o f th e househ ad m ade a wo ode n im ag e of a c e rta in spirit, o n

who se he a d sh e h ad placed a va luable g em . Th isbe ing told to th e m e rch ant, instiga te d by ava rice , h egot up in th e m iddle of th e n ight ; but just a s h e

h ad put h is hand to th e j ewe l, h e was caughtbe twe en th e a rm s o f th e im age , which we re hungby wires, a nd sque e ze d ve ry clo se ly, so tha t h e criedo ut with pa in . Th e m istress o f th e ho use got upim m e diate ly. H o , ho ! m aste r m e rchant ! Tho ua rt com e fro m M a naso tk a nth a ! The n de live r allthyj ewe ls, or e lse tho u wilt no t be re le ased fro m thyprese nt co nfinem ent. In sho rt , h e wa s he lple ss, and

so se n t fo r allh is tre asure s, a nd m ade an o ffe ring o fthem fo r h is e n la rgem ent ; since which, having be e nthus plunde re d of all h is wealth

,h e h as joine d o ur

party of p ilgrim s.

Th e trave lle r having thus concluded th e story ofth e m e rchant, th e o ffice rs o f j ustice re le ased th e po o rba rbe r. I repe a t, the refo re ,

I fo r having touchedth e dam se l Swa rna -rekha , & c . N ow,

co ntinuedD am a nak a , as th is a lso is an e vil o f our own se eking,it does no t be co m e us to grieve abo ut it. A nd

having conside re d fo r a m o m ent, h e added, -F riend,

P robably th e m ines ofGolc onda .


th e frie ndship wh ich subsists be twee n them was

bro ught abo ut by m e ; and, by m e , that friendshipm ay be d isso lv e d fo r,

Skilful m e n m ake fa lseho od loo k l ike truth and

those acqua inte d with th e painte r’s art, m ake a n eve nsurfa ce appe a r uneve n.

’

Tne understa nding w/zic/z, up on unexp ected occur

renees, rem a inet/z unaffected , m ay p a ss t/zroug /i t/te

g rea test dgfliculties like like fa rm er’s wife wit/z li er

we g al/a nts.

H ow was tha t ? de m anded K arattak a ;

D am a naka re co unted th e following story

F A B L E VII.

A T a pla ce ca lled a ce rta in fa rm e r h ada be autiful wife , wh o used to ke ep co m pa ny with th eso n o f th e m ag istrate o f th e pla ce ; according tothese sayings

‘ Th e fire is neve r sa tisfied with th e additio n o f

fue l, th e o ce an with th e influx o f rive rs, th e a ng e l o fde a th with th e m o rta lity o f allth ings which havelife , no r a beautiful wo m an with th e conquest o f allm a nk ind !

‘Wo m en a re neve r to be rende red fa ithful a nd

O ne ofth e nam es ofth e pla ce c o m m o nly c alled D warak a .


1 4 2 TH E H ITO P A D E SA

cunning fourfo ld ; the ir perseve ranc e sixfold ; and

the ir passio ns

Whe refore , I repeat, Th e unde rstand ing, &c .

B e it so , replied K arattak a ; but h o w will it bepossible to d issolve th e ingrafted fri endsh ip which subsists be twe e n the m ? So m e artifice m ust be tho ughtof

,replied D am a nak a , according to this saying :

T/za t m ay be cfieeted by stra tag em ,w/ziclz could not

be efiectedlby streng th . A fem ale crow, by m ea ns of

a g olden eka zn , ca used t/ee dea t/t of a bla ck serp ent.

H o w was this bro ught abo ut ? dem a nde d Ka ra ttaka ; and D am a nak a to ld th e fo llowing story

F A B L E VIII .

TH E fem ale c om panio n o fa crow resided in a ce rta intre e , whe re sh e had yo ung o nes ; but they we re all

devo ured by a bla ck se rpent, wh o co nce a le d him se lfin th e hollow o f its

‘

trunk . N ow, finding he rselfbre ed ing aga in

,sh e sa id to h e r m a te

,—M y de a r, let

us abando n this tre e ; fo r we shall n e v e r be able tora ise any o four offsprings, be cause o f that vile blackse rpe nt fo r, yo u know,

‘ A bad wife , a false friend, se rvants wh o give pe rt

Th is m ay be th e c ase in Ind ia , to wh i ch th e observ atio n 15 c o n

fined .


a nswe rs,and living in a ho use infested by se rpe nts,

is de a th,as itwe re , inevitable .

"

My de a r,replied th e crow,

tho u shalt have no

further cause to be a la rm ed . I have pa rdoned h iso ffe nc e again a nd aga in ; but this t im e h e shall bepreve nted . H ow

,husba nd , sa id th e fe m a le , wilt thou

be able to co ntend with o ne so powe rful ? N e ve rfe a r

, answe re d h e r m a te

H e w/zo [ca t/i se nse lza t/z streng tlz. W/zere lza t/z lee

streng tlz wno wa ntet/i j udg m ent S ee ltow a lion,w/zen

intox ica ted wi t/z a ng er, was o v ercom e by a rabbit.

H ow was tha t ?dem anded th e fem ale ; a nd th e

crow re la ted th e following ta le

F A B L E IX .

UP O N th e m ounta in th e re lived a lio n,

whose nam e was D urg antad’ wh o was pe rpe tually

co m plying with th e o rdina nce fo r anim a l im m olatio n ; .t so tha t, at le ngth, all th e d iffe rent spe ciesassem bled, a nd ,

in a bo dy, repre se nted, tha t as by h isprese nt m ode o f p roce ed ing, th e fo rest would be

cle a re d allat once ; if it ple ased h is H ighness, theywould, e a ch o f them in h is turn

,provide h im a n

a n im a l fo r h is da ily fo o d and th e l ion gave h is c o n

A fabulousm ounta in .

H ard-to -g o -near.

Th e H indo os stilloffer k ids and young buffalo es in th e ir sacrifices.


sent a cco rdingly. S o eve ry beast de live re d h is stipula ted provisio n

, til! at length , it co m ing to the rabbit’

s

turn, h e began to m editate in th is m anne r z— P olicysho uld be pra ct ised by h im wh o wo uld save h is lifea nd I m yse lf sha l l lo se m ine , if I do no t take ca re .

Suppose I le ad h im afte r a no the r lion Wh o kno wsh ow tha t m ay turn o ut fo rm e The n I willappro a chh im slowly, as if fa t igued. Th e lio n, by thrs tim e ,

bega n to be ve ry hungry so , se e ing th e rabbit co m ingtowa rds h im , h e ca lle d o ut in a gre a t passio n

,—What

is th e re a so n thou com est so late ? P le ase your H ighness

,sa id th e rabbit, a s I was co m ing a lo ng, I was

fo rc ibly de ta in ed by a nothe r o f yo ur spe cies ; buthaving give n h im m y wo rd, tha t I would re turn im

m edia te ly, I cam e he re to repre se nt it to yo ur H ighne ss. Go quickly

,sa id th e lion in a rag e , a nd show

m e whe re th is vi le wre tch m ay be fo und ! A cco rdingly ,

th e rabbit co nducted th e lio n to th e brink o f a

de e p we ll, whe re be ing a rrived,—The re , sa id th e

rabb it, loo k down a nd behold h im at th e sam e tim e

h e po inted to th e refle cted im age of th e lion in th e

wa te r ; wh o , swe lling with pride and resentm e nt,

le aped into th e we ll, as h e tho ught, upon h is a d

v e rsary ; and thus put a n e nd to h is life . I repe a t,the refo re , H e wh o hath sense , &c .

I have a ttended, said th e fem ale , to allthis ; a ndnow

,do a s thou sho uldst do in this m a tte r. E ve ry

day, obse rved th e crow, th e king’s so n c om es to



They say , a lso, spe aking o fm iniste rs‘ Cutting o ff th e head, or forsaking life , is be tte rtha n negl igence , fro m th e wicked lust o f obta iningth e statio n o fth e m aste r.’

Th e lio n the n gra cio usly asked h im ,what it was

tha t h e wished to represe nt and D am anak a te

p l ied,—P le ase yo ur H ighness, this sam e Sang-je e v ak ais no t such a fa ithful se rva nt to the e , but that h e c a n

spe ak d isre spe ctfully o f thy th re e po we rs in m y

prese nce and I know h e h as eve n a n inclina tio n fo rth e so ve re ignty . Upo n he a ring these wo rds, th e lio nwas gre a tly a la rm ed, a nd rem a ined in silent a sto nishm e nt ; whilst D am anak a co ntinued thus —Your H ighn ess, in d ism issing all your m in iste rs, a nd appo intingthis bull to ’the supe rinte nde nce o fall affairs, h as c o mm itted a gre at e rror. It is sa id,

‘When bo th th e sove re ign and th e m iniste r arevery high ly exa lted, Sre e ’“

stande th totte ring withbo th h er legs. Tha t fe m a le

,by nature , be ing unable

to suppo rt so great a load, is oblig ed to fo rsake o ne

o fth e two .

’

A nd again‘When a ru le r of th e e a rth m ake th o ne m an th e

prim e a nd on ly m iniste r ofh is dom in io ns,a nd we akly

c o nfideth in h im ,h e be com e th intox icated with powe r,

O ne ofth e nam es ofL akshm e e, the goddess ofgo od fo rtune .

F A B L E S A N D P R O VE R B S . 1 4 7

a nd is banished fo r negligence . Th e desire o flibe rty .

m ake th a n im pressio n in th e breast o f h im wh o ha thbe en expe lled a nd at length, with th a t wish o f

libe rty, h e m editate th th e de a th ofh is sove re ign .

’

They say,‘ It is be st to te ar up by th e ro ots

,a rotten to oth,

a faithless se rvant, a nd a wicke d m in iste r.’

A nd tha t,‘ Th e so ve re ign wh o sha ll m ake fo rtune depe nd

upon th e m iniste r,w i ll

,up o n a n e m e rg ent o ccasion ,

be at a loss, like a bl ind m an witho ut a guide .

’

P a rticula rly as,

‘ A m in iste r wh o is g rown too gre a t is neve r to bec orre cte d ; and m en wh o a re este e m ed p e rfe ct ha v ede cla red tha t exaltatio n is an into x ic a ter o f th e

m ind .

’

Th e bull pro ce ede th in e ve ry affa ir a cco rding to h isown inclina tio ns ; and yo ur H ighness knows wh at issa id upon such an occasion

The re is no t tha t m an in th e world wh o do th no t

lo ng fo r fo rtune a nd wh o do th no t lo o k at a nothe r’swife , if be autiful a nd young, with a deg re e o f de sireto possess h er.’

Th e lion having conside red fo ra m om ent,replied

,

’

T is well ; but p rovided it be as thou re presentest,


still I have a great rega rd fo r Sa ng-je ev ak a ; a ndo bserve , tha t

H e wh o is clear to o ne , is de a r even in th e ve ryco m m issio n of a fa ult. Wh e n th e m a te ria ls o f a

ho use a re burnt, upon who se fire fa lle th disgrace ?’

P le ase your H igh ness, said D am anak a , that evensh o uld no t be but it is true , tha t

‘Th e m an o n whom th e so ve re ign pla c eth an

e x tra o rd ina ry degre e o f regard is th e favo urite o f

fo rtune ; whe the r h e be a so n, a m iniste r, or astrange r.’

A nd please to obse rve ,‘ To th e unkind th e ruin o f th e worthy bring e thde light . F o rtune de l ighte th to be whe re the re is ababble r and a l istene r. ’

A nd thus a p rim itive se rva nt is neg le cted , a nd astrange r prom o ted . They say,

A prince sho uld no t, be ca use o f th e o ffe nce o f an

old se rvant,ente rta in a stra nge r, lest, be twe e n them ,

d issensions be created in th e Sta te .

’

Thy words, excla im ed th e lio n , fill m e witha sto n ishm e nt ! D idst tho u no t thyse lf quie t m y

apprehe nsio ns, a nd prese nt h im to m e ? H ow the n,now h e is pro m o te d, c an h e m ed itate evil

O r, w/zere M ere 25 a n rlogueut spra kfi :a nd one lm rm a

’

m lka div ine

law ; fo r th e sam e wo rdswillbear e ith er interpretati o n .



sake n by h is passions ; that is frie ndship, which isno t fe igne d ; h e is a m a n, wh o do th no t suffe r h ism em be rs and fa culties to give h im une asine ss.

’

But if whe n allth e inconve nience s respe cting Sang

je e v ak a have be e n po inted out, yo ur H ighness do e s

no t aba ndon h im , the re is no blam e in yo ur se rva nt.It is said,

Whe n a prince is atta ched to h is inclina tions, h ene ith e r counte th th e business which sho uld be do ne ,no r h is o wn be nefit . H e pro ce ede th at libe rty,whe reve r h is passio ns le ad h im , l ike a n intox ica tede lephant. A t le ngth , when p ufi

'

ed up with pride , h efalle th into a p rofo und m e lancho ly, h e th roweth th e

blam e upon h is se rvants, and do th no t discove r h isown m isconduct . ’

To allth is th e lio n obse rved,—’T is said

,

‘ O ne sho uld not lift th e rod aga inst our enem iesupo n th e private inform a tion o fa no the r but having,by ourse lves, m ade inqu iry, we m ay e ithe r pun ish orcom m end .

’

They say a lso,

‘ To se ize a nd pun ish, before due investigatio n ,

m ay tend to our own destruction . It is l ike ra shlyforcing o ne ’

s hand into th e m outh o fa se rpent . ’

Th e o rig inalo ffinslo ng v erse iswritten m a k ind ofm easure c alled

sardoola v eeK-rezree/a , c o nlslstm g o ffourlm es ofn ine te en syllable s e a c h .

FABLE S A N D P R O VE RBS. 15:

It spe aks plainly ; neve rthe less, sha ll proclam at io nbe m ade tha t Sang-je e v ak a is guilty o fdeath ?D am anak a , a lrttle confo unde d a t this, replied ,

P le ase your H ighne ss, no t so by a ny m e a ns fo r bv

such pro cedure a breach is p ro duced in our se cre tco uncil ; a nd they say,

Having sown th e se ed o f se cre cy, it should bepro perly gua rded, a nd no t in th e le ast bro ke n fo r

be ing bro ke n , it wi ll no t prospe r.’

But,

T im e drinke th up th e esse nce o f eve ry gre a t andnoble a ctio n

,which o ught to be pe rfo rm ed , and is

de laye d in th e exe cutio n .

’

This be ing th e ca se , wha t hath be e n begun sho uldce rta in ly be prose cuted with th e utm o st vigour ; fo r,

Th e reso lutions o fcounse l are l ike a tim id warrior,wh o , although a ttended by all h is troops, beare th no tto stand long, for fe a r o fbe ing defe a ted by th e e nem y.

’

But afte r all , ifwhen h is o ffe nce sha llbe prove d, h esho uld be pa rdoned , and stillre ta ined, it will beexce ed ingly im pro pe r fo r,

‘ H e wh o wish eth to ke ep a frie nd afte r h e ha tho n c e o ffe nded , re ce ive th de a th, as th e A swa tare e th e

Th e translato r m ust c o nfess h e IS ignorant ofwh at th is alludes to .

Th e am 'a ta ree IS a k ind ofserp ent.


Whe n a bad m an is em ployed ne a r o ne , wha teve rh e doe th is unpro fitable . Th e S akune e a nd th e

Saka ta " m ay he re se rve a prince fo r em ble m s ofsucha n o ne .

’

L e t m e unde rstand , said th e lio n,wha t it is h e

m ay be a ble to do against us ; a nd D am a nak a

re p lied in th e fo llowing l in es

N ot knowing th e na ture of a m a n’

s connections, lzow

site ]! we d isco v er wh a t be is able to do Tbe sea wa s

once g ot th e better of by a szmp /e p a rtridg e ?

H ow wa s tha t ? dem anded th e lio n ; a nd Dam anaka re la ted th e following story

F A B L E X.

O N C E upo n a t im e , a fe m a le pa rtridge , wh o residedupo n th e se a -sho re

,finding he rse lf p regna nt, sa id to

h e r m a te,—M y de a r, p ray let a p rivate pla c e be

so ught co nve n ie nt fo r m e to be bro ught to bed in . Is

no t thiswh e re we a re a p ro pe rp la ce fo r th a t p urpo se ?

d em a nde d th e partridge . N o,replie d th e fe m a le ,

be ca use it is freque ntly o v e rflowed by th e t ide .

Wha t ! excla im e d th e m a le , am I so m uch lesspowe rful tha n th e se a , tha t I sho uld sufi

’

e r m yse lf tobe insulted, even in m y own ho use ? My de ar !

Th e fo rm er srgmfies a v ulture , and th e la tter is a bird unknown to

th e translator, and no t de sc nbed m any o f11 18 nom enclatures.

1" In th e fables attribute d to P ilp ay th isbird 18 called Gerandl. Th e

nam e m Sanskrit is Te ete ebha .



gre a t a nd m ighty lo rd, N a rayana , th e author of cre atio n

,prese rvation, and destruction} and h e will wipe

away o ur so rrows. A cco rd ingly, th e e agle , a tte ndedby th e re st o f th e birds, addressed the ir co m pla int toN araya na , saying,— O L o rd ! E ve n wlnlst tho u art

m a ste r, th e se a ha th da red thus to o v e rwhe lm us !

Th e d e ity having conside red the ir co m pla int, c o mm anded th e o ce an to surrende r th e eggs ; a nd th eking o f wa te rs pla ced th e high de cre e up o n h is

crown , a nd de l ive re d up th e eggs acco rdingly ; a nd

th e b irds having gained wha t they wa nted, re turne dth a nks, a nd re tired to the ir own abodes. I repeat,the refore , N o t knowing, &c .

‘ Th e enem y wh o c o m m e nc eth ho stilities, witho uthaving co nside red th e transgressio n o f th e law,

m e e te th a defe a t, like th e se a fro m th e pa rtridg e .

’

H ow sha ll we d isco ve r, sa id th e lio n ,whe n th e bull

is m aliciously inclin ed ? Yo ur H ighne ss, repliedD am anak a , will know whe n yo u sha ll behold h imco m ing, with th o se we apons th e tip s o f h is ho rnspo inted towa rds yo u, lo o king as if alarm ed. Havingsa id this, h e we nt whe re Sang-je e v ak a was and be ingin sight o f h im

,h e advanced by slow degre es, a nd

m ade h im se lf appe a r a s if a g itated by so m e thing.

Th ough thlS attribute m ore p a rti cularly belo ngs to Sc e v a , yet i t is

c om m o n to allow th e sam e p owers to e a ch o f th e thre e p erso ns ofth e

H m do o tri n ity, B rahm a , Vish nu (or N arayana ), and Sc e v a, se em g

th ey m ean but o ne God, B rahm or B rahm a .

FABLE S A N D P 180 VE RBS. 155

H e a lth a nd h a p p iness attend the e ! said Sa ng-je e v ak a ,with great m a rks o f po lite ness. A las ! repliedD am anak a , whe re is the re a ny happiness fo r thosewh o are in a sta te o f depende nce ? F o r,

Th e fo rtune s ofthose wh o se rve princes are in th e

powe r o fo the rs the ir m inds are n eve r at e ase and

they h ave no confidence even in the ir own lives !

A gain

Who, hav ing o bta ined riches, is no t proud ?F ro m whose m isfo rtunes do th e luxuriousbe co m e so

Who se he art ha th no t be e n to rm ented by wo m en ?

O rwh o is cle a r to a k ing Wh o is the re no t withinth e a rm s of tim e ? Wha t beggar eve r arriv eth a t

c o nseque nce ? O r what m an wh o hath fa lle n intoth e snares o fth e wicked ha th e scaped in pe ace ?’

P ray, friend, sa id th e bull, info rm m e wha t all th ism e ans ! O h ! m y friend, replied h e , wha t sh a ll I say,but that I am ve ry unfo rtuna te !

‘ I am now l ike o ne p lunge d in a de ep wate rcall ing o ut fo r help, wh o finde th inany th ings hanging down to assist h im , which h e ne ithe r quitteth no r

take th ho ld of.‘ Confidence in th e prince , allat once , ruineth o ne

frre nd or othe r ! What sha ll I do ? Whithe r shallI go ? I am fa llen into a se a o ftrouble ! ’

Having said th is, h e he aved a de ep sigh, and sat


down ; the n Sang-je e v ak a desired h im to re la te ,m o re fully, th e cause of h is uneasiness ; a nd Dam a

naka with gre a t show o f se cre cy said,—A ltho ugh it

be h ighly im prope r to abuse th e co nfidence of o ne ’

s

so ve re ign, yet, a s it was at our instance tho u cam est,it beh o v eth m e , a s I ho pe for we lfa re m yself h e reafte r, to info rm thee o fwhat co nce rns thy own wel

fare . A ttend the n z—H is H ighne ss is ve ry m uche nraged a gainst the e , and h as de cla red in private ,tha t h e wi ll have Sang-je e v ak a killed ; a nd tha t h ewill tre a t h is a ttenda nts with h is flesh . Th e bull

,

upon hearing this,be cam e very so rrowful whilst th e

a rtfulD am anak a cried,—It is in vain to be m e la nc h oly ; ra the r let som e thing be pursued suitable to

th e occa sion . Sang -je e v ak a was tho ughtful fo r am om e nt

, a nd then ca lm ly said, —These lines are

utte red fro m a pious m outh

Unworthy to be found by bad m en, sove re igns,fo r th e m ost part, a re cherishe rs o f th e undese rving.

R iche s are a tte ndants o fth e m ise r ; a nd th e he avensrai n plenteously upon th e m ounta ins

Wha t is m y own O pin ion ?I know no t ! no r is this

a n affa ir to be d iscove red .

Th e unfortunate m an wh o possesse th splendourfrom th e glory o f h im o n wh o m h e de p ende th , willfind it as fa tal a s a foul collyrium put into th e eye byth e hand ofim prudence .

’



A ga in

Virtues am ongst those wh o know wha t virtue s a re ,are virtues ; but whe n they m e e t with a subje ctdestitute o fgood qualities itse lf, they be com e faults.

*

R ive rs flow with swe e t wate rs ; but having jo ined th eo ce an, they be com e undrinkable .

‘ A hundred goo d actions are lost upo n th e nu

worthy ; a hundre d fine spe e ches are lost upon th eignorant a hundred goo d qualities a re lost am o ngstm e n wh o are de stitute o fgo o d qual ities ; a hundredtim es spe aking is lost upon those wh o are no t inclinedto co nve rse a h undre d unde rstandings are lost uponth e insensible .

’

T

It is true , replied th e bull, that

Se rpe nts are found upon th e sande rs tre e ; in th e

wa te rs th e lotus flowe rs with a lligators ; and in th em idst offull enjoym ent those wh o dispute about th equa lity.

A way the n with uninte rrupte d happiness !

Ifth e dese rts we re m ade liquid, and th e wate rs

D o esso m uch ofth is v erse m ean th at go od qualities are lo st up on

bad m en : are desp ised by th em , o r th at v irtue xs c orrupted by bad

c o m p anyP

1‘ It is h ard to determ ine wh at th e auth or intended by th is sentence ,

unlessby th e wo rd rende red understandings h e m eant ware j udgm ents,

sensrble observ a ti ons.

i B y th e c onte x t th is sh ould m ean, th at we find cause to c om pla in,e v en in th e m idst offruiti o n, th ere be ing no such th ing as p erfec t h ap

p m ess.


re nde re d so lid ; I ask if th e fo rm e r m ight no t be

passe d in boa ts, a nd th e latte r be called dry land .

*

‘ H e wh o se rve th a n unreaso nable m an, a c teth as

m uch in va in, as h e wh o so unde th a trum p e t in th ee ars o f th e de af, or p rese nte th a m irro r to th e bl ind .

‘ Th e roo t is infe sted by se rp ents, th e flowe rs bybe es, th e branch e s by m o nkeys

,a nd th e le aves by

inse cts ; in sho rt,the re is no t a sande rs tre e which is

no t surrounded by th e v i le st im p urities.

’

I

O ur m aste r,obse rv e d D am anak a , is o ne o f tho se

wh o ca rry honey in the ir spe e ch, a nd poiso n in the irhearts ; accord ing to this descrip tion

H e holde th o ut h is hands at a distance h e

a ppe a re th with a we t eye h e relinquish e th o ne halfo f h is se a t h e is fo nd o fclo se e m bra cing h iswo rdsin conve rsing a re kind a nd ge ntle ; h e be sto we thcom plim e nts h is inside is na ught but p oison, wh i lstwitho ut h e is covere d wi th swe e ts ; a nd h e is rich inextrem e de ce it. Wha t nam e is the re fo r th is befo reunhe a rd-o f m im ic art, which is inculcated by wicke dm en ?

’

It is said,

Th is v erse , as c o nne c ted W1th th atWt h i m m ed iately p re c edes It,

se em s to im ply th at unsulli ed h ap p iness m ust no t be e x p e c ted tillth e

o rder ofnature be re v ersed .

'l' Th e H m do os se em to ha v e be en long a cquam ted with th e art of

c o nstructing m irrors ofp olish ed plates o fste el.23:T1118 v erse se em s to h a v e be e n m ispla c ed .

In th e attitude ofinv rtatro n Jom ed, Wi th th e p alm s upwards.


‘ Th e boat was inve nted upon crossing pie ces of

wa te r which we re d ifficult to pass ; th e lam p, upo nth e approach o f da rkness ; th e fan, upon a defe ct ofwind ; and injurie s. to gra tify th e pride o f m e n

bl inded by intoxica tio n ! In short, the re is no t any

thing in th e wo rld,wh e re in th e ide a o f inventio n was

no t suggested by P ro v ide nc e .

"E B ut,in m y o pin io n,

P ro v idence itse lf wo uld fa i l in its e nde avo urs topreve nt what passe th in th e m inds o fwicke d m e n .

’

t

H ow hard it is, exclaim ed Sang-je e v ak a , tha t thispo o r fe ede r upon g rass and gra in, should be an o bj e ctworthy to be ruined by a lion

‘ The disputes oftwo ofe qua l strength a nd fo rtunea re wo rthy o fa ttention ; but no t o ftwo , th e o ne great,th e o th e r h umble .

‘What a nim al,be ing athirst, fro m its cle a rne ss

willingly attem p te th to e nte r th e sun whe n stand ingup o n th e sum m it of th e weste rn m o unta

'

ns? Th e

be e flyeth to th e

Th e o riginalwo rd is am biguous, and m igh t, With equalp ro priety,h a v e be en interp re ted by th e te rm e/zc mee.

'l' Th e leng th o f th is v erse in E nglish , wh en c o m p ared W i th its

o rig inal, is two fold, th e latter c o nta in i ng o nly four lines of n ine te en

syllablesea ch ; butas i t is h a rdly p o ssuile to e x p ressth e sam e ide a cle arlyi n o ur languag e with fewerwo rds, th is rem ark m ay serv e to sh ow th a t

th e S anskrit c anno t be rendered i ntellig ible m th e d iale c ts o f E urO p e ,butby a p eri phrasis.

1 Th is v erse is rath e r da rkly e x pressed . A s c o nne c ted W i th wh a t

p re c edes it, i t m ay argue th a t, in g en e ral, an im als th o'ugh e v er so m uc h

p re ssed by th e ir p assi o ns o r a p p e tites, are no t wo nt to attack suc h as

a re stro ng er th an th em selv es.



It is be tte r that th e vulture sho uld be fo llowed byge e se , as m iniste rs and attendants ; than , that th e

goo se sho uld be p ursue d by th e birds o f prey whichatte nd th e o ffe rings m ade to th e m an es o f th e de a d .

A n atte ndant be ing a ngry m ay use eve n a hundredha rsh expressions ; but a virtuous m an is no t to bed eprived o f any of h is good qu a lities by h is fe ebleassista nts.

’

Th e h ullhaving aga in consid e re d a while , c o n

tinue d saying,— I know no t by wha t fault ofm ine th e

R ajah h as be en injure d, tha t h e should be a t

va riance with m e ! It is best the refore to be fo r ever

j ealous ofa prince .

Ifeve r th e m ind ofa king, which is l ike a brace letofsolid crystal, is injured by h is m iniste r, wh o is th eartist that c an repair it?‘l‘

‘ A thunde rbo lt,and th e powe r o f kings, are both

dre adful lBut th e form e r e x p e ndeth itsfury at o nce ,whilst th e la tte r is constantly falling upon o ur he ads.

’

Having ponde red fo r a while , h e sa id to D am anak a ,

-It beh o v eth the e , m y de ar friend, to afford m e such

Th e first p erio d ending with th e word dead , as applic able to th esubje ct, seem sto im ply th at th e p o or bull, wh o was th e lio n

’

s m inister,

be ing by nature m uch we ak er th an be , h is m aster h ad no realc ause tobe appreh enswe ofdangerfrom h im . Th is m ak es a d istinc t v erse i n

th e o rig inal, and was jom ed to th e nex t p eri od, wh ich is also a c om

plete v erse , by m istak e .

'l' D o e s th e auth or ofth is v erse m ean that offended princes are not.

e asily pac ified 2'

FABLE S A N D P R O VE R B S . I63

a dvice o n this fa ta l o ccasio n , as th e nature o f th e

case se em s to de m and . Wha t ha th be en th e practiceo fm any, flo urish eth in m isfo rtune . A ltho ugh it beas tho u obse rve st, repl i e d D am anak a , yet those a c

qua inte d with th e rule s o f prudence say, Th e lo sso f o ne

’

s own life ,”

&c .

* M ay this happen to m e ,

excla im ed Sang-je e v ak a , in th e fie ld o f battle ; fo rde a th would, in m y m ind , be prefe rable to th e im

puta tio n o f fe a r. A t prese nt that do ctrine i‘ is no t

suitable .

‘ O r dying, h e obta ine th heaven ; or having killedh is enem y, th e e njoym ents of life . Both these hardto-be -acquire d blessings are th e rights o fhe ro es.

A s out o f ba ttle d e a th is ce rtain, a nd in th e fie ldlife doubtful, th e le a rned call it th e only tim e o f

battle ”

:

Whe n o ut o fba ttle h e beholde th no happinessfo rhim se lf, th e wise m an em bra c eth de a th fighting th efo e .

In victo ry h e obta i ne th fortune , and in de a thce lest ia l beauty. Se e ing that our bo dies are so ve ryfragile , why should we hesitate about dying in th e

ba ttle

L et m e cle a rly unde rstand, m y friend, h ow I am to

discove r whe n h e is de te rm ined to put m e to de a th.

A partialquo tati o n ofsom e well-known m ax im .

1“ P robably th e do c trine la id down in th e abo v e p arti alquo tation.

I}: D ying swo rd i n h and.


When th e R ajah sha llcock h is tail,l ift up h is paws,

a nd look at the e with h is m o uth O pe n, repl iedD am anak a , the n will be th e tim e fo r the e also to

display thy pro wess.

‘ Strong eve n witho ut vigo ur, wh o m ay no t e x

p erie nc e th e situa tio n o f be ing defeated ? O bse rv eh ow fearlessly people put the ir fe e t upon a he ap o f

ashes

But it isne cessary tha t eve rything be conducted withth e gre a test priva cy. Having sa id this, D am anak a

went to join K arattak a ; wh o asked h im wha t waseffe cte d . Why

,replied th e fo rm e r, a re ciprocal

bre a ch h ath be e n efl’

e c ted be tween th e two . Whatdoubt ofit cried K arattak a fo r they say,

‘Wh at a nam e is re la tion am o ngst wicked m e n ?

Who will no t be angry whe n ove r a nd above so licited ? Who growe th satisfied with riches? Who,be ing a tte ntive , m ay no t be learned

L ikewise‘ A m an is rende red m ise rable by artful pe o ple

,

a nd pro spe rous from th e gre a tnesso fh is so ul . Wha t,do th no t a troop o f vi lla ins a c t, like th e fire (who seepithe t is destroye r o f tha t which is intrusted to

h im

A fte r this D am a naka went to th e lion, a nd criedout

,- P le a se your H ighness, tha t vesse l of in iquity is



be a conspira to r against h is life , h e should be p ut todeath by a prince wh o wish eth h is own we lfare .

O ne a cqua inted with th e principles o f justice a ndpo litical inte rest, should ne ithe r be hastily seve re ;no r eve r re ady to pa rdon, although m oney be in th ehand. It is pro pe r to swa l low m e rcy.

‘ It is a virtue in he rm its to forgive the ir enem ies,as we llas the ir frie nds ; but it is a fault in princes tosh ow clem ency towards those wh o a re guilty .

_

The re is no othe r but o ne expiation fo r h im wh o,

from pride a nd th e lust of powe r, shall wish fo r h ism aste r’s sta ti o n, a nd that is de a th !

‘ A m e ek-he arted prince , a Brahm an wh o eatetho f allthings a like ) " a n un ruly wife , a bad-principle dcom pa n io n

,a n unfaithful se rva nt, a nd a presum ptuous

supe rinte ndent, sho uld allbe put away : they are

no t wo rthy to be tried seve n t im es.

’

But th e fo llowing lines give a ve ry particularpicture of th e behaviour o f princes

‘Th e co nduct of princes, l ike a fine ha rlo t, is o f

m any colours : true a nd false ; ha rsh and gentle ;crue l a nd m e rciful ; n igga rdly and gene ro us ; e x

tra v ag a nt in exp e nse , a nd so licitous o f th e influx o f

abundant wealth a nd tre asure .

’

Alth ough th e B rahm ans are by no m eans c o nfined to a v egetabled iet, as is g enerally sup p o sed, still, lik e th e Jews and M ussulm ans, th eyare forbidden to taste o fm any k inds offlesh and fish .

FA BLE S A N D P R O VE R E S . 107

Th e l io n h aving be e n thus comp o sed by th e a rts o fD am anak a , at le ngth re co ve re d h is na tura l tem pe r o fm ind, and se a te d him se lf o n h is throne ; a nd

D am a nak a ; with h is he a rt full o f exulta tion, havi ngW ished vic tory to th e m ighty king, and happiness toallth e wo rld, live d eve r afte r acco rding to h is Wish .

Vishnu-Sa rm a , having thus co ncluded h is se condhe ad, Th e Sepa ra t ion o f a F avourite , gave notice toth e yo ung princes ; Wh o de cla ring they we re we llple a se d with it, h e gave them h is ble ssing a nd

re p e a te d th e following l ines

‘ M ay such a breach be twe e n friends happen butin th e house o f yo ur e nem ies ! M ay traito rs, day byday, be led by T im e to the ir destructio n ! M ay th e

pe o ple be pe rpe tua l possessors o f abundance , a nd allth e blessings oflife ! A nd m ay youth fo r eve r find

am usem ent he re in this pleasant garden of fable !


C H A P T E R III.

O F D ISP U TIN G.

TH E tim e set apart fo r he aring these stories beingarrived, th e young princes rem inded Vishnu-Sa rm ain these words z—Wo rthy sir ! A swe are th e sons o fa prince , it will affo rd us ve ry great am usem e nt tohe ar what re lates to Disputing. A nd Vishnu-Sa rm a

replie d,—Ifit will giv e yo u pleasure , Iwill proce ed to

re count what is co nne cted with tha t head, to whichth e fo llowing ve rse is th e introduction

In a gna rrelbetween t/ze g eese a nd tbc p ea cocks in

w/zic/t is displayed equalv alour t/ze g eese, lea v ingtrusted t/zem , are betrayed by t/ze crows wao were in tlie

camp of tire enemy .

H ow was this?dem anded th e young princes ; a nd

Vi shnu-Sarm a re lated as follows

F A B L E I.

IN Ka rpura-dwe ep a " the re is a fam ous lake which

K a rp oora signifies campfire, g old, and a p articular tre e c om m onlyc alled plas and dweep a , an island. Th e translator is ignorant of th eSi tuation.



m o untain ca lled Vindhya,whe re re igns Chitra

va rna ,* a pe acock, wh o is the re king of th e winge dtribes. A s I was wa lking o ne day o ve r a pla ce whe reth e grass a nd unde rwoo d h ad be e n burnt down

,I was

discove re d by so m e o f h is atte ndants wh o we re passing by ; a nd upo n the ir ask ing wh o I wa s, and

whe nce I cam e , I replied, that I cam e from Karpuradwe e p a , tha t I was a n a tte ndant o f th e roya l go o se ,king H ira nya -Garbh a , a nd tha t I cam e the re o ut o f

curio sity to se e fo re ign co untries. They the n aske dm e which ofthese two countries I thought th e be st ;a nd I sa id,—O wha t a que stio n i s this ! The re is avast d iffe re nce be twe e n the m : Ka rpura -dwe e p a is ahe ave n o fa place ! The n wha t do yo u do in such a

barre n country as this? Co m e away, a nd a ccom panym e into our co untry. But upo n he a ring m e ta lk inthis m anne r

,they se em ed to be ve ry m uch d ispleased .

They say ,

‘ A draught of m ilk to se rpe nts doth nothing butincre ase the ir poiso n . Go od co unse l bestowed upo nfools do th rathe r provo ke , tha n sa tisfy them .

affin ity ofth e wo rd Jam bo o to Jam bo ok a, th islast sign ifying a ja ckal;but th e truth , a c cord ing to th e auth o ri ty of Sanskri t d i c ti o narie s and

a defini ti o n found i n an o rig inalwo rk tre ati ng of th at c ountry, is th at

Jam bo o i s th e n am e o f a tre e wh i ch be ars a fruit c om m o nly c alled

za nn n o rj a m in i n H indo stan . Th e H i ndoo p o ets h a v e im ag in ed th at

in th e c entre ofth i s dweep a (island orc ontinent) th ere was a tre e ofth at

sp e c i es o f an am azm g Si ze , wh enc e i t deri v ed th e nam e ofJambo odwe e pa .

M o tley-c olour.

FABLE S A N D P R O VE R B S .

‘

A wise m a n is wortley to be a dv ised ; buta n ig nora nt

one C erta in birds, lea v ing g iv en ad v ice to a

troop ofm onkeys, lea v e their nests torn to p ieces, a nd a re

oblig ed tofly away .

Th e ro ya l goose d em anded to know h ow that was ;a nd th e booby repeated th e following story

F A B L E II.

O N th e banks o f th e rive r N arm adanL upon a n e igh

bo uring m ounta in , the re was a la rge S alm ale e tre e ,whe re in ce rta in birdswe re wont to build the ir nestsa nd reside , e ve n during th e se ason ofth e ra ins. O ne

day , th e sky be ing ove rcast with a tro op o f thickd a rk clo uds, the re fe l l a showe r o f ra in in ve ry la rgestre am s. Th e birds se e ing a tro op o f m o nkeys at

th e fo ot of th e tre e , all wet, and shive ring with co ld,ca lled out to them ,

-H o,m onkeys ! Why do n

’t yo uinvent som e thing to prote ct you from th e ra in ?

‘We bui ld o urse lve s nests with straws co lle cte dwith nothing e lse but o ur bills. H ow is th is, tha tyou, wh o are blessed with hands and fe e t

,yie ld to

such suffe rings?

Wh en th e le arned P andit, underwh o m th e translato rstudied the

S anskrit language at th e ir h oly C ity of B enares, used to be repro a ch ed

by o th er B rahm ans fo r c om m un i c a ti ng th e k ey ofth e ir d i v m e m ysteri es

to fo re igners, h e c o nstantly Silenc ed th em by rep ea ting th is h em isti ch

in th e o rig inal.'l' A ri v erwh i ch em pti es itself i nto th e GulfofC am bay, c om m only

called the N arbada.


Th e m onkeys he a ring this, and unde rstanding it a sa kind o f repro a ch

,we re e xce e dingly irritated, a nd

sa id am ongst the m se lve s,—Tho se birds the re , sitting

com fortably o ut ofth e wind within the ir wa rm nests,a re laughing at us ! So le t the m ,

a s long '

as th e

sho we r m ay last . In sho rt, a s so on as th e ra in sub

sided, th e who le tro o p ofthem m ounted into th e tre e ,whe re te a ring allth e nests to p ie ces, th e eggs fe llupon th e gro und and we re broken . I say, the refo re ,A wise m an is worthy to be a dvised , &c .

We ll, sa id th e royal go o se , what d id th e birds say

afte r they h ad he a rd this story ? Why, ple ase yo urH ighne ss, they we re in a gre a t passion , and asked,wh o m ade that sam e goo se a k ing ! In a nswe r towhich

,I to o , in th e ange r wh ic h

‘

such a questio ncre a ted, cried, —B y who m was this sam e peaco ckm ade a king ?and

,up o n m y saying th is, they tried

to kill m e,a nd in re turn, I displayed n o l ittle valo ur.

‘ A n occasional dress to a m an is as forgive nessa nd m o desty to a wo m an . Co urage when surroundedis like be ing captive am ongst m en e ndued with

Th e royal go ose sm iling at this, said,‘ A m an wh o , having we ll com pared h is own

stre ngth or we akness with that o f othe rs, afte r all,

Th is v erse wants p re c ision, but th e intentio n is cle arly th is : thatan assum ed c hara c ter m ay som etim esserv e one , instead ofa realone.



But th e m an having discove re d from h is voice what.h e really was, th e po or ass was so on o ve rcom e fo r

h is lo ve . I say, the refo re , “ A fo o l is always d iscove red, &c .

A fte r tha t, said th e booby, th e birds ca lled o ut tom e

,-R asca l ! vile boo by ! Dost tho u da re speak thus

slightingly of o ur sove re ign ? Th is is n o t to h e

suffe re d by us presently ! A nd, saying this, theybegan to atta ck m e with the ir bil ls, a nd to brave m e

in this m anne r —O bse rve , thou stupid an im al ! thygo ose is a lways a soft spiritless cre a ture ; althoughh e is by no m e ans so ve ry m ild in th e go ve rnm e nt ofh is dom in ions ; but h e is incapable of possessing as

m uch wealth a swould lie in th e pa lm o f one ’

s handh ow then shall h e com m and th e unive rse ? A s fo r

thyse lf, thou art like an angry frog ; but h e is thysupe rior. H ear this

A larg e tre e , which yie lde th both fru it a nd shade ,is highly to be e ste em ed ; but if P rovide nce , p erchance , m ay have de nied it fru it, by whom is its

shade refused

A nd, that

C ourt should notbe paid to th e ind ige nt but to

h im o n whom the re is great depe ndence . Th e

Th is v erse, wh i ch is c erta inly a beautifulo ne , as quo ted by th e

subj e c ts ofth e p ea cock , can only be ap pli c able to h im .

F A B L E S AND P R O VE R B S . 1 7 5

elephant o btained th e title of Varune e from h is

c a rrying water in h is trunk. F o r,

E ve n th e gre atest a re reduce d to l ittleness, a nd

those of abundant qualities to insign ific an c e , by th e

pro p e rties o f that by which they are opposed ; like

th e ro ya l e lephant in th e m irror.’

Besides,

Grea t tning s m ay be efl’ected by wise counsel, wlzen a

so v ere ig n enemy m ay be too p owerful. C erta in rabbits

were enabled to liv e in comfort, tlzrongle tlze p olicy of one

of tlze ir bretlzren .

I asked them h ow thiswas A nd th e birds re late das fo llows

F A B L E IV.

O N C E upon a tim e , fo r want o f rain in due season,a troo p of e lephants be ing gre a tly distresse d fo r

wate r, addressed the ir chief in these words—Whatreso urce have we

,except in that hollow sinking

ground inhabited by tho se little anim a ls ! but de

p riv ed o f that too, whithe r, sir, blinded as it we re ,sha ll we ’ go? Wh at sha ll we do ? Upon hearingthe ir co m p la ints, the ir chief, afte r trave lling with thema great way, d iscove re d a fo untain of clear wate r.But as m any rabbits wh o happene d to be in the ir

A deriv ation from Varuna , th e H indo o N ep tune .

1 7 6 TH E H ITO P A D E SA,

burrowswe re crushed to death unde r th e fe et of so

m any e lephants tram pling ove r the ir warren ; at

length, o ne of them , wh o was called S ile e -M ukha ,‘

re fle cted in this m anne r —This troop of e lephants,o ppressed With thirst, will be com ing he re eve ry dayto drink, and, at le ngth, o ur Whole race will bedestroye d ! But a n old buck

,whose nam e was

Vijaya ,Tsaid to h im ,—Brothe r, don

’t be une asy fo r

I a m going to prevent wha t thou dre adest. Sayingwhich, h e se t o ffto try h ow h e could o ppo se thembut as h e went a long, h e began to co nside r h ow h esho uld app roach so form idable a troo p fo r

,obse rved

h e , they say,

‘ A n e lephant kille th even by touching , a serpe nteve n by sm e lling, a k ing even by ruling, and a wick e d

m an by laughing at o ne .

’

Whe refore , I will m ount th e sum m it of a ro ck toaddress th e head o f th e troo p . This be ing put ine xe cution a ccordingly, th e chief e lephant a sk ed h imwh o h e was, and whe nce h e cam e . I am ,

h e re p l ied ,a n am bassador sent he re by th e g o d Cha ndra iDecla re

‘

th e purpo rt o f thy com m ission, said th e'

e lephant. S ir, replie d th e rabbit, as

Th is nam e seem sto im ply a block/lead.

Vi c tory.

Th e m o on, wh ich is e ste em ed of th e m asculine gender by th e

H indo os.



this once , a nd m ake your subm issio ns befo re th e

de ity him se lf, whom you will se e in th e fo unta in ,qu ite agitated with ange r ; a nd when you h avepa cified h im , yo u g

m ay depa rt—A cco rdingly, a s so on

as it was n ight, th e am bassado r Vijaya having c o n

ducted th e ch ief of th e e lephants to th e fo unta in ,

the re showed h im th e im age o f th e m o on,trem bl ing ,

as it we re , upo n th e sm o o th surfa ce o f th e wa te r ;and when h e h ad m ade h im bow down to it

,in to ken

ofsubm ission, h e sa id,—P le a se yo ur divin ity ! What

ha th be e n do ne having be en do ne thro ugh ignorance ,I pray the e p a rdo n them ! a nd upo n saying this

,h e

cause d th e e lephant to depart . I repe a t, the refore ,Gre at things m ay be e ffe cted

,

”&c .

A fter that, continued th e bo oby, I ventured to say,’

th a t o ur king to o was p owe rful a nd va liant, upo nwhich they la id ho ld o f m e with the ir be aks ; a nd ,ask ing m e wha t business I h ad in the ir co untry

,th ey

carri e d m e befo re the ir chiefChitra -varna ; a nd whe nthey had showe d m e to h im , bowing to the ir king ,they sa id - P le a se yo ur H ighness, let this gu iltybo o by be co nfin ed fo r h e da res, even whilst h e is

trave lling in o ur land, to treat with co ntem pt yo urroya l fe e t ! Th e king , in a nge r

,d em a nded to know

whe nce I cam e ; a nd th ey inform ed h im,tha t I was

th e se rvant o f th e go ose H ira nya -

g arbh a , and tha t Icam e from Ka rp ura -dwe e p a .

—A fter tha t, th e m in

iste r, wh o was a v ulture , asked m e wh o was th e

F A B L E S A N D P R O VE R B S . 1 7 9

prim e m in ister in . this country, '

a nd I told h im ,a

Chakra -vaka,* whose na m e was Know-allrl' Yo u

e ste em h im , replied th e vulture , be cause h e is yourcountrym a n the y say, inde ed,

‘ A king sho uld e ngage fo r h is m in iste r o ne wh o isa na tive o f h is own country ; pure in allh is ways,a nd cle a n ly in h is dress ; no t o ne wh o is an o utcast,add icted to idle ple a sure s

,or too fo nd o fwo m en ;

but o ne of go o d repute , wh o is we ll ve rse d in th e

rules o fd isputa tio n,is o f a firm m ind, and expe rt in

raising a revenue .

’

3;

A pa rrot next spoke , and observed, tha t as

Ka rpura -dwe e p a was co m prehende d in Jam budwe ep a , th e authority o fh is Maj esty’

s feet ce rta inlyexte nded ove r tha t country a lso ; to which th e kingofth e birdsreplied—Thus it is

‘ So ve re igns, th e l ibidinous, a nd childre n , withm adm e n

,a nd such as are m ade v a in by riches, are

ov e r-anxiousfo r wha t is no t a ttainable , a nd h ow

m uch m ore so , fo rwhat is to be pro cured !’

Upon this, I sa id,—But that to o la rge a gove rnm ent do no t pro spe r, o ur so ve re ign h a s a te rrito ria lright

,even ove r Jam bu-dwe ep a .

— L et it be de clared

A Sp e c i es of g o ose c om m only c alled B rahmanee-go ose . Th e

H indo o suse no grease to th e irwh e els.

1' In th e o rig inalSarv a -gna .

L i terally, a n upra iser ofwealth .


h ow, said th e parro t, and whe re h e will give proofs o fit ! A nd I replied

,-Ia ba ttle ! A t this the ir king

laughing, said,—Go to thy m aste r, a nd te ll h im to bewe ll prepared a nd upon tha t, I desired h im to sendh is o wn am bassador also . Who sh all go ?sa id th eking fo r a n em bassy such a pe rson is require d as isdescribe d in these lines

‘ A n am bassador should be a trusty se rvant, enduedwith good qua lifications, pure in h is principles, cleve r,agre eable , unaddicted to fruitless ple asure s, patient,and, with all, a Brahm an‘ wh o is we ll acqua intedwith th e m o ral a nd re ligio us custom s o f strange rs,a nd th e nature o fopposition .

’

A lthough the re a re m any such to be found, still aBrahm an is to be prefe rre d fo r

,

‘ H e a c teth a cco rding to th e pleasure o f h is em

plhyer ; h e se eke th no t wealth, a nd doth no t withdraw him se lf from th e presence of h islord, even in

th e hour ofm isfortune .

’

This be ing th e case , let th e parrot go. Go, parrot,added th e king, along with this pe rson ; a nd, upo nthy arriva l, m ake known our will . It sh all be according to your H ighness

’

s com m ands, replied th e parrot

‘0 Th is title h asnot h ith erto be en ex pla ined . A swritten in Sa nskrit,

it sh ould be B ra /im am : but, as before observ ed, th e finalsh o rt a iso ften dro p p ed i n re pea ting pro p er nam es i n ano th erlanguage. It is a

deri v ati v e from B ra/mm , th e Suprem e B eing ; godly, div ine, a div ine.



goose,wh o was in th e tre e , expanded h is wings, a ndaga in a shadow was fo rm e d a s befo re . A little wh ileafte r, in th e enjoym e nt o f a sound na p , th e m an

happe n ing to o pen h is m o uth,th e crow m uted into

it, a nd flew o ut of th e way . But th e m an waking,a nd se e ing th e goose upo n th e tre e , concluded tha t itwas h e so , be ing in a passio n, h e took h is bow, and

with an arrow drawn ho m e to h is e ar, shot h im de a dupon th e spot. I say, the refo re , “ It is no t pro pe rto stay,

”&c . I will now relate th e history o f th e

Varttak a , continued th e parrot.

F A B L E VI.

O N C E upon a ti m e,allth e birds of th e a ir went in a

bo dy upo n a pilgrim age to th e se'aside in ho no ur o f

th e e agle ; and a m o ngst th e rest, th e crow we ntacco m panied by a Varttaka . A s they flew a lo ng,th e crow repe ate dly sto le a nd ate o fso m e curds o ut

o fa pot which a fa rm e r was carrying upon h is headbut as soon as th e m an put th e pot upon th e ground,a nd saw th e crow and th e Varttak a toge the r in th e

a ir,the form e r, be ing guilty, flew out ofth e way ; but

th e latte r, be ing but slow of flight, was caught a ndinstantly killed . I say, the refore , It is no t pro pe re ithe r to stay, o r to go, &c .

I the n said,—Bro the r p arrot, what is th e reasonthou ra ilest thus against m e ? I este em the e , neve r


th eless, as th e fe e t ofh is H ighness B e itso , repliedth e parrot ; but,

‘When since re a nd be lo ved frie nds are courted bytho se o f bad cha racte r, it create th in m e a s m uchdre ad, as th e sight offlowe rs out o fseason.

’

Thy be ing a rascal is m ade e v ident to m e from thyc o nve rsa tio n ; fo r if the re sho uld be any falling o ut

be twe en o ur two m aste rs, thy tongue will be th e

cause .

O bse rve

A foolwillrej o ice a nd be nappy ,ev en wlzen ofi

'

ences

a re com m itted before lzis ey es. A certa in wlteelwrzglzt

p utlzis own wife wit/zlzerg alla nt up on leisli cud.

H ow was that ? said th e king ; and th e pa rro tre lated th e fo llowing story

F A B L E VII.

IN Sre e the re l ived a whe elwright, whosenam e was Dull-wit ”wh o , tho ugh h e be lieved h isW ife was fa lse , h ad neve r, with h is own eyes

,se e n

h e rwith h er gallant. So h e pre te nded tha t h e wasgo ing out o ftown , but afte r h e h ad go ne a little way,h e re turne d hom e , and private ly h id him se lf unde rth e sofa . In th e m ea nt im e

,th e ga llant

,suppo sing

L iterally, tbc fortunate c i ty . A n anc ient nam e of th e C ity of

P atna .

1 In Sanskri t, M anda -m an.

184 TH E H ITO P A D E SA :

th e whe e lwright was actually gone out oftown , m a deh is appe a ra nce and, soo n afte r, sat by th e wife uponth e so fa ; whe re th ey bega n to conve rse witho utrestra int . But just now,

from th e fe e l o f som e thingtouching th e unde r part o f th e sofa , sh e co nclude dthat h er husband was bene ath , a nd so was a littled isco nce rted ; upo n wh ich h er friend said

,-Wha t

is th e re ason thou do st no t e nj o y th e p rese ntm o m ent fre e from ca re ? Thou a p p e are st as if tho uwert ala rm e d at so m e thing ! A las ! re p lied th e artfulwom a n, h e wh o is th e lo rd o f m y life is goneabroad to-day ; whe refore th e city, though eve r so

full o f inhabitants, to m e appe a re th a m ere dese rt !Then is thy whe e lwright, sa id th e ga llant, a

'

subje c t

worthy o fallthis te nde rness h e wh o calls the e vile ?Vi llain ! excla im ed sh e , what is this thou saye st ?He ar m e !

‘Sh e is a virtuo us wom a n

, wh o , when spokenh a rshly to, and v iewed with angry eyes

, appe a re thbefofe h er husba nd with a m ild a nd pla cid c o unte

nance .

Th e regio ns o f e te rna l happine ss are p rovided fo rthose wom e n

,wh o love the ir husbands th e sam e in a

wilde rness as in a city ; be h e a saint, o r be he a

sinne r.‘ A husband is a wo m an ’

s first ornam ent,although

him se lfbe unadorned but when sh e is witho ut o ne ,be sh e ornam e nted, sh e is no t adorned.

’



m ay have given h er, or h er brothe r a ccording to h erfathe r’s will .’

Th e fool ish whe e lwright, upon hearing all the sefine spe e ches, said to him se lf

,—O wh a t a lucky fe llow

I am , to possess a wife wh o c an spe ak o f m e withsuch te nde r lov e and affe ction ! a nd, saying this, h erose with th e sofa a nd its conte nts

, a nd be g an to

dance fo rjoy . I re p e at, the refore ,“ A fo ol, &c .

A fte r this, continued th e booby,as soon as th e

king h ad pa id m e th e usua l com plim e nts, I was d ism issed, a nd th e pa rro t is com ing beh ind . A nd now

tha t I have apprised yo ur H ighness of allthis, le tthat which is m o st p ro pe r be pursued . Wha t !exclaim ed th e m iniste r Chakra -vaka , th e king

’

s affa irshave be en fo rwarde d, to th e utm o st o f h is abilitie s

,

by a bo o by, wh o h a p pene d to trave l into a fo re igncountry ! But, ple ase yo ur H ighne ss, h e h as a cte daccording to h is nature .

O ne m ay give h im a hundred instance s from Ho lyWrit, tha t h e should no t d ispute ; still, it is th e

cha racte r of a fool to m ake a disturbance witho ut acause .

’

Have done with these reproachful sayings ! sa idth e roya l goose , and attend to what h as be en re

Th e laws ofM ano o hav e giv en the father fullauthority o v er h isdaugh terswith resp e c t to m arriage .


po rted. P lease yo ur H ighness, replied th e m iniste r,I will spe ak to yo u in priva te fo r,

Tho se wh o are awa re o f it c a n inte rpre t th e m indfrom th e change s o f th e eye s a nd o the r m e m be rsand even by th e report O fshape a nd co m plex ion .

’

A nd upon this, th e re st withdrawing , th e king a nd

h is m iniste r we re left by them se lves. I think, sa idth e m iniste r

,tha t this h as be e n brought abo ut by a

spy se nt by som e office r o four gove rnm e nt .* Theysay ,

A sick m an is th e best subj e ct fo r a physicia n,

a nd an a ctive em issary fo r th e o fl‘ic e rs of go ve rnm ent ; fo o ls a re th e supp ort o f th e learned, a nd a

m a n o fse cre cy su its a king.

’

L e t th e ca use alo ne,sa id th e king ; a t prese nt it

sho uld be d e te rm ine d wha t o ught to be do ne ; the nsay. F irst, ple ase yo ur H ighn ess, replie d th e m in iste r,le t a spy be se nt, a nd the n we sha l l le arn th e situatio n o fth e country

,with its stre ng th and we akness

fo r they say,

‘ A prince sho uld have a spy to obse rve what isne cessa ry, a nd wha t is unne ce ssary, to be do ne in h isown , a s we llas in h is enem y

’s country. H e is th e

k ing’

s eye a nd h e Wh o ha th h im no t is blind.

’

D o es h e m ean th at som e offic er of th e ir go v ernm ent h ad sent th e

bo oby, o fh is own autho rity, o n purpo se to p i ck a quarrelWith th esubje cts of th e p eac o ck ?


A nd let h im take a se cond pe rson with h im , in Whomh e c a n confide ; whom h e sha ll se nd back

, we l l d isguised, c ha rge d with such se cre ts a s are worthy to beco m m un icate d ; whilst h e h im self rem ains up o n th e

‘ H e should co m m and h is e m issaries to go dis

gu ised in com pany with tho se pen ite nts, wh o travelwith be a rds unde r pre te nce o fstudying in th e courtsoftem ples, a nd places ofho ly visitatio n .

’

Th e em issary we se nd should be o ne wh o will g oabout priva te ly, a nd wh o will pass through land a nd

wa te r ; a nd I know ofno o ne,e xcept th e bo oby, wh o

is e ndued W ith bo th th ese requ isite s ; whe refore , le th im be appo inted . In th e m e a ntim e

,let allth e in

habitants ke ep with in o ur ca stle ; a nd, till th e m es

se nge r re turn , let profound se cre cy be pursued fo r,

‘Th e de libe ra tio ns of co uncil are d isc o ve re d if

h e a rd by six c ars, a swe ll as a ny private info rm a tion ;whe refo re , a k ing should e ntrust h is co unsels o n ly tohim se lfa nd a se co nd pe rso n .

‘Th e injury wh ich is do ne to princes

,fro m the ir

co unse ls be ing d iscove red, are no t to be re p a ire d, saythose wh o a re a cqua inted with th e rule s o fpo licy.

’

We ll,said the king, now I have fo und such a n

Sp ies and priv ate m esseng ers, at th is day, are generally d isg uisedas p ilgrim s orm end i cants, wh i c h characte is are sacred i n e v ery p art of

Indi a .



‘ N ot m ore e asily is a h o uSe ‘supported by m a n

kind with a prop,than gre a t achievem e nts from

trifling m eans. Th is is th e gre a t fruit o fcouncils.’

But whe n we pe rce ive that we are thre a tened withwar, le t prepara tionsbe m ade fo r,

Th e fie ld is fruitful from having be e n cultiva ted indue se ason . It is th e sam e with po litical m e asure s ;but these too advance slowly, no t insta ntly, tom a turity.

When th e quality of brave ry is near, a gre atm a n

’

s te rrors are a t a distance . In th e hour o f m isfo rtune such a gre a t m an o ve rcom e th brave ry.

‘Gre a t warm th, at first, is th e ce rtain ru in o feve rygre a t a chieve m ent . Do th no t wate r, a ltho ugh eve rso co o l, m o isten th e e a rth ?’

Besides, an’ please your H ighness

,king Chitra-varna

is ve ry strong ; and,‘ The re is no o rdinance obliging us to fight those

wh o are stronge r than o urse lve s. Such fighting, a sit we re , with a n e lephant, is th e sam e as m en

’

s fig h t

ing aga inst ro cks.

H e is a fo o l wh o turneth upon h is oppone n t,before h e hath found a pro pe r opportunity. Th e

efforts o f h im , wh o contende th with o ne stronge r

Th e o rig inali sgreev a , th e neck , wh i ch th e translato rh as presum ed

a m i stake forg reebo , a h ouse .


tha n h im se lf, are as fe eble as th e exe rtio ns of a n

inse ct’s wings.A prudent sold ie r

,ke eping within h is to rto ise-like

she lte r,* m ay, inde ed, susta in th e force ofa rm s ; a nd

whe n occasion m ay su it,h e m ay sally forth l ike an

e n raged se rpent .’

P le ase your H ighness, atte nd to this

O ne wh o is m aste r of e v e r so little art m ay be

a ble , o n a great o ccasio n, to roo t up tre es with a s

m uch e ase , as th e current of a rive r th e re eds a nd

grass.

’

The n let th is am bassador, th e pa rrot, be de taine d a ndam used, until we shall have put our fortifications in

good co ndition .

‘ A single bowm an standing upon th e ba ttlem entsfigh te th a hundre d and a hundred

,te n tho usand

whe refore , a castle is to be prefe rred .

Wha t so ve re ign, Who se country is furnished withstrongholds, is subje ct to defe a t ? Th e prince o f a

country, without strongholds, is as a m an wh o is an

outcast ofh is tribe .

‘ H e should build a castle with a large d itch a nd

lofty battlem ents, and furn ish it with m a chines fo rra ising wate r ; and its situation should be in a wo odupon a hill

, and whe re the re are springs of freshwate r.

4" F igurativ ely, a c astle O i‘ fortress.


It should be spa c ious, but very uneven ; a nd sup

p lied with la rge store o f liquor,grain

,a nd m oney ;

a nd with gates and sally-ports ; fo r these are th e

seven treasures o fa castle .

’

Who, dem anded th e king, should be appo inte d to

prepare our castle ? Th e m in iste r repl ied,

E ve ry o ne should be em ployed in that businessh e is best acquainte d with . O ne wh o hath h ad no

expe rience in civi l affairs, although h e m ay be a goodsoldie r

,would be at a loss in business ofthat kind.

’

Then let th e Sa rasa ? be called, concluded th e

m in iste r. This be ing done accordingly , . a nd th e

Sa rasa a rrive d, th e king gave h im enco urag em e nt,a nd to ld h im to put th e castle in good orde r. Th e

Sarasa , bowing, replied,— P lease your H igh ness, th ecastle h as la te ly be en we ll exam in ed . The re is a

la rge rese rvoir in it, in th e centre the re is an island,in which it is prope r that the re should be a store o f

gra in laid up.

‘ A store of grain , 0 k ing ! is th e best of store s.

A g em cast into th e m o nth will n o tsuppo rt life .

‘ O f all sapid things, salt be ing este em ed th e first,

This and th e prec eding v erse form a tolerable p icture of a H ind o o

fort.

Thatbeautifultallbird ofth e stork sp e c ies, c omm only called a

Syrus.



into a dye r’s v at but be ing unable to g et o ut, in

th e m orning h e fe igned him se lf de ad . A t leng th ,th e m aste r of th e vat, which was filled with indigo

,

c am e , a nd se e ing a j a ckal lying with h is legs uppe rm ost, h is eyes clo sed, a nd h is te e th ba re , conclude dtha t h e was de ad, a nd so , taking h im o ut, h e carrie dh im a goo d way fro m th e town, a nd the re left h im .

Th e sly an im al instantly got up , and ran into th ewo ods ; when , obse rving that h is co at was turne dblue , h e m ed ita ted in this m a nne r - I am now o fth e

finest colour ! what gre at exaltatio n m ay I no t bringabout fo r m yself? Saying this, h e ca lled a num be ro fja ckals toge the r, and a ddressed them in th e following words,—Know that I have la te ly be en sprinkle d 'l'

k ing ofth e forests, by th e hands of th e go ddess h erself wh o p resides o ve r these wo o ds

,with a wate r

drawn fro m a va rie ty o f cho ice he rbs. O bse rve m y

c o lour, and hencefo r ward let eve ry business be

transacted a ccord ing to m y orde rs. Th e rest o f th e

j ackals, se e ing h im o f such a,fine co m plexio n

,pro s

trated them se lv es before h im,a nd said

,— A cco rdi ng

as yo ur H ighness com m ands By this step h e m adehim se lfhono ured by h is own re latio ns, a nd so ga in edth e suprem e powe r ove r tho se o f h is own spe cies, a swe ll as all th e othe r inhabitants of th e forests. But

A dyer’s v at, in H indostan, is a larg e p an sunk in th e ground ,

often in th e little c ourtbefo re th e dyer’s h ouse .

1' Th e H indo osuse h oly water i nstead ofo il.


afte r a while , finding himse lf surrounded by a levéeo fth e first quality

,such a s th e tige r a nd th e like , h e

began to lo ok down upon h is re lations ; a nd, at

le ng th, h e kept them a t a distance . A ce rtain oldjacka l pe rce iving that h is bre thren we re ve ry m uchcast down at this behaviour, cried,—Do no t d espa irIfit cont inue thus, this im prude nt frie nd of ours willfo rce us to be revenged . L et m e a lone to contrive .

h is dowfall. Th e l ion, and th e rest wh o pay h imc ourt, are taken by h is o utwa rd appearance ; a ndthey o bey h im as the ir king

,be cause they a re no t

aware that h e is nothing but a jackal : do som e thingthen by which h e m ay be found o ut. L et this planbe pursued : A ssem ble allof you in a body aboutth e clo se e of th e evening,“ a nd set up o ne gene ralhowl in h is he a ring a nd I

’llwa rrant yo u, th e naturaldisposition o fh is spe cies will incline h im to j oin inth e cry ; fo r,

Wha teve r m ay be th e natural propensity o f a nyo n e , is ve ry hard to be o ve rcom e . If a dog we rem ade king, wo uld h e no t gnaw h is shoe straps?’

A nd thus, th e tige r discove ring tha t h e is nothingbut a jacka l, willpresently put h im to de ath . In

short, concluded th e m in iste r, th e pla n was exe cuted,

Th e jackals seldom m ake th e ir appearanc e tillafter sunset, wh en

th ey sally forth in large tro ops, and“font retenti rl’a irde leurs aboye

m ens, as th e c om p iler of D escrip ti o n H istorique ct Ge ograph iquede l’Inde ,

”e x presses it. Tom e i . p . 37 .


and th e eventwas just as it had be en fore told. They

A n intim a te e nem y is acqua inted with eve rythingwhich relate tli to o ne : o ur blem ishes, our hearts, a ndo ur degre e ofcourage. ’

I repe a t, the refore , Th e fool, &c .

A lthough it be thus, replied th e king , still as h e isco m e a gre a t way, le t h im appear ; fo r such is th e

resolution o f inquirie s m ade respe cting whom we

o ught to ente rta in .—P le ase yo ur H ighne ss; sa id th e

m in iste r, th e spy is de spatched , a nd th e castle is put

in c o m plete'

o rder, Whe refore th e parrot should re ce ivea ssura nceso fo urpacific disposition, a nd be pe rm ittedto depa rt . But

,

‘ A s it is possible that th e re v olutio nso f co uncilm ay be defe a ted by th e designs o f a sha rp am ba ssado r, a sove re ign should a lways regard h im as a spy

A fte r th is a councilwas fo rm ed , a nd bo th th e

pa rro t a nd th e crow we re desired to a tte nd . Th e

pa rro t, with a slight inclina tio n o f h is he ad, se a te dhim se lfupo n a stoo l which wa s presented to h im , a nd

the n de liv e red h is com m ission in th e fo llo wing wo rds-S ir, th e m ost illustrious M aha-raj ah" Chitra -varnacom m ande th the e , H iranya-garbh a , if thou hast a ny

ifL iterally, greatR aj ah . A ti tle in th ese daysby no nteansc o nfined

to m en of royalo r e v en noble e x trac ti on.


198 TH E H ITO P A DE SA

h aving be en explained to h im , h e was brought back,and d ism issed with presents o f golden ornam ents,rich dresses

,a nd th e like .

Th e pa rro t re turned to th e Vindhya m ountains,whe re paying h is respe cts to Chitra-varna h is own

so ve re ign, th e king no so one r pe rce ived h im,than h e

ca lled o ut, -We ll, pa rrot, wha t inte llig e nce hast tho ubro ught m e ? Wha t so rt of a co untry is it? P le aseyour H ighness

,replie d th e parro t, th e sum o fm y in

tellig e nc e is this,— L e t prepa ra tio nsbe m ade fo rwar !

A s to th e co untry, it is a portio n of th e he av e n lyregio ns then h o w is it po ssible to desc ribe it Th e

pe a co ck king, upon he a ring this, sent fo r h is chiefs,a nd sat down to co nsult with them . O n th e subje c to f th e war, sa id th e king, which is prese ntly to bee nte red into, advise wha t is pro pe r to be done ; fo r,aga in I say, war is absolute ly resolved upon. They

‘ Brahm ans are ruined whe n disco nte nted , likesove re igns whe n contented . Mo desty is ruin to a

harlot, a nd im m odesty to wom en ofgood repute .

’

A m ongst th e rest, the re was a vulture Whose nam e

was F ar-se e ,’ wh o arose a nd sa id—P lease your H igh

n ess, F ate would no t be idle in fighting with the e ;

Wh en sons, with friends and attendants, are firm ly

In th e original, doom -dorm .


a ttached, and in O pposition to th e enem y, then warm ay be com m enced.

’

L e t m y m in iste r,o bse rve wh a t I am abo ut to o rde r,

sa id th e king let th e se rvice s o fthese m y o ffi ce rs bee ngaged by a n advance o f a pa rt o f the ir p ay ; a ndthe n let th e so o thsaye r ’“ be ca lled, a nd le t h im fixup o n a lucky m o m ent ‘

i'

fo r us to begin o ur m a rch .

Ye t,ple ase yo ufH ighne ss, obse rve d th e m in iste r

,it

is no t pro pe r to m arch rashly fo r they say,

Tho se fo ols wh o rashly, a nd without investigation,rush upo n th e forces o f th e enem y, will do ubtle sslybe e m bra ced with th e edges o fthe ir swords.

’

M iniste r,repl ied th e king, tho u shouldst no t e n

d e a v o ur to bre ak th e fo rce of m y a rdo ur. T e ll m e

rathe r h ow o ne wh o wishes fo r co nquest adv a nc ethinto th e co untry o f th e e nem y. P le ase yo ur H ighness, sa id th e m in iste r, this subj e ct to o if pursuedm ayyie ld fruit fo r they say ,

‘Wha t is th e use of advice g iven to a sove re ign

a ccording to th e authority o f bo oks,if i t be no t fol

lowe d ? A pa tient will neve r re co ve r h is he althm e re ly from th e de scriptio n o fa m edicine .

’

Th e H indoo s of th e present a g e do no t undertak e any affa ir of

c o nse quenc e with out c onsulting th e ir astrologers, wh o are always

B rahm ans.

'l‘ Th e lucky and unlucky days are generally p o inted out in th e ir

alm ana cs, but as th ese are always wri tten i n Sanskri t, no ne but th e

B rahm ans c an ex pla in th em .


But a s th e c om m ands o f m aj e sty are no t to ben egle cted, I will pro ce ed to repea t wha t I have h e a rdupo n th e subje ct o f war. P le ase to attend, yourH ighne ss

Tro o ps, with e v e rything which c a n m ake them fo rm idable , sho uld be sta tio ned upo n th e rive rs, uponth e m o unta ins, in th e wo o ds, in th e strongholds, a ndwhe reve r e lse the re is dange r.

‘ Th e A dhyaksh a’“

sho uld m a rch before,a e com

p an ied by th e bravest m en ; in th e'

c entre th e

seragli ofl‘

th e swam e e ,i th e tre asure che st, th e m agaz in es o f pro visio ns, a nd eve rything e lse which m ay

be va luable .

O n e a ch fla nk th e ho rse , o n th e two flanks o f th eho rse th e cha rio ts,§ o n th e two fla nks o f th e cha rio tsth e e lepha nts, a nd o n th e two flanks o f th e e leph a nts

th e fo o t.”‘ In th e rear sho uld m a rch th e Sen a -p atifiloccasion

a lly e nco uraging such as se em to be m e lancho ly.

L iterally, ov erseer. P i obably an offic erlike o ur quarterm aster

gene ral.

Th e o rig i nalword i s halatram , wh ich sigmfies e ith erwi v es o r a

place ofsafety .

I Th is wo rd i n th e c o m m o n a c c e ptatio n m e ans m aster, but in th is

pla c e , probably, e ith e r th e p rin c e , o r h is c om m ander-i n-c h i ef

Alth o ugh the se are d isused in battle at presen t, th ey are c o nstantlym entio ned i n th e i r anc i entbo oks, as a ne c essary p art o f an arm y.

HTh e h orse , c h ari o ts, elep h ants, and fo o t, are , in Sanskri t, c alledth efour m e mbers ofa n a rmy .

‘llL i terally, a rmy -m ast r, a g ene ral.


202 TH E 111TO P A D E SA

Th e troo ps should fight without break ing ; andthey should defend o ne a nothe r. Whateve r m ilitarysto res the re m ay h e should be put in th e centre o f

th e ranks.

‘ A nd when th e chief hath giv en che ck to th e

e nem y, h e should e nde avo ur to distress th e coun try.

Upon leve l ground h e should fight with cha riots a nd

h is horse and in p la ces o v erflowed with wa te r, e itherwith bo ats or e lephants.

‘ A m ongst tre es a nd bushes h e should fight withbows and a rrows ; a nd upon open ground, withswo rd and shie ld . A nd h e should a lways e nde avourto destro y, or rende r use less, th e enem y’

s straw,co rn,

wate r, a nd firewood .

H e should destroy likewise th e ir rese rv oirs, the irram parts

,a nd the ir ditches a nd trenches. Th e

chief’

s e lephants should be th e first in the arm y, a ndno t diso rde red.They say, h e wh o fighteth with e lephants a nd

cam e ls, figh teth , as it we re , with h is own a rm s. T h e

horse is th e strength of th e arm y. Th e horse isas a

m oving bulwark .

Whe refo re , th e chiefwh o hath m ost horse in a landfight is victorious. Those wh o fight m o unte d o n

horses a re hard to be defe a ted, even by th e hosts of

heave n ; fo r let th e e nem y be at eve r so gre a t ad ista nce, they are , as it we re , in the ir ha nds.

‘ Th e chief em ploym ent fo r th e fo o t is fighting,

F ABLE S A N D P R O VE R B S . 203

guarding th e wh ole a rm y, and cle a ring th e roadsa bo ut

Th e best kind of troops are de cla red to be thosewh o are na tura lly brave , skilled in th e exercise o f

a rm s,a tta ched, inured to fatigue , re nowned, and

soldie r-like .

M e n, 0 prince , do n o t figh t so we ll in this wo rld,e ven fo r ve ry large pecunia ry rewards, a s fo r honoursbe stowed by the ir co m m a nde r.

‘ A sm a ll a rm y co nsisting o f chosen troops is farbe tte r than a vast body chiefly co m po sed o f rabble ;fo r when th e bad give way, th e go o d are inevitablybroken in co nseque nce .

H e wh o wish e th fo r victory should e ndeavour toha rass th e e nem y witho ut d istressing h is own tro o ps.

A n e ne m y’

s a rm y which h as be en ha ra ssed fo r along tim e , m ay be

‘

e asily defeated .

The re is no t a be tte r co unse llo r than a com pe titor,fo r th e o ve rthrow of an e nem y whe refo re grea tpa ins sho uld be taken to ra ise such a cla im ant .Having ente re d into a co nfede ra cy with som e o ne

a m o ngst th e chief’s so ns, o rwith o ne of h is principa lc ounse llo rs, at length , it will be prope r, with a firm

re so lutio n, to pro voke h im to fight.A nd whe n a ch ief sha ll have g iv e n h im an o ve r

throw by m e ans o fh is nearest friends, h e m ay put h is

e nem y to de ath .

’

Th i s v erse is defe ctiv e in th e original.


What is th e use o f saying so m uch upon th e

subje ct sa id th e k ing, inte rrupting h im

O ne’

s own exa lta t io n is a nothe r ’s tribula tion, a ndboth

,they say, is p o licy. Having granted th is, our

fine language is contradicted by our actions.

"

Th e m iniste r, sm iling at this, replied, -It is en

tirely so ; but,

O ne is lofty, powe rful, a nd a villain ; wh ilstanothe r is guide d a nd restra ined by m ora l laws.

When shall we find th e sam e supe riority in light and

darkness?" l'

A t length th e k ing go t up and re solved to m archat th e tim e appointed by h is astrologe r ; but just

now th e P uro h ita‘

i:m et h im , a ccom pa nied by a spy ,

a nd told h im ,that king Chitra-varna was alm o st

arrived, a nd tha t at prese nt h e was near th e Ma la yam o unta ins ; tha t th e constructio n o f a castle wa s

instantly to be reso lved, fo r th e vulture was a verywise m iniste r ; and that from th e te no r o f h is c o nve rsatio n the re was reason to be lieve , tha t h e h ad a

spy eve n then within th e castle . To allth is th em iniste r replied, tha t if the re was a spy,

it co uld beno o ne but th e crow, whom they had e nte rtained .

M orality fo rbids us to adv anc e our fo rtunes at th e e x p ense of

o th ers but poli cy p ays no atte ntio n to th is i njunc ti on.

Go od and em ].

1: Sp iri tualguide .


206 TH E H ITO P A O E SA

putra ‘“ com e from so m e dista nt country, presentedhim se lf befo re th e porte r wh o sto o d at th e king’

s

ga te , a nd addressed h im in th e following wo rds —I

a m a soldie r in se a rch o f em plo ym e nt pray pro curem e a sight of th e king . Th e po rte r we nt to h ism aste r, a nd, bowing, to ld h im that

“the re was a so ldie rat th e gate , just a rrived from so m e d istant co untry,wh o sa id h is nam e was Ve era -vara ; a nd th e kingcom m and e d h im to be introduced. A ccord ingly, th eporte r conducted th e stra nge r into th e presence o fh is

m aste r ; to who m , re spe ctfully bowing, h e addressedhim se lf as fo llows z—S ir

,if thou hast a ny o ccasion

fo r m y service , let m y p ay be fixed . Th e k ing askedh im , h ow m uch ? a nd h e replied, fo ur hundre dsuv a rna sr '

a day . Wha t we apo ns hast tho u ? dem a nded th e king. My two a rm s

,replied th e so ldie r,

a nd m y swo rd, which m akes a third . This will no tdo , co ncluded th e king ; upo n which th e soldie rbowed, a nd to ok h is le ave . Th e m iniste r happeningto be prese nt, sa id, —P le a se yo ur H ighne ss, give h imfour days’

p ay, a nd le a rn wha t so rt o f a m an h e is,

and what a ssistance h e c an be o f. A cco rd ing to th e

m in iste r’s advice , th e m an be ing ca lled ba ck, theygave h im Tam bo ola

,$ a nd four days’ ’

p ay in advanc e

L iterally, a .! son ofa R aj ab. A warlik e tribe, c o mm only called

R ajp o o ts.Gold c o ins.

Th e be telleaf but, i n th .s plac e , th e wh ole c om p osition c om

m ouly c alled fawn by th e na tures of B engal, a nd Intelby th e E uro


to th e expenditure of wh ich th e king ve ry private lya tte nded, and found that

‘

he gave o ne m oie ty to th e

gods and th e Brahm ans, o ne -fo urth to th e po o r, a ndspent th e rem ainde r in fo o d a nd am usem ents ; a ndtha t afte r pe rform ing these seve ral pra isewo rthya ct ions, h e attended sword in hand a t th e king

’s ga te

day and n ight, and neve r we nt to h is lo dgingswitho ut

h is m aste r’s expre ss pe rm issio n .

O n th e fourte enth n ight o fwhat is called th e da rkside o f th e m oon

, th e king he a rd a noise like o ne

bitte rly crying,upo n which h e called out to know

wh o was waiting at th e do o r, a nd h is fa ithful Ve e rava ra a nswe ring tha t h e was the re , h e o rde red h im to

pursue th e crying which they he a rd ; so , saying, Io bey yo ur H ighness

’

s co m m ands, away h e ra n . In

th e m e a ntim e , th e king refle cted in this m anne r —I

have done wrong to se nd this so ldie r away by him se lfin such a da rk cloudy n ight. I will eve n go too a nd

se e wha t is th e m atte r. So saying, h e took h is swo rd,a nd thus followed till h e g o t witho ut th e city ; andpresently afte r h e saw th e so ldie r with a fem a lee ndued with pe rfe ct

.

yo uth a nd beauty, a nd richlyattired, wh o was we eping . Wh o art thou, a nd whydost tho u we ep ?dem ande d Ve era -va ra. I am ,

sa idth e fem ale , th e goddess Sre e ,* th e fortune o f king

p eans, m ust be understo od wh i c h , e v ery o ne knows, is g i v en in Ind i a

by a sup eri o r as an a lOlable to k en offri endsh ip , fav o ur, and pro

tec ti o n .

fTh e goddess ofgo od fortune .

208 TH E 111TO P A D E S A

S iibhrak a’

s do m inions, wh o hath long dwe lt h appilyunde r th e shadow o fh iswings ; but, a las ! I am no w

about to fle e to som e othe r place of refuge . Wha t,0 goddess, said th e soldie r, will induce the e to tarrystill longe r he re If

,replied th e goddess, tho u wilt

offe r up thy own so n Sakti-va ra, wh o is distinguishedby two -a nd-thirty m arks,‘ to th e goddess wh o p reside th ov e r th e we lfa re o f all nature

,

'l' then will Irem ain he re fo r a m uch lc‘ mg e r pe riod of tim e ; a nd

saying this, sh e vanished from h is sight.Ve era -va ra now went hom e , and ca lled up h is so n

and h is wife , wh o we re both asle ep wh o having ris’

e n

acco rd ing]y,h e re late d to them eve rything which h ad

p assed with th e go dde ss. H is so n, th e m o m ent h ehad co ncluded, excla im e d in a transport of jo y,—Oh ow fortuna te I am ,

wh o c a n thus be th e m e ans o f

prese rving m y so ve re ign a nd h is do m in ions ! The n,0 fa the r, what occasion is the re fo r a ny furthe rhesita tio n or de lay since th e assistance of this bo dyis at all tim e s re ady upon such an occasion as th isF o r they say, Q

A good m a n sho uld forsake wealth, and e ven lifeitse lf, fo r a nothe r . It is goo d to sacrifice one ’

s se lf

What th ese are th e translator is unable to ex pla in .

1’ Th islo ng e p ith et is e x p ressed , in th e o rig inal, in two wo rds, sarv a

m a ng ala , wh ich 18 o ne o f th e titles of B h a v a nee , th e c o nsort of Sc e v a .

In h er destructiv e quality sh e is c alled K ale e (a nam e deri v ed from

K ala,tim e ), and itwas to h e r, under th is im age , th at hum an sacrifices

Were wont to be offered, to a v ert any tli i e atened e v il.



evident unde r hum an form , se ized h im by th e hand,a nd said,—M y so n, forbe ar this rashness A t prese ntthy kingdom is no t subdue d Th e king prostra tedhim se lf before h er, and sa id,—O go dde ss ! of whatuse to m e is dom inio n

,or e ve n life ? If tho u ha st

any co m passio n fo r m e,0 let Ve era -va ra , with h is

fam ily, be resto red to life ; o r if it be no t thy will,

pe rm it m e to pursue th e path whe re in I was found byth ee ! Th e go ddess replied, —I a m we l l ple ase d withthis thy noble ge ne rosity a nd tende rness ; the n g o

thy ways,a nd prospe r ; and let this m a n

,h is wife ,

and so n ,allrise up a nd live ! Th e king re nde red

thanks, and re turne d uno bse rved to a n apartm ent ofh is palace to sle ep . Ve e ra -vara to o be ing restored tolife , toge the r with h is wife and so n, h e co nducte dthem ho m e .

Ve era -va ra be ing aga in o n gua rd at th e king’

s

doo r, a nd be ing questio ne d by h im respe cting th e

pe rson wh o was heard crying , replied, tha t upon h erbe ing se e n sh e be cam e invisible , and tha t the re we reno furthe r tidings of he r.'l' Th e king wa s exceedinglywe ll ple ase d at this

, a nd said within him se lf,—Wha t a

p ra isewo rthy m an h e was, repeating these lines:‘ H e sho uld speak kindly, without m eanness ; h e

Th e goddess Sree hath no tyet fo rsak en thy dom inions.

F ro m th e teno r of th is p eri od , i t sh ould se em , th at th e king, wh enh e followed Ve era-v ara , d id n o t go near enough to observ e allthat

p assed With th e goddess Sre e .

F A B L E S A N D P R O VE R B S . 2 1 i

should be valiant, without bo asting ; h e sh ould bege ne rous, shedding h is bounty into th e dish o f th e

worthy ; h e should be resolute , but no t harsh.

’

This is th e characte r of a great m an ! In th is the reis all

In th e m orning e a rly th e king a sse m bled a spe cia lco uncil ; a nd whe n h e h ad publ icly p ro cla im ed th e

proce edings o f th e n ig ht, h e bestowe d th e go ve rnm e nt o f K arnatta " upo n h is ge ne ro us de l ive rer.

A fte r this, concluded th e roya l go o se , m ust e ve ry o ne

wh o com e th unasked be a villa in ? Th e truth is,

the re are thre e sorts am ongst such to o : go o d,bad

a nd ind iffe rent .Th e m in iste r repl ied

,

Is h e a m in iste r wh o , in o bedie nce to h is

so ve re ign ’

s ple a sure , paye th a tte ntion to what sho uldno t be done , as ifit we re prope r to be do ne ? It is

be tte r that th e he a rt ofth e m aste r sho uld suffe r pa in,

th a n th a t h e should be ruined by do ing that whichought no t to be done .

’

H e a r this, ple ase your H ighness

T/ze g o oa’w/eie/z fea t/z been g a ined by one willalso be

g a ined by m e . B ut t/ze ba rber mleo w is/zea ’

for wealt/z,

lea v ing t/zrong /zleis infa tua tion k illed a begg a r, isp a t to

a'

ea t/e lzim self.

’5' Th e c ountry we c allC a i na tic .


H ow cam e th a t abo ut ?said th e king ; and th e’

m iniste r rela ted th e following story

F A B L E X .

IN th e country of A yo dhya “ the re was a m an,by

nam e Choora -m an i,i wh o , be ing exce edingly anxio us

fo r th e acqu isitio n o f wealth , offe red up h is praye rswith g reat fe rvour, to h im in who se diadem is acre sce nt and at length , o ne n ight, when h e h ad

be en purified o f h is sins, that d e ity appe a re d to h imin h is sle ep, and addressed h im in these words —In

th e m orning early, having shaved thyse lf, stand o uto fsight with a stick in thy hand ; and whe n tho ushalt se e a begga r com ing into th e ya rd, thou wiltbeat h im with thy stick without m e rcy fo r th e sa idbegga r will have with h im a p o t o f go ld, which m ay

se rve to m ak e the e as h appy as thou canst wish fo rth e rest of thy l ife . Th e instructions o f th e godwe re fo llowed , and success attended ; but th e u ho letra nsa ctio n having be en o bse rved by th e ba rbe r, wh ocam e to shave th e m an , said to h im selfi—H o , ho !this is th e way to g et m oney, is it? Why th e n m ay

no t I do th e sam e ? F rom th at m o m e nt th e barbe rused eve ry day to conce a l him se lf with a la rge stickin h is hand, wait ing fo r th e com ing ofa beggar a nd

Th e p ro v inc e of O ude .

'l' C ro un -je u el.i O ne of th e ti tles ofSc e v a .


2 14 . TH E H ITO P A D E SA

co nfined by rive rs, hills, o r fo rests ; te rrified by th eapprehension ofdre adful fires,‘ distressed by hunge r,thirst, a nd th e like

‘With the ir best provisions spoilt,afflicted with

pestilence and fam ine,no t steady, no t num e rous

,

em barrassed by rains and windsIncom m oded by dirt, dust, or wa te r, or de stitute

o fgoo d quarte rs a prince m ay defeat it, and undera ny circum stance s like the se .

‘O r if an enem y be fo und sle eping in th e day,from th e gre a t fa tigue o f watching fo r fe ar of a

surprise , thus ove rpo we re d fo rwant of rest, o ne m ay

a t all tim es e asily defe a t h im .

’

Whe refore , let the se ge ne ra ls m arch aga inst th efo rce s o f that im pe tuous pe aco ck, a nd fight the m

,

e ithe r by day or n ight, as‘they m ay find it m o st

expedient.This a dvice be ing exe cute d accordingly, th e a rm y

ofChitra-varna was ove rth rown, and a great m any o f

its principal le ade rs fe ll in th e battle . Chitra -va rnawas exce edingly cast down at this event, and sa id to

h is m iniste r th e vulture , - H as this happe ned thro ughneglect or have I be en wa nting in cond uct ?

‘ N eve r before now was e m pire gained, thus to be

'Y Th e a rm ies ofth e nativ e princes ofIndia, wh o are seldom pro v ided

W ith tents, o fte n scre e n th em selv es from th e inclem enc ies ofth e we ath er

wi th tem p o rary c o v e i ings ofre eds o r rush es, and th e ir cantonm ents are

g e nerally m ade ofm ats and straw.

F A B L E S A N D P R O VE R B S .

lo st ! Th e want of prudence de stroye th fortune , evena s sickness th e gre atest beauty .

O ne wh o is expe rt g a ineth fo rtune ; h e wh o e ate thbut wha t is wholeso m e

,he a lth ; a nd th e healthy,

e a se ; th e dilige nt, th e e nd o f knowledge ; and’

h e

wh o is~welldisciplined, virtue , profit, a nd reputation .

’

Th e vulture replied, —P lease yo ur H ighness,‘ A king, a ltho ugh h e be no t him se lf e x pe rienced,

m ay, ifh e h as o ne old in wisdom about h im , depriv eanothe r o f h is go od fo rtune ; like a tre e which

’

growe th by th e wate r’s side .

‘ Drinking, wom en, hunting , gam ing, fo ndness fo rdress, harshness o f spe e ch, a nd se ve rity

,a re great

blem ishes in a prince .

‘ R iches and prospe rity are no t possible to bea cquired by such as pursue powe r with suddenviolence , no r by those who se m inds are at a loss fo rth e m eans fo r fortune dwe lle th in good conduct andn o ble reso lutio n .

Be te l is pungent, bitte r, and swe e t ; it isa lkaline and astringent ; it e x p elleth wind, destroye thphlegm , kille th wo rm s

,and subdue th bad sm e lls it

beautifieth th e m o uth , :t rem ove th im purities, and

‘3' In th e Sanskri t, Tambula . Th e c o m p o sm on ofwhat E urop eans

c allbe telis to o generally known to requi re a no te .

Th isword was substituted by th e translato r i n th e ro om of one

wh ich se em ed to h im an error in th e'

o rig inal.i Stains it red.

216 TH E H ITO P A D E SA : . c

kindleth the fire o flove . Be te l,m y friend , possesseth

the se thirte e n qualities, hardly to be found, even inth e regions o fhea ve n .

’

But, continued th e vulture , your H ighness, trustingto your own strength a nd courage , and from m e rerashness, paid no a tte ntion to th e counse ls I laidbefore you, a nd tre ated m e with harshness o fspe e ch .

Upo n wh at m iniste r do no t th e e rrors o f conductfa ll? What sore arm is no t fre tted by a garm e nt o fhair” Whom do th no t fortune m ake pro ud ?Whom do th no t de ath de stro y? T o who m d o n o t

th e things wh ich wo m en do, give cause o f gre a tun easinessA brave m an destroye th h is e nem ies, be they eve r

so g re a t ; eve n a s prude nce o ve rcom e th m isfo rtune ,a n e nl ightene d unde rsta nding grief, th e sun da rkness

,

a nd sorrow h app i i i ess.

’

But, at that t im e , I said within m yselfl—This m y

m aste r is ce rtainly destitute o f wisdom ,or e lse h e

would be guided by m y counse ls for they say,

What will th e wise pre cepts of books do fo r h im

Th e translator is ofO p inion th is ac curate description ofth e qualitiesand p ro p erties ofbetelhas no busi ness in th is plac e . [B etelstandsm e ta ph oric ally fo r go od c ounsel H . M

1“ Wh en are no t th e po or o p pressed?or, doth no t one m isfo rtune

bring o n ano th erP



have pene trated th e castle of th e e nem y, I wil l,witho ut de lay, co nduct th ee , toge the r with ho no ur,glo ry,

a nd thy a rm y, safe ba ck to th e Vindhyam o unta ins. H ow sh a ll this be a ccom p l ished, saidth e pe a co ck king, with so sm a ll a fo rce ? P le a seyo ur H ighness, replied th e v ulture , th e who le sha l lco m e to pass. B ut as th e o ppo site o f d ila toriness isa qua lity a bsolute ly n e cessa ry fo r a co nque ro r toe nsure success, le t instant orde rs be given fo r th e

blo ckade ofth e e nem y’

s castle .

Soon afte r th is reso lutio n, a spy cam e to th e roya lgo o se H ira nya -g a rbh a , a nd told h im tha t th e pe a cockking, by th e advice o f th e vulture h is m in iste r, sm all

a s h is a rm y was, h a d reso lved to m a rch a nd blo ck up

th e castle ga tes. Wha t is to be done now?sa id th ek ing. L et o ur arm y, repl ied th e m in iste r, be divide dinto good a nd bad , a nd let pre sents be m ade to th ewho le , acco rding to the ir dese rts, o f m oney, clo th,and th e like fo r it is said,

F ortune n eve r fo rsake th th e’p rinc e wh o stande th

with an O pen hand in th e squa re s a nd public pla ce s.

A trifle , thus acquire d, is e ste em ed far a bo ve a

tho usand pie ces of go ld fo und by chance in th e ro ad .

‘ A prince sho uld be at an extrao rdinary expe nseo n e ight o ccasio ns : at a sacrifice , at a wedding, int im es ofdistre ss, afte r th e o ve rthrow o f a n e n em y

, in

a ny m e i ito rio us work, in e nte rtain ing friends, upon


wom e n wh o are clear to h im , and in re lieving re la tio nswh o are in want .A fo ol, from th e dre ad o f eve r so trifling expense ,

ruineth eve rything h e und ertak e th . Wh a t wise m an

wo uld, fro m extrem e scrupulo usne ss, e ntirely fo rsak ea cle an p o t

H ow,dem anded th e king ; is it prope r to be e x

tra v ag ant o n a ny o ccasio n, when they say , A m a n

sho uld ke ep h is riches aga inst a ccide nts, &c .

?

H ow c an o ne wh o is fo rtuna te , sa id th e m in iste r,m e e t with a ccidents? Be c a use fo rtune som e tim es

le aves o ne , replie d th e king. Ho a rded tre asure ,‘

o bse rved th e m in iste r, is o fte n lost ; the n away withparsim o ny, a nd let thy brave soldie rs be d istinguishedby gifts and honours.

‘ Those wh o have be en prefe rred , and are we llco nte nte d ; such a s are re g a rdless of l ife , a nd havebe e n proved ; with tho se o f no ble birth, wh o havebe e n tre a ted with m a rks o f distinctio n ; will, allo f

them,be victorious ove r th e force s ofth e e ne m y.

‘ A trifling force , consisting o f o nly fiv e h undredh e roes, wh o are good soldie rs, we l l e xpe rienced inth e art ofwar, and re solute , whe n form ed into a c o mpact body, will beat ofwhole arm y o fthe ir enem ie s.

‘Th e greatest qual ities fo r a prince are,ve racity,

H indo os g enerally bo ilthe irfo od in earth en p ots, wh ich they nev er

use a sec ond tim e .


co urage , a nd g enero sity. Ifa sove re ign be destituteo fthe se , h e wil l certa inly acquire th e state o f be ingta lked ofwith contem pt.’

M iniste rs, likewise , should be distinguished and prom oted fo r,

H e sho uld be em p loyed in affa irs o f l ife a nd

fo rtune , with who m is o ur pro te ctio n , and with whomis co nfided o ur incom e a nd expe nse .

’

F o r,

‘ Th e prince wh o ha th fo r h is adv ise rs, knaves,wom en, childre n, o r fo ols, negle cteth th e purifica tiono f im prudence

, and is ove rwhe lm ed in th e hour o fne cessity.

’

O bse rve , yo ur H ighness, tha t

Th e e a rth is bo untiful unto h im wh o hath n e ithe rextrem e jo y no r a ng e r

f

in h is bre a st, wh o ha th a

tre asure with but little expense , a nd wh o hathse rvants wh o a re always vigi lant.

‘ A prince wh o is we l l furn ished with tre asures, a ndothe r m eans, should neve r neglect o r de spise h ism in iste rs.

’

F o r,

When a king, blinded by h is rashne ss, is about to

it Th is v erse , in th e o riginal, is so fullof errors and c onsequentobscurity, that noth ing but th e c o nte x t c ould h av e d isc ov ered th e

m eani ng .



‘ A fortifica tion is de clared to be weak, when it is

unable to ho ld out a long tim e,is extre m e ly sm a ll ,

and very m uch exposed or when com m anded by a

we ak a nd unfortuna te o ffi ce r.’

But se e ing tha t is no t th e case he re ,‘ The re are four ways to take a fo rt, wh ich a re

these : cre ating divisions,lo ng blockading, surprise ,

a nd sto rm ing.

’

A t pre se nt, o n ly let th e battle be m ainta ined to th eutm ost ofour powe r, concluded th e vulture .

E arly in th e m orning, e ven before th e sun was up ,when th e battle h a d com m enced a t allth e fo ur gate so fth e castle , th e crow, wh o was in th e inside , contrive dto setfire to eve ry house . The re wa s now a co nfuse drum o ur that th e e nem y h ad got possessio n ; he a ringwhich, a nd, at th e sam e tim e

,se e ing a vast num be r

o f ho uses in flam es, th e troops o f th e royal goose ,with allth e private inhabitants, fled to th e wa te rs fo rse curity ; a ccording to th is saying

Whateve r ha th be en we ll consulted and we l lresolved, whe the r itbe to fightwe ll, or to run awaywe ll, should be carried into exe cution in due season,without a ny furthe r exam ination.

’

Th e king having be en thus abandone d by allbutth e Sarasa , a nd be ing by nature a slow walke r, wa sm ade p risoner by th e co ck , wh o was th e peacock’

s


g ene ra l ; upon which h e addressed th e Sarasa in thesewords —Ge ne ral Sa rasa,whe n I shall be no m ore , thoum ust no t destroy thyse lf; but a s tho u hast it still inth y powe r to m ake thy escape , the n g o upo n th e

wa te rs, a nd, with th e will o f th e O m n iscient, placeChoora -kam a m y so n upon th e th ro ne . O m y roya lm aste r, replied th e Sa rasa , do no t ta lk thus, fo r it ism o re tha n I c an bear. M ay th e king st i ll trium phove r h is enem ies as lo ng as th e sun a nd m oon sha lllast ! I will aga in assum e th e com m and ofth e castle

,

a nd the n let th e fo e ente r besm e a red with m y

blood

‘ A m aste r is h ard to be fo und, wh o is patient,ge ne ro us

,a nd a j udg e of m e rit ; or a se rvant, wh o is

honest, cleve r, a nd a tta ched.

’

A ttend to th is, ple ase your H ighness:Ifafte r havingquitted th e fie ld o fba ttle the re we re no fe ar ofde a th,it would be pro pe r to go he nce ; but is no t de a thinevitable to all things? Be sides, itwould ta rnish m yreputa tio n to quit the e now.

In thisworld, ra ised up fo r our purification, and to

p revent our wande ring in th e regio ns be low,

‘ th e

reso lution to sacrifice one ’

s own life to th e safe ty o fanothe r is attained by th e practice ofvirtue .

’

Th e originalword is v eeebee, wh ic h o nlym eans a p arti culardi v ision

of th ose reg i o ns.


Besides,thou art th e sove re ign a nd m aste r, wh o is

always to be guarded a nd prote cted .

When P rakriti is forsake n by h er lord, great as

sh e is, sh e doth no t survive it.

*rWh e n l ife hath take n

its depa rture , though D h anwantari “l" h e th e ph ysician ,wha t c a n h e do ?

In th e so ve re ign th e who le wo rld o pene th a nd

sh utte th its eyes. Thus th e lo tus o fth e wa te rs, upo n

th e rising ofth e sun , re v iv e th upo n h is reviva l .Th e sove re ign , th e m in iste r, territo ry, stro ngh olds,

treasure , forces, and frie nds, are th e m em be rs of

gove rnm e nt ; a lso th e nobles, a ndth e orde r ofc itizens.’

But, o f allthe se , th e sove re ign is th e principa l m em

be r. He re th e co ck flew upon th e roya l go o se,a nd

bega n to wound h im with h is h ill a nd claws but th eSa rasa scre ened h is m a ste r unde r h is own body ; a ndalthough h e him se lfwas torn a lm ost to p ie ces hy . theco ck ’

s be ak a nd spurs, h e still cove re d h im till h e g o th im safe into the wa te r. Im m ed ia tely afte r, th eSara sa p e ek e d th e co ck to death ; but at last, be inga ttacked by a la rge pa rty o f birds

,h e lost h is own

life . Chitra-va rna , th e pe a cock king, now e nte rs th e

To understand h ow th i s v erse is applicable to th e subje c t, it isne c essary th e reader be info rm ed , th at by th e wo rd P rak riti (h e resig n ifying tna tfrom wi ne): alltnm g s are m ade P rzn ezple,—1Vature p erson ified as a beautifulfem ale—th e H i ndoo E v e), is m eant the pri nc ip al

m en , tbe n obzlzty .

Th e A ‘Zsculap ius o f th e H indo o s.



the young princ es, and are exc ee dinglywe ll pleased . M ay that which follows, said VishnuS arm a, produce th e sam e effe ct.

M ay no possessor o f th e e arth eve r have occ asionto dispute with e lephants, horse s, and foot sold ie rs !M ay h is e nem ie s, defeated by th e cle ansing counse lso f policy, take she lter in th e c av e rns of th e m ountains i ’

L)

.E A B Z E 5HA A E I P R OVEWfiU Z 22 7

CHA PTE R IV.

o r M A K I N G P E A C E .

N ow, said th e yo ung princes, ple ase to inform us 0 f

wha t re la tes to Making P e a ce . A ttend then, repliedVishnu-Sa rm a ; this is th e introduction to it

A t the conclusion of a g rea tba ttle, in wh ich the troops

ofboth h ing s ha v e suflerea'

, a trea ty ispresently broug htaboutby the two m inisters, the Vulture a nd the C hahra

H ow was this?dem anded th e young princ es; andVishnu-Sa rm a re la ted as follows

F A B L E L

TH E royal goose , after h is escape , aske d wh o it wasthat set fire to th e castle ; whe the r o ne ofth e enem y,

o r som e ofthe ir own party?and h is m in iste r, Chakrav aka

,replied,—P le ase your H ighness, that unne c es

sary conne c tion o f yours, th e crow Cloud-colour,

toge the r with h is attendants, is no longe r to be se en ;

whe refore , I conclude that it was contrive d by h im .

Th e king, afte r a few m om ents’ conside ration11 2


e xcla im ed ,—It is e v en so ! It is m y own e v i lse eking !

‘Th e fault shall be fo r eve r h is, and no m ore th em iniste r’s, by who m I be lieve o ur affa irs, so we lld esigned fo r our own advantage , we re ru ined .

’

They say, replied th e m iniste r,‘ Th e m an wh o m e e ting with th e rugg ed paths o f

life , do th no t kno w tha t they a re evils of h is own

is no ph ilo so phe r.

H e who doth notp ay due reg a rd to th e adv ice offa ch

friends a s h a v e h is welfa re a t hea rt, m ay saferfor it

lih e th e foolish torto ise, who fellfrom a p iec e of wood

a nd was h illed .

H ow was th is? dem anded th e king ; and h is

m iniste r re lated th e following story

F A B L E II.

IN M ag adh a-desa 'lthe re is a large pie ce ofwa te r

which is d istinguished by th e appe llatio n P h ullo t

p ala ,I whe re lived tog e the r fo r a long tim e two

ge ese ; a nd they had a tortoise fo r the ir frie nd , .wh o

dwe lt with them . Som e fishe rm en com ing th at way,sa id to them se lves, —To -m o rrow early we m ust c o n

B y th e v ic es o f a fo rm erlife .

1 Th e anc ient nam e o f th e c ountry aboutGya .

R elati ng to th e p ro duc tio n ofaquati c flowers.


230 TH E H ITO P /1D E SA

H e is a wise m a n who ca n conquer a n acc ident wh en

with theft, before her husba nd’3fa ce .

I“

h e third fish,wh o was called What-will-be ,* a ske d

h im h ow that was ; and th e se cond fish re lated a s

follows

F A B L E IV.

A T Vikram a -pura t the re lived a m e rchant, whosenam e was Sam udra and h is wife , wh o wa s

c alled R atna-prahka,§ was a lways am using he rse lf

with o ne or othe r o f th e se rvants according to thesesayings

They do no t carry the ir obse rvations so far as toexam ine lim bs and fe a tures ; fo r, whe the r handsom e

r

or ugly, it is all th e sam e to them , provided h e bea m an .

’

A gain,

Unto wom en no m an is found disagre eable ,’

&c .

In anothe r place they say,‘ A sacre d law which hath be en eve r so we ll c o n

sidered,is still to be re considere d ; a king wh o ha th

be en satisfie d is stillto be apprehended ; a yo ung

In th e o rig inal, yad-bha v ishya .

'lThe c i ty of Vi ctory. A c om m on nam e ofplaces.I A mbassad o r ofth e sea.Gem -splendour.

F A B L E S A N D P R O VE R B S . 23!

wom an, although in o ur a rm s, is altoge the r to besuspe cte d. What satisfaction the n c an the re be inth e sacred law, in princ es, or in wom e n

O ne day it so fe ll o ut, tha t be ing se en by h er husbandkissing o ne of th e yo ung m en o f th e house , sh e ran

insta ntly towards h im a nd cried,—M y dear, this

se rvant m ust be exce edingly distressed fo r food, fo r

h e h as be en e a ting som e cam phire which I hadbrought hom e fo r thy use ; and even now I havesm e lt to h im ,

and find h is breath scented with it !

It is truly said,‘What wom en eat is twofold ; the ir cunning four

fo ld,’

&c .

Th e servant, upon hearing th e wom an a c cuse h imthus, appe ared to be offended , and exclaim ed, -Whatm an c an stay in a place with such a m istress as this,wh o is e ve ry m inute sm e lling th e se rvants’

m o uths?Saying which h e went away but h is m aste r se nt fo rh im back, and, with so m e

’

d ifl’

i culty, pacified h im ,and

induced h im to stay. I say, the refore , H e is awise m a n

,

”&c . To thisWhat-will-be replied, -That

is no t to be which is no t to be , &c .

E arly in th e m orning W it-aga inst-it-whe n-com e ,

be ing caught in a net, fe igne d h im se lf de ad, a nd

rem ained qu ie t ; but h e was no soone r thrown outo f th e net, tha n h e sprang into de ep wate r, and thus

m a de h is escape whilst What-will-be was taken by


th e fishe rm en, a nd so lost h is life . I repeat, th erefore , “These two , F a te -no t-com e ,

”

&c .

The n, conclude d th e tortoise , le t it be c ontriv edh ow I am to g e t to anothe r lake . Whe re , dem andedth e two ge ese , Wi ll be th e advantage .o f thy go ing toano the r pla ce ? P ray, replie d th e tortoise , only c o ntriv e th e m eans, a nd I willgo through th e a ir alongwith you. H ow,

said th e ge ese , are we to c ontriveth e m e ans? Why, obse rved th e tortoise , yo u m ust

g e t a pie ce o fwood , and take e ach o f yo u o ne end

o f it in your beaks, from which I c an suspend m yse lfby m y m outh, whilst yo u carry m e alo ng by th e

fo rce ofyour wings. This contriva nce will thus do ,replied th e ge ese but ,

O ne who is wise , in contri v ing the m ea ns, should

consider the consequence . S om e foolish boobies’

y onng

ones were dev oured by a weasel before the irfa ces.

H ow d id tha t h appe n ?dem anded th e tortoise ;and o ne of th e ge e se re la ted as follows

F A B L E V .

IN th e north the re is a m o untain ca lled Gridh rak o o tta , near which, o n th e ba nks o f th e R e v a ,t the re

In th e o rig i nal, na hoola (in H indostane e , now! o r non ! ) A sa ga

c i o nsli ttle an im al,no t bigg e r th a n a rat

,no ted fo r a tta c k ing and k illing

th e m o st v eno m ous serp ents, afterwh i c h it always runs i nto th e th i ck

g rass, as i t is sup p o se d, in se arc h ofan a ntido te .

P erh aps th e pro per nam e o fth e riser we c allth e R a ii v ee wh i ch

runs into th e Indus.


234 TH E H ITO P A D E SA :

in that situation by som e c owk ee p ers' in the fie lds,

they pursued them , crying out,—Wh en h e falls down,we will dress h im and e at h im upon the Spo t. N o ,

sa id o ne ofthem , let us carry h im hom e ! Upon h earing which, th e tortoise fe ll into a passion , to thinkh ow they intended to dispose ofh im ; and whi lst h eopened h is m outh to say,—Yo u shall eat dust first !down h e dropped, and was presently put a n end to

by those he rdsm en. I therefo re repeat, H e wh o

doth not pay a due regard to th e adv ice , &c .,c o n

cluded th e m iniste r.‘We should always guard our sp e e ch ; fo r from

spe aking ruin often ensueth ; as in th e downfa l lof th e tortoise , wh o was be ing carried along by twoge ese .

’

Th e booby, wh o h ad fo rm e rly been sent a s a spy,

having re turned, addressed th e royal goose in thesewordsz—P le ase your H ighness, at th e ve ry beginningI represe nted that it was ne cessary instantly

,

to c le arth e castle ; but that no t having be en done , this is thefruit of your negle ct a nd I have lea rnt that th e

burning o fth e castle was effe cted by th e crow Cloudc olour, wh o had be en em ploye d fo r that purpose byth e enem y’

s m iniste r th e vu lture . Th e king, sighing,said,

H e wh o pla c eth confidence in an enem y, e itherfrom inc lination o r ne cessity, awake th from h is

delusion, like o ne who hath fallen from th e top o f atre e in h is sle e p !

’

A nd whe n C loud-colour, continued th e spy, hadeffe cted th e burning o f th e castle , h e went to kingChitra -varna ; wh o be ing we ll satisfied with wha t h ehad do ne

,said,—L et th is Clo ud-co lo urbe appointe d

gove rnor ofKa rpura-dwe ep a ; fo r, it is said,

‘ O ne should no t forget th e labours o f a se rvantwh o hath pe rform e d h is duty ; but should encourageh im with rewards with o ur he a rts, with our spe e ch ,and with our eyes,

The n th e vulture , wh o is th e prim e m iniste r, c o n

tinne d th e spy, said,— P le ase your H ighness, let som e

sta tion be given to h im infe rior to that o f th e prin

c ip alo ne ; fo r,

H ow is it possible to punish o ne wh o hath be enraised to a supe rior stat io n P Th e assistance , 0 king,wh ich is rende red to tho se o flow degre e , is l ikeendeavouring to p lease be a rs.

’

A low pe rson should never be placed in th e station

o fth e gre a t .

O ne of low deg ree h a v ing obta ined a worthy sta tion,

seeheth to destroy h is m aster lzbe th e m ouse , wh o,

ha v ing bee n ra ised to the sta te of a tig er, went to h ill

th e herm it.


H ow was that said th e peaco ck king a nd th e

m in iste r re lated th e following story

F A B L E VI.

IN a forest ofth e prophe t Gowtam a ,‘ which is dedic ated to acts ofpenite ntia l m o rtific atio ns, the re was ahe rm it, who se nam e wasMaha -tapa . O n e day se e inga yo ung m o use fa ll fro m th e m o uth ofa crow ne a rh is he rm itag e , o ut of co m pa ssion h e too k it up, a ndre a red it with broke n particles o f rice . H e now

o bse rved tha t th e cat was se eking to destroy it ; so,

by th e sa cred powe rs ofa saint, h e m e tam orp hose dh is m ouse into a c at ; but h is c at be ing afra id of h is

do g , h e cha nge d h e r into a do g ; and th e do g be ing

te rrified a t th e tige r,at le ngth h e was tra nsfo rm e d

into a tige r. T h e holy m a n now rega rded th e tige ra s no ways supe rio r to h is m o use . But th e pe o plewh o cam e to visit th e he rm it, used to te ll o ne ano the rtha t th e tige rwh i ch th ey saw the re h a d be en m ade soby th e powe r of th e sa int, fro m a m o use ; a nd

'

th is

be ing o v e rhe ard by th e tige r, he wa s ve ry un e asy, a ndsa id to h im se lf,—A s

~lo ng as this he rm it is a live , th ed isgrace ful sto ry o fm y fo rm e r sta te will be bro ught

Th e de clared auth or of a m etap hysi c alwo rk in th e Sa nskritlan

guage , called N yaya-darsana , the fit~t v olum e ofwh i c h is sa id to h av e

be en dep o si ted in th e B ri tish M useum .



gone , de ath will so on follow. This be ing overheardby all th e fish

, they obse rve d to o ne another that it

was pro pe r to loo k out fo r assistance whilst they hadtim e ; and, sa id they, let us ask th e booby him se lfwhat is best to be done fo r,

O ne m ay be tte r form a conne ctio n with an enem y

wh o will re nder o ne assistance , than with a frie nd wh owould do o ne an injury. The se two should ra th e r bed istinguished according to th e goo d or inj ury they doto o ne .

’

A cco rdingly, th e fish accosted th e bo o by, a nd said ,—P ray, m aste r bo o by, te ll us wha t m eans c an be

devised fo r our safe ty upo n this occasion ? The re iso ne way to be safe

,replied th e artful boo by, a nd that

is, going to another pond, , whithe r I am willing to

transport you . Th e fish , in th e gre a tness o f theirfe ars, co nsented to th is proposal, and the ir treache rousde l ive re r de voured them all o ne by o ne as h e too kthem out o fth e wate r. A t le ngth, th e crab asked h imto take h im a lso ; a nd th e booby

,although h e h ad

n eve r before h ad any incl ination to taste on e o f h is

spe cies, took h im up with gre at m arks o frespe ct, a ndca rried h im ashore ; when th e crab se e ing th e groundco ve re d with th e bones of th e fish which th e boo byh ad destro yed, crie d to he rse lf, -A las, h ow unfo r

tunate ! I shall ce rtain ly be k il le d too, unless I c anc ontriv e so m e m eans of escaping. L et m e try

FABLE S A N D P R O VE R B S .

’

239

im m ediate ly what th e occasion requires. They

In tim es ofdange r it is prope r to be alarm ed untildangerbe near at hand ; but when we pe rce ive thatdange r is near, o ne should O ppo se it as if o ne we reno t afraid.

Wh en o ne a ttacked beholde th no safe ty for h imse lf, if h e be a wise m an, h e willd ie fighting withh is fo e.

’

It is also said,that

A s out ofbattle death is ce rta in, &c .

Th e crab having co m e to this resolution, h e se i zedthe O pportunity, wh e n th e boo by stre tched out h isne ck to devour h im , to te ar O pen h is thro at with th e

p ince rs o fh is c laws. Whe refore I repeat, “ A ce rtainbooby,

”&c .

A ttend, said th e peacock k ing, to what I have be enthinking o f—That ifCloud-colour be left go ve rnorh e re , all th e c hoice thing s which Karpura -dwe e p aproduc es m ay be sent to us to e nj oy in gre at luxury,when we sh all be re turne d to th e Vindhya m ounta ins.

Th e m iniste r, laughing at th e king’

s proposal,replied, -P lease your H ighness,

H e who rejo iceth o v er a n z ma ccomp h'

shed desig n , m ay

m eet with d i sg ra ce lihe the B ra hm a n who brah e t he

i‘


H ow d id that happen?dem anded th e king ; andth e m in ister rela ted th e following story :

F A B L E VIII .

IN th e city ofDe v e esko tta ” there was a Bra hm anwhose nam e was D eva O ne lucky e v ening

h e found a curious which h e took with h im intoa potter’

s warehouse fullof e arthenware , and th rowing him se lfupon a 'bed wh ic h happe ned to be there ,§it be ing night, h e beg an to exp ress h is tho ughts up on ,

th e occasio n in this m anne r -If I dispose of thisd ish, I shall g et te n K ap ardak asllfo r it ; and withtha t sum I m ay purchase m any pots a nd pans, th esa le ofwhich will increa se m y capital so m uch, thatI shall be able to lay in a large sto ck of c loth a ndth e like ; which having disposed ofat a great advance ,I sh a ll have accum ulated a fortune ofala c fllo fm oney.

W i th this I will m arry four wiv es ; a nd o f these Iwill am use m yse lf with h er wh o m ay prove th e

handsom est . This will cre ate j e alousy ; so whe nth e rival wi v es shall be quarre lling, then will I, ove rwhe lm ed with a nge r

,hurl m y stick at them , thus !

Saying which, h e flung h is wa lking-stick out of h is

Th e c ity of th e goddess. Its situa tion isforgotten.

'l' Th e p e a c e ofGo d

I In th e o rig inal, Sak tubhuk -sara v a , a dish to ea t ta rts.

It IS v ery c o m m on to see a sm allbedste ad in th e sh o ps in India.Ten c owrie s.

f In Sanskrit, labs/ta . O ne hundred th o usand (rup ees).


TH E H ] TGP A DE SA

H e is th e c om panion of a prince , wh o , plac ing h isduty before h im , payeth no regard to h is m aster’

s

likings or d islik ings, a nd te lls h im unwe lcom e truths.

Whe n vic tory in th e battle is doubtful, on e shouldwish to treat, ev en with an equal . O ne should no thesitate fo r thusVrih asp ati hath de clared .

Wh o , except a ch ild, would p lace h is friends, h is

a rm y, h is kingdom , him se lf, and h is re putatio n, in th edoubtful balanc e ofa battle?’

Besides,

S om etim es the ov erthrow ofboth happ eneth forwere

not Snnda a nd Up asa nda , two g ia nts of equalstreng th ,

k illed by one a nother

H ow was that ?said th e king ; and th e vulturere lated th e following story :

F A B L E IX .

IN form er tim es the re were two g iants, th e o ne c alledSunda , and th e othe r U p asunda , who wishing to c o n-

1

que r th e thre e regions of th e unive rse by th e gre atexe rtions o f the ir bo dies, fo r a long tim e p e titio nedth e de ity with th e crescent o n h is he a d to be propitious to the ir design. Th e god, pleased with th e irpraye rs, to ld them to ask a boon but as th e goddessS araswate e * had th e con trol ofth ese two ofdrea dful

it The goddess of/

sp eech , h arm ony, and th e arts.


form s, both th e ir original wish and design we rechanged, and at le ngth they said,—Ifth e dispose r o ffortune be pleased with o ur p raye rs, give us

, 0

Suprem e Be ing, P arv ate e thy own consort ! A ccordingly, th e de ity, although d ispleased at th e request,from th e absolute necessity of granting boons andfrom a kind o finfa tuation)“gave them P arv a te e .

H aving obtained h er, they we re presently inflam edby th e be auty of h er pe rson, a nd e age r fo r th e ru ino f th e m othe r o f th e un ive rse ; 1~ fo r they we re involved in th e da rkness o f sin . But a s they we rej ea lo us of o ne a nothe r, they resolved to ca l l upo nsom e m an o f a uthority to de te rm in e wh ich sh e

should be long to ; a nd instantly th e de ity, h e r lo rd ,stoo d before them unde r th e disguise o f a vene rableB rahm an. We have o bta ined this fem a le , said they,as a boon, and wish the e to de te rm ine which of us

sh e should be long to. Th e Brahm an replied,

A Brahm an is re spe ctable be cause h e is ofa tribeth e first in rank, a K sh atriya i fo r strength, and aVisya § if h e be possesse d o fwe a lth and grain .

’

N ow,se e ing yo u two are of th e se cond, o r m ilita ry

o rde r, your duty is fighting. These wo rds m ade adue im pression upon the ir m inds ; they fe llupon

i t In th e orig inal, m oozha ta , th e state ofbe ing fo olish .

A n e p ith e t o f th e go ddess P a rv atee .

I Th e se c o nd o f th e fo ur grand tribes a sold i er.

é O ne of th e th u d o rderm so c i e ty ; a. m erchant.


e ach othe r, but as th ey we re equal in stre ngth a nd

courage , they died a t th e sam e instant from the

blows they re ce iv ed from e ach other. I say, the refore , o ne should be inclined to treat even with o ne

o f equal force , concluded th e v ulture . H ast tho uno t told m e this before ? said th e king. Wh at

,

sa id th e m iniste r, d id yo ur H ighness the n c om prehe nd th e full extent o f what I said ? A c cordingto m y o p inion, this is no t a prope r tim e for th e

renewal of hostiliti es. King H ira nya-g arbh a is e n

dued with those qua lities which rende r h im a prope rpe rson to treat with, and no t to quarre l with.

-Th e ysay,

The re a re seve n descript io ns with which it isde em ed prope r to fo rm a n a llia nce : m e n of vera city ;m en o ffam ily ; m e n o fjustice a nd virtue m en oflow

d egre e , som e tim es ; such as a re he ads of a gre a tfrate rn ity ; such a s are po werful and those wh o hav ebe e n successful in m a ny ba ttles.

H e wh o fo rm e th a co nne ctio nwith an h onest m a n,

from h is lo ve o f truth, will no t suffe r the reby. A nd

th e m an o f fam ily, it is ve ry ce rtain, will no t begu ilty o f an unworthy action, eve n in th e defenc eo f life .

‘ To th e strictly just a nd virtuous pe rson, eve rything is annexed . Th e virtuous m an, from h is j usticea nd th e affe ction h e hath fo r m ankind , is th e dispe lle rofsorrow a nd pa in .



proper to e nte r into an allia nce ; and th e v ulturem iniste r replied , -I am about to te ll your H igh ness,repeating th e following ve rses

Th e young , th e old, th e long afflicted, and such a s

hav e be en excom m un icated by the ir tribe ; th e fearful,and those whose followe rs are tim id ; th e cove tous,a nd those wh o se followe rs a re covetous

‘Those whose princ ipal o fl‘i c ers are void of a ttachm e nt, h e wh o po ssesseth to o m uch powe r in affa irs

,

o ne wh o in h is counse ls is of m any O pin ions, and h ewh o sp eake th d isrespe ctfully of th e gods or th eBrahm ans ;H e wh o is naturally unfortunate , and h e wh o is

always consulting fate ; o ne afllicted with fam ineand pestilence , and h e

'

wh o possesse th a disorde rlyarm y ;O ne wh o doth no t stay in h is own country, o ne

wh o is be se t with m any enem ies, h e wh o hath an arm yo ut of tim e ,

* and o ne wh o hath departed from th e

true re ligion : these m ake twenty descriptions o f

pe rsons,With whom it is no t prope r to ente r into a lliance

,

a nd whom o ne should do nothing but che ck ; fo r ifsuch a s these go to war, they presently fall into th epowe r o fthe ir enem i es.

‘ Ifh e be a child , h is people are no t ready to fight,

it O ut ofseason, orwh en there is no o c c asio n fo r an arm y.


bec ause of th e insignific anc e of h is nature , and th e

inability ofan infant to pay th e reward or punish, fo rfighting or no t fighting

‘B e h e o ne o ppre sse d with ag e , o rwith som e tediousinfirm ity

,deprived o f th e powe r of exe rtio n

,h e is

inevitably ove rcom e o fhim se lf.‘ H e wh o hath be en expe lled by allh is kindred is

e asily to be defeated ; fo r h is re latio ns to o , out o frespe ct fo r them selves, are rea dy to destroy h im .

‘ B e h e a coward, h e h im se lfwill fle e to avo id th eba ttle ; and ifh is troops are dasta rds, they will fo rsakeh im in th e fie ld .

Th e followe rs of th e cov e tous refuse to fight,be cause the re is no distributio n of th e spo ils ; a ndwhe re th e atte nda nts are so , they m utiny for pay, andm urde r the ir le ade rs.

If th e principal office rs are no t a ttached,the ir

chiefis forsaken by them in th e m idst o f th e battle ;a nd ifh e be o ne wh o h ath too m uch powe r in affairs

,

h e e x p ec teth supe rio r attention .

H e wh o in h is counse ls is o f m any m inds, ish a teful to h is m iniste rs and be cause ofth e unste ad i

ne ss of h is m ind, h e is neg le cted by them in h is

n ecessary afl'

a irs.

‘ A s re ligion is a lways m ost powe rful, so h e wh od espise th th e go ds or a Brahm an, o fhim se lfgoe th tonaught a nd so doth h e wh o is sm itten by fate .

‘Those wh o first study fate , and say,—F a te is th e


only cause of fortune a nd m isfortune , terrify th em l

se lves.

‘ H e wh o is surrounde d by fa m ine and pe sti le nce ,o fh im se lf yi e lde th a nd h e wh o hath a d isorde rlyarm y, ha th no powe r to fight .O ne wh o is out o fh is own co untry is defe a ted by

a ve ry trifling enem y : th e sm allest a lliga to r in h is

own e lem ent grip eth th e la rgest e lephant.‘ H e wh o ha th m a ny e nem ie s is l ike a pigeon

a m ong kites : wh a teve r way h e turne th, h e is e n

counte red by m isfortune .

‘ If h e be on e wh o m arc h eth h is a rm y o ut o f

se aso n,h e is destroyed by figh ting aga inst th e

we athe r. H e will suffe r like th e crow,wh o , ve nturing

out at m idnight,h a d h is eye s picked out by a n o wl.

‘ O ne sho uld,o n no account, ente r into a ny c o n

n e ctio n with o ne wh o h a th depa rted from th e fa ith ;fo r, a ltho ugh h e be bo und by tre a ty, h e will, be ca useo fh is o wn unrighte o usn ess, bre ak h is e ngagem e nt . ’

In additio n to allthis, continued th e m in ister, Ish a ll re m ind your H igh ness

n o f th e following p ar

tic ula rs: Un iting, d isputing , ha lting, m a rching , sur

re nd e ring, sepa rating, a re de no m ina te d th e

F o r th e co m m e ncem e nt o f a n exped itio nth e nece ssa ries a re , m e n

,sto res, tre asure , tim e

, a nd

p la ce ; th e po ssessio n o f which is prope r, a s a p ro

In the o rig inal, sh adg oona .


TH E H 1TO P A D E SA

M ah abala * is our frie nd ; let h im ra ise a disturbanc ein Jambuo dwe ep a , th e e nem y’

s country.

A wise m an having practise d great se c rec y ,

m arching with a we ll-com p ose d arm y, m ay alarm a n

O pponent ; and h e wh o is alarm ed will m ake pe a cewith h im with whom h e hath bee n at v arianc e h‘

Th e royal goose having conse nted to this p rO p osal,o ne Vich itra a booby was dispatched to Singhaladwe ep a with a v e ry private le tter;In th e m eantim e th e spy re turning from th e

p eaco ck’

s cam p,said

,—P lease your H ighness, attend

to what I have to inform yo u of. Th e vulturem iniste r said to th e pea cock king ,—A lthough Cloudco lour th e crow was so long in th e enem y’

s castle ,what if h e doth or doth no t know whe ther th e royal

g oose , H iranya-garbh a , be possessed of those qua lities which a re ne cessary towa rds our tre a ting withh im ? A fte r th is, continued th e Spy, th e peaco ckking having calle d Cloud-colo ur before h im , aske dh im what sort o f a charac ter that sam e roya l goose ,H ira nya -g arbh a , was, a nd what sort of m iniste r h eh ad. To this th e crow replied, -P le ase your H ig hness, H iranya

-g arbha is. as noble as king Yudh i

i f Great-strength .

1 Th ere is such a play up on words in the orig inalofth isve rsefth atthe translatio n isbut a fa int resemblanc e .

1 Th e orig inalex pressio n se em s to fa v our the idea ofth e irbe ing ,

acquainted wrth th e artofwriting in cyph er.


sh tira ,’ and a pe rson o f g reat since rity ; and as to

h is m aste r, h is lik e ne ss is nowhe re to be discove red.If h e be as thou hast described h im , obse rv ed th e

king ,h ow was it th at h e was de ce iv ed by the e ?

Th e crow replied,‘What great ingenuity is the re in de ce iving h im

whose confidence o ne hath gained ? Is th e te rmm anhood h is wh o m o unteth upon th e bed, and

destroye th those that are asle ep

A ttend, please your H ig hness,—I was discovere d byth e m in iste r from th e beginning ; but th e king h ism aste r, be ing him se lfo ne in whom th e greatest c o nfidenc e m ay be placed, was e asily im posed upon bym e ; according to th e following saying

H e who ,j udg ing by wha t p asseth in his own breast,

believ eth a hna v e to be a p erson of v era c ity, is decei v ed

as the B rahm an was concerning h isg oa t.

P ray h ow was that ? dem anded th e king ; and

th e spy told th e fo llowing story

F A B L E X .

IN th e forest of th e prophe t Gowtam a a c ertain

Brahm an,having dete rm ined ’

to m ake an offe ring,went to a ne ighbouring v illage and purchased a.

it F irm in battle . The nam e ofa king wh o re igned ov erH indostan

upwardsoffourth ousand years ag o .


goa t,‘ which having thrown across h is shoulde r, h eturne d towa rds h om e . A s he was trave lling a lo ng,h e was pe rce ived by thre e thieves. If

,sa id they, we

could by som e artifice ge t th e goat from tha t m a n,it

would be a gre at proof o f our address. Saying th is,they agre ed upon the ir stratagem ,

a nd exe cute d itin this m a nne r : They statio ne d them se lves befo reth e Brahm an

, and sa t down unde r th e tre es in th eroad which led to h is habitation, till h e should com e

up to them . Soon afte r, h e was accosted by o n e o f

the m in this m anne r —15 no t tha t a do g Brahm a n ,

wha t is th e reason thou carri e st it up on thy sho ulde r ?Th e Brahm an replied,—N o , it is no t a dog ; it is a

goat, which I have p urchase d to m ake an o ffe ring o f.A bout a m ile furthe r o n h e m et anothe r of them ,

wh o repeating th e sam e questio n, h e took th e go atfrom h is shoulde r, a nd putting it upon th e gro und

,

exam ine d it aga in and aga in ; and at length, repla cing it upon h is shoulde r, h e we nt o n, quite stagge re das it we re .

The m inds e v en qfg ood m en a re stagg ered by th e

a rg um ents of the wich ed but those who pla ce confide nce

in them m ay saj'

er by it like the cam elC h itra -v a rua.

Th e king asked h ow that was and th e spy toldh im th e fo llowing story

it In th e E nglish translatio n of th e fablesfalsely attributedtu P ilp ay,p . 206 , it is a fine fat sh eep ; wh ich , by

-th e -by, Is an an im alne v e r

sa crificed by th e H indo o s.



abandon h er own offspring ; a fem ale se rpent, whe ndistressed fo rfo od, will devour h er own eggs. Whatcrim es willthey no t c om m it wh o are pinch e d withhung e r ! M en pin ing fo r food becdm e destitute of

pity a nd co m passion .

Those wh o are intoxicated e ithe r with liquor orpleasure , th e lazy, th e passionate , th e hungry, th ec ove tous, th e fearful, th e hasty, and libe rtines, ha veno knowledge ofjustice .

’

This be ing p roved to th e satisfaction of allparties,away they went to th e lion ; wh o , th e m om ent h esaw th em , dem ande d if they had brought h im any

thing to eat. Th e crow replied,—S ir, with all o urendeavours

, we have not be en able to pro cure th e

sm allest trifle . Then what m eans are the re now leftfo r m y support? crie d th e lion. S ir, replied th ec row, from your refusing th e food which you hav e in

your power, we are all like to pe rish . What is the reh e re fo rm e to e at?e age rly dem anded th e lion . Th e

cam e llreplied th e crow, whispe ring it in th e lion’s e ar.

Th e noble beastat thisproposal, touching th e ground,and then h is two ears

,in abhorrence , e x claim ed,

Having, at o ur first inte rview, given h im assura ncesofm y prote ction, h ow c an h e now be trea ted thus?They say,

N or th e g ift ofc attle , north e g ift ofland, nor th e

gift ofbrea d, nor th e g ift o fm ilk, is to be com pared

FABLE S AND P R O VE R B S . 255

with thatwhich m en call th e greatest of all gifts

th e gift ofassurance from injury !

H e who hath defe nded o ne wh o had claim ed h is

p rote ction, rece ive th th e ful l reward which is th e fruito f an A swa-m edha sacrifice ,"t re nde red m ore worthyby the additio n ofeve rything which is estim able

Th e crow replied, —Unde r these circum stances it isnot prope r that yo ur H ighness should put h im to

de ath ; but suppose we so contrive , that h e shall c o nsent to offer h is own body ? Th e l ion he aring this

,

rem ained silent but th e crow, finding a n opportun ity,m ade a pre tence to carry all h is friends and th e cam e lbefo re h im ; when h e addressed h im in this m an

ner z—P le ase your H ighness, as we c an find nothingfo r yo u to e at, rathe r than m y m aster shall fast, leth im satisfy h is hunge r with all th e flesh upo n m y

po or body ; fo r,

When nature is forsake n by h er lord, be sh e everso great, sh e doth no t survive . A lthough Dhanwanta ri be th e physician, when life is departed, what c anh e do

‘ A llhonours and endowm ents have the ir fo undations in th e sove re ign but although tre es have the ir

it Th e sa crific e ofthe h orse , in anc ient tim esp erform ed by a k ing atth e c onclusion of a greatwar in which he had been v ictorious.

256 TH E H zTo P A D E SA

roo ts, the ir be ing fru itful dep endeth upon m an’s

‘

exe rtion .

’

Th e lion nobly replied ,—It is be tte r to abando nl ife e ntire ly, than to proce ed in such an a c t as this !T h e ja cka l next o ffe re d him se lf; but th e liongene rously refusing, th e tige r said, L ive , O m a ste r,by m y body ! This neve r c an be p rO p er ! sa id th enoble be ast and , last ofall , th e cam e l

,in who m was

create d th e fullest co nfidence , o fl’

ered him se lf as th erest h ad done ; and instantly th e tige r to re o pen h issides ; a nd be ing thus crue lly m urde red, h e wa s d ev o ured by them all. I say, th e refo re ,

“Th e m indse ven o fgo o d m en,

”&c .

A t. le ngth, sa id th e spy, conclud ing th e story of

th e thre e thie ves, th e Brahm an having he a rd th e

third thief,like th e fo rm e r two , insist upon it, that h e

had a d o g upo n h is shoulde r, was convinced that itwas a dog ; a nd so , le aving h is goat behind h im ,

which th e thieves pre se ntly to ok away and m ade a

fe ast o f, th e good m an washed him se lf and we ntho m e . Whence , I say, H e wh o , j udging by what

p asse th in h is own breast,”&c .

Cloud-colour,said th e peacock king to th e c row

,

tho u we rt a long tim e am ongst th e enem y, —p ray

h ow are the ir o rde rs executed ? P lease your H ighness, replied th e crow

,what is the re no t done by

B e c ause h e h ad touch ed wh atbe supp osed a dog , wh i ch IS estee m ed

an unclean anim al.



ia th e twentie th ye a r'

o f h is ag e , a nd e ndued withe very virtue a nd a c cdm plishm ent, by th e will

’

o ffa te ,was so m e tim e since bitten by crue l m e ! H is fa the rbehold ing h is be lo ve d so n Shuse ela , fo r tha t was h isnam e , lying de ad, fe l l m ad fo rgrief, a nd rolled h imse lf upon th e gro und . In th e m e antim e , th e peopleo f th e city, h is k indred, frie nds, a nd conne ctio ns, all

c am e a nd sa t down upon th e spot whe re h e lay .

They say,

‘ H e is a friend wh o attendeth o ne at a fe ast, inaffliction, in fam ine , in disputing with an e ne m y

, a t

th e king’

s gate ,* a nd in th e cem e te ry.

’ “l”

A m ongst th e rest, the re wa s a ce rtain pilgrim , whosenam e was Ka p ila , 1 by whom th e fa the r of th e

youth was thus addre ssed, -A rt thou deprived o f

reaso n , K ownd inya , tha t thou thus lam e ntest th e

de ad ? He ar m e !

Whe re a re tho se so ve re igns of th e wo rld,with all

the ir num e rous a rm ie s a nd splendid e quipage, o f

who se departure th e e a rth, eve n now, beare th testim o ny?

‘ In th e body is concealed its de cay, pro spe rity is

F igurati v ely, wh en in c o nfinem ent.

Th e o rig inalword c o nv eys th e idea of a plac e by a riv er’

sside ,wh ere tho se wh ose h v es are de sp a ired of are ca rried and attended tillde ad , ahd wh ere , atlength , th e irbo d i es are burnt to ash es.

I The re alnam e of o ne o fth e ir anc i ent sa ints, from wh ose works

p robably th e followm g v erses are quo ted .


succe eded by adve rsity, a nd o ur m e e tings are soonfo llowed by separa tions. Thus everything in natureis pro duce d with tha t which will destroy it !

Is no t this body se e n to waste , pe rceptibly,away? Is no t its gradual co nsum ption pla inlv

to be discove red, as o fwate r standing in a crudevesse l ?

‘Youth and be auty, riches and stores o fworldly

g oods, with th e socie ty o ftho se we lo ve , and even l ifeitse lf, are allo f short dura tion ! The n let no t th e

wise m an the re in be fascinated .

‘ A s two pla nks floating o n th e surfa c e of th e

m ighty re ceptacle o f th e wate rs, m e e t, and h avingm et

, are sepa rated fo r e ve r ; so do be ings in this lifec om e toge the r, and prese ntly are parted.

Upo n th e reduction of a body com posed o ffiv e

e lem e nts to tho se fiv e principle s, and e a ch o f tho see lem ents to its own wom b, what ca use is there fo rlam entation

‘ A s m any te nde r conne ctions as th e an im al m an

fo rm e th fo r h im se lf, so m any thorns o f sorrow a re

the re ingrafted in h is he art .‘ This is not a place fo r any o ne long to cohabit

with anothe r ; nay, no t eve n with h is own body : thenh ow c an h e expe ct it with ano the r ?

‘ Th e d issolution o fa body fo retelleth a new birth

The fiv e elem ents m entioned in this v erse are, fire , a ir, water, earth,and a subtile m atter th ey callaha s.


thus th e com ing of de a th , which is no t to be passe dove r, is as th e e ntrance into life .

*

‘ Th e dissolution of th e de lightful conne ctions weform with those we love , is as dre adful as th e to talc ha nge to those wh o are be com e incurably blind.

‘ But as brooks run o n to join the ir rive rs,a nd do

n o t turn back so th e days and n igh ts se ize m ortals’

l ives, and proce ed e te rnally .

‘ Th e soc iety of th e g o od, wh ich c o ntribute th so

m uch to th e re lish of hap piness in this wo rld , isj o ine d in th e yoke o f tro ubles, be cause its e nd is

sepa ration .

Hence it is that th e wise av oid th e acquaintanceo f good m e n ; fo r the re is no rem edy fo r th e m ind

a fflicted with th e so rrow ofsepa ra tion .

M any no ble a nd piousworks we re pe rfo rm ed bySaga ra and othe r ancie nt kings ; but, a las ! bo th theya nd the ir works a re gone to de cay.

When h e hath co nside red, and re conside re d, tha t

seve re punishm e nt de a th , allth e e nde avours o f th e

wit ofm a n be com e as lax as skins ofle a the r sprinkledby th e rain

E ve ry he ro o fth e hum an race from th e first n ighto fh is reside nce in th e wom b, day by day approache thd e ath .

’

Then pay no attention to thisworld, continue d th e

R egenera tion in th e li te ralsense .



F o r they say,

Th e afflicted eve n sho uld practise th e duties o f

re ligio n, wha tever m o de o f l ife they m ay choose , a ndwhe re ve r the ir abode m ay be a nd our co nduct sh o ul dbe equa l unto allbe ings fo r distinctio ns are n o t

a utho rized by re ligio n .

’

A ga in

Those wh o eat but to support life , wh o wed butfo r th e sake ofproge ny , and wh o speak but to de cla reth e truth , surm oun t d ifli culties.

’

A ga in

Suppo se thyse lf a rive r a nd a ho ly pilgrim ag e in

th e land of Bha ra ta ,* o fwh ich truth is th e wa te r,goo d a ctions th e ba nks, and com passion th e curre nt

Th iswo rd is a deri v ati v e from B h ara ta , o ne ofth e irm o st anc ient

k ings and it is th e o nly nam e fo rm erly used by th e nati v es th em selv es

fo r th e c ountri eswe include in th e term Indi a ; forbo th th e a p pellati on

H indo o fo r th e p e o ple , and H i ndostan for th e c ountry, now generallyused by na ti v es and fore igners, were probably g i v en th em by th e ir

ne ighbo urs th e P ersians. Th e riv er im pro perly c alled th e Indus is

quite out o f th e questio n, e ith er as gi v m g a nam e to th e c ountry, as

m any h a v e im ag i ned , o rborrowm g o ne from it, a c c o rd ing to th e o p i n i o n

o fth e la te Ale x a nder D ow,E sq., in th e dissertati o n prefix ed to h is

H isto ry of H indostan ,”

p . 31 , wh o in th e sam e p age asserts,

th at th e H indo o s are so c alled from Indo o o r H indo o , wh ich in th e

Sh anscrita language sign ifies th e m o o n . It istrue th at eendoo is o ne of

th e nam es of th e m o o n , butno t hm a’

oo . L et i t sufli c e th at th ere are no

such wo rds as H indo o o r H indostan in th e Sanskri t languag e . In

P ersian we find H ind fo rth e c o untry, and H indo o forth e p e o ple .‘Th e

pro p er nam e of th e ri v e r we c allth e Indus, as written in Sanskrit

c hara cters, is Seendh o o , n h ich , by th e v ulgar, is pronounc ed Se endh .

FABLE S AND'

P 180VE R B S . 263

a nd th e n,O so n o f P a ndu

,

* wa sh thyse lf the re in,fo r

th e inward so ul is no t to be purified by co m m o n

wa te r ’

A nd tho u sho uldst p ay pa rticula r a tte nti on to thissaying

I

‘ The re is e ase fo r h im wh o quitteth this wo rld ,which is to ta lly dest itute of go o d, a nd o v e rwhe lm e dwith b irth, de a th , old ag e , S ickness, a nd so rrow . P a in

is a thing o fce rta in ex iste nce , but n o t e a se whe nc eit is o bse rve d tha t th e te rm c a se is applied a s a so rto frem edy fo r o ne in pa in .

’ “l“

To allth is, co ntinue d th e se rpe nt, th e a fflicte dfa the r o nly re p lie d, - E ve n so it is but p rese ntlyafte r th e poo r Brahm a n

,in th e he ight of h is so rrow,

deno unced th is curse a g a inst m e, th e a utho r o f h is

tro uble,— tha t hencefo rwa rd I sho uld be do o m e d to

ca rry frogs abo ut up o n m y ba ck asa be a st o fburd e nA fte r th at

,an o the r Brahm an wh o happe ned to be by,

obse rving tha t K ownd inya was gre a tly revived by th ewho le so m e do ctrin e s ofth e pilgrim ,

addresse d h im in

th e se,wo rds

So cie ty should be avo ided with allth e e ffo rts o f

the m ind but ifit be no t in o ne’

s powe r to avo id it,

Th e nam e of an anc i ent k ing .

1‘ A c c o rd ing to th is do c trine , case is only a relati v e affe c ti on in th is

life , th ough a p o sm v e o ne i n th e ne x t.


a cqua intance sho uld be fo rm ed with th e go o d a lo ne ,fo r th e co m pa ny ofgo o d m e n is th e re m edy.

’

A ga in

Th e te nde r passion sho uld be avoide d with allth eresista nce o fth e m ind ; but if it be no t p ossible to

co nque r it,it sho uld be indulged towa rds a wife alone ,

fo r sh e is th e prope r rem edy.

’

K owndinya having‘

h ea rd this, a nd be ing by th e

sa luta ry co unse l o fKa p ila qu ite cured o fh is affli c tio n,

to o k th e staff a cco rd ing to th e usua l fo rm s a nd

poo r I, co ncluded th e se rpent,lie he re und e r th e

powe r o fa Brahm an’

s curse , ready to ca rry a ny frogth a t sha ll cho o se to m o unt upo n m y ba ck !

Th e fro g, wh o had be en a tte ntive to this lo ng sto ry,upo n he a ring th e last wo rds o f th e se rp e nt, we ntaway to info rm th e chief o f th e pool o f it, wh o , so o nafte r m aking h is appe a rance

,th e se rp e nt pla ced h im

upon h is ba ck a nd ca rried h im abo ut, ke ep ing a

ge ntle e asy p a c e . Th e k ing o f th e frogs'

wa s so

ple ased with h is ride , tha t h e cam e again th e n extday ; but upon finding th e se rpe nt una ble to c a rryh im

,a nd asking h im wha t was th e cause ofh is we a k

ne ss, the a rtful a n im a l replied tha t h e wa s to tallydepriv ed o fh is strength fo rwant o ffo o d . Upo n this

H e reno unc ed th e cares of th e wo rld to le ad th e life of a B rahm a

ch are e (literally o ne u h o walke th in Go d) . Th e c erem o ni es oftak ingth e staff are fully e x pla ined in th e laws ofM ano o , ch apter i i .


266 TH E H ! TO P A DE SA

cloud ! Th e thund e r o f th e he ave ns o ur chief d is

p laye th, whe the r o n so m e acco unt, o r o n no a ccoun t,is of equa l ineffic a cy.

’

They say,

A king sh o uld no t disp ute with to o many e nem ie s

a t a tim e fo r eve n th e pro ud se rpe nt is ine vitablydestro yed by la rge swa rm s o fwasps.

’

A re we the n, sir, co nt inued th e m iniste r, to m a rch

ba ck without concluding a p e a ce ? Ifwe d o , sa id h e ,I think we m ay have o cca sio n to repe nt .

H e wko fallet/z into flee p ower of a ng er before lee [ea t/z

m a a’e lzim seff a cqua inted w ith a rzot/zer

’

s m erzts, m ay

[ta r/e ca use to fie sorry fo r it lzée t/zefoolis/z B ra/zm a a

afterlze lza a’k zl/ea' lax wea sel.

H ow was tha t ? dem ande d th e king ; a nd h is

m iniste r F ar-se e re la te d th e fo llowing sto ry

F A B L E X III .

A T U jjayine e the re lived a Brahm an who se nam e wa s

M ahdh a v a . H is wife having be en la te ly brough t tobed , left h e r husba nd in cha rge o f th e infa nt, wh ilstsh e went to pe rfo rm h er ablutno ns.

* A s so o n a s sh e

was go ne , th e Brahm a n, re collecting tha t th e king’

s

Wom en a re enjo ined by th e law to p erfo rm p o srtlv e ablutro ns mth e rrv er, after C hlldblrth , and a t c ertaln p erro ds e v ery m o nth , befo re

th ey c an return/to th e ir husband

’

s bed.

FABLES A N D P R O VE R B S . 26 7

offe rings to th e m a nes o f h is ancesto rs we re aboutto be m ade

, and se e ing othe r Brahm a ns gowg to

a tte nd them ,wa s p ro m pte d by h is na turala v a rice to

refle ct in this m anne r : IfI'

do u ’ t go dire ctly, said h e ,som e o ne else , having he a rd o f it, will g o a nd takeaway m y share o f th e goo d things. They say,

T im e drinke th up th e e sse nce of eve ry wo rkwhich sho uld be done , a nd is no t done quickly,whethe r itbe an act o f re ce iving, or a n act of givingaway .

’

But,continue d h e , I have no o ne to take ca re o f th e

door,the n wha t am I to do , un less, inde ed, I p la ce

this m y lo ng -be loved we a se l the re, wh o is as cle a r tom e as th e child itse lf, a nd the n ve nture to go ? In

sho rt, h e d id so , and we nt h is way to th e king’

s fe ast .It happen ed tha t soo n afte r th e Brahm an left th eho use , as th e we ase l was p a ssing ne a r th e child, h esaw a black se rpen t gliding towa rds it, which h ek ille d

,a nd pa rtly devo ured ; a nd Whe n h e saw h is

m aste r re turn ing, th e affe ctio na te little anim a l ra n to

m e e t h im , with h is m o uth a nd legs allc o v e re dO

With

blo o d a nd h e ro lled h im se lfup o n th e gro und a t th e

Brahm a n’

s fe e t in a ve ry extraordina ry m a nne r butth e go o d m a n se e ing h im in such a co nditio n , a ndh a stily co ncluding tha t h e h ad m urde red h is child ,with out furth e r inqu iry put th e po o r we ase l to de a th.

In sho rt, when th e Brahm a n wen t towa rds h is ch ild,

268 TH E HITO P A D E SA

a nd fo und it a l ive a nd we ll, a nd , at th e sam e tim e ,

discov e red th e m a ngle d rem a ins o fth e bla ck se rpe ntup on th e floor ne a r it, th e proo fs o fh is we ase l ’s m erit

a nd fidelity we re so e vide nt, that h e suffe re d th e m o stbitte r pangs ofso rrow a nd rem orse . I repe a t th e refore ,continued th e m in iste r, H e wh o fa lle th into th e

p owe r o f a nge r,

”&c . They say ,

A m an should av o id the se sin; e vils : L ust, anger,ava rice , pleasure , pride , and rashness ; fo r, fre e o f.

these , h e m ay be happy .

’

Th e pe a cock k ing repl ied,— So , m iniste r, this is thyde te rm ina tion

,is it They say,

" I‘

h e best qualities for a m in iste r are , justice ,tho ro ugh investiga tio n ,

wise de te rm ina tio n , firm ness,

and se cre cy.

’

S ir, sa id th e m iniste r in reply,

R ashn ess in a ny unde rtaking should no t be, p er

m itted ; fo r th e wa nt o f due investiga tion is th e

founda tion o fth e g re a te st m isfo rtunes. Tha t succe sswhich m e rit is de se rving o f, a ttendeth of itse lf uponh im wh o a c te th with due delibe ra tio n .

’

The n, if wha t I say is worthy o f atte ntio n, pe a ceshould be co ncluded fo r,

‘ A lthough four m e ans are m e ntione d fo r th e

a ccom pl ishm e nt of th e wo rk, th e re sult o f th e wh o lenum be r is un iting in pe a ce .

’


27 0 27 15 H ITO P A D E SA

I

form e r,still suspe cting som e thing, Sa id to h is own

m in iste r, Know-all,—This again m ust be som e spy or

o the r com ing to"

im po se upon us ! P lease your H ighness, replied Know-all, laughing as h e spo ke , the re isgre at room fo r suspicion, fo r th is sam e noble p e rsonwh o is com ing is o ne wh o c an se e a great way e lsesuspicion , which is the proof of a we ak m ind, sh o uldnev e r be indulged .

‘ A wary goose having be en once de ce ived by a n

e nem y, wh ilst sitting in a ve ry thick shade , in a lake ,loo king afte r th e lotus plant

,n o m o re rega rde th th e

coo ling flowe r which is d istressed by th e appe a ranceo fday, and afraid o fth e sta rs.1 Thus it is with th e

p eople ofthis world ; hav ing be en once de ce iv ed , theysuspe ct de ce it in truth itse lf!

’

Then , continued th e m iniste r, let a present, consistingo f jewe ls, rich dre sses, and th e l ike , th e best we c a n

'

affo rd,be provided fo r h im as a com plim ent. This

be ing done accord ingly, th e m iniste r, Know-all, we n t

o ut a nd re ce ive d th e vulture , F ar-se e , in front o f th eca stle , with eve ry m ark o f re spe ct ; a nd prese ntlyconducted h im into th e presence o f th e roya l go o se ,whe re h e was pe rm itted to be se a ted in a cha ir o f

sta te . Gre a t m in iste r, sa id Know-all, addressinghim se lf to th e v ulture , now dispose of these your

Allud mg to h is nam e F ar~see .

A lo tus, wh i ch spre ads itsblo ssom s only m th e n igh t ,

FABLE S A N D P R O VE R B S . 2 7 1

dom inions a cc o rding to your wish ! E ven so adde dth e roya l goose . S o be it ! repli ed th e vulture ; but,sa id h e , at present m uch nego tia tio n is unne cessary

I

fo r they say,

O ne should re ce ive th e cove tous with gifts, th eproud with jo ine d ha nds, a nd th e like toke ns o f subm ission

,th e igno ra nt with passages o f poe try

, and

th e wise a nd le arned with whateve r is su itable to

the ir characte r.’

A frie nd should be re ce ived with since rity,re la

tio ns with resp e ct,wo m en with gifts and com plim e nts,and o the rs with wha teve r is pro pe r.’

The n le t pe a ce be p rese ntly co ncluded, tha t th e m ost’

illustrious king Chitra -va rna m ay dep a rt, added th evulture . Info rm us, sa id th e m in iste r Know-all

, h ow

pe a ce is to be m a de . H ow m any spe cie s o f c o nne ctions a nd a lliance s a re the re demanded th e k ing . I

a m abo ut to te ll yo u, sa id th e vulture , so ple ase toattend

Whe n a king ha th be en o v e rcom e by o ne stro nge rthan him se lf, no furthe r o ppositio n should be m adea nd th e unfortuna te p a rty sho uld sue fo r pe ace withallpo ssible e xpeditio n.

Those wh o are a cqua in te d with th e na ture of

2 7 2 TH E H ] TO P A D E SA

form ing conne ctions a nd all iances, de clare thata re sixte en spe cies, thus denom inated

Kapala,U p a h ara ,

Santana,Sang-ga ta,U p anyasa ,

P ra te ek ara ,

Sa ng-yog a ,P urush antara ,

‘Th e Kapala un io n lS unde rstood to be that whe reth e pa rties sim ply form a c o nne c tio n upon a n equa lfo o ting. Th e U p ah ara is when the re is a gift fromo ne o fth e part ies.

‘ Th e Santana un io n is conce ived to be tha t info rm ing which o n e o f th e parti es de live re th up h is

fam ily as a pre lim inary. Th e Sang-gata a llia nce isd e cla red to be tha t which is form e d with worthy m e n

upon th e foundation o ffriendship,‘Which is no t to be broke n by any a ccidents,

whose purpose s a re th e sam e in prosp e rity and

a dve rsity, and th e m e asure of whose dura tion is th ele ngth oflife .

‘ This Sang-ga ta unio n, be cause of its superiore xce llence , m ay be com pa red to gold a nd by o the rs,wh o are acqua inted with th e doctrine of fo rm ingc onne ctions, it is called th e golden union .

”

A drishtta-na ra ,A d ish tta ,

A tm a-dishtta ,U p agrah a ,

P arikraya ,

Uch-chinna,P arabh o o sh ana ,

Skando p a neya .



h is e nem y fo r a fine o f a portio n o f h is lands,it is

denom ina te d A d ish tta .

‘Th e co njunction fo rm e d with one ’s own a rm y t 18

ca lle d A tm a -d ish tta a nd tha t fo r th e prese rv a tion of

l ife , is denom ina ted U p a grah a .

Whe n a m o ie ty, o r e ve n th e who le , o fth e tre asureis surre nde re d to save th e rest o f th e prope rty, th etre a ty is styled P a rikraya ; a nd if th e conside ra tio nbe th e m o st valuable pa rt of th e lands, th e te rm is

Uch-chinna .

When th e purchase of pe ace is m ade wrth a g ift o f

th e who le o f th e fruits o f th e e a rth,it is calle d

P arabh o o sh ana a nd,la stly

, when by a gift of th e

fru itswhich ha ve be e n g a th e red, willingly borne U po n

th e sho ulde r, Sk a ndh o p aneya .

‘ The re a re also the se fo ur d istinctions o f allianceTha t o f re ciproca l a ssista nce , tha t o f frie ndship ,th a t ofre la tio nship, a nd that which is purchased w itha gift .”

‘ It is th e opin ion o f tha t a llia nce a nd

assista nce m e an th e sam e . The re a re m a ny m odeso f a ll iance by g ifts ; but these are allreje cte d by

friendship .

Th e co nque ror, from h is be ing th e strongest, isno t wo nt to re tre a t without having ga ined som ething ;

it Th e nature of thlS c om p a c t is no t e asrly to be asc e rta med, fo r th e

nam e g iv en to 1t do es no t e x pla ln 1t.

Vte eh asp ate e , th e Guru o r spm tualdirec tor ofth e go od spm ts.

F A B L E S A’

N p P RO VE RB S. 27 5

whe nc e no othe r m ode tha n th e U p ah ara is knownto h im .

’

T h e m in iste r Know-all replied, —He a r this !

To say, This is o ne of us,or this is a strange r,

is th e m o de ofestim ating practise d by trifling m inds.

T o those o f m ore ge ne rous principles, th e wholeworld is but as o ne fam ily

A ga in

H e wh o regarde th anothe r’s wife a s h is m othe r,anothe r’s goods as clods of e arth, a nd allm ankind ashim se lf

,is a philosophe r.’

Y o u are a philosophe r,said th e royal goose to th e

vulture,a nd the refore I desire you will point out

wha t is to be done in this affa ir. Your H ighness isple ased to com plim ent, replie d th e m iniste r F ar-se e .

Th e po e t says,

What nam e sh all we give to h im wh o inhabite tha body destitute of justice , when that body, to dayo r to-m orrow,

is subje ct to de ath by th e feve r ofsickness o r sorrow

‘Whe n we‘

consider this world in th e light of ath irsty de e r in a m om ent to be destroyed, it is prop e rto form conne ctions with good people , fo r th e sakeof v irtue , and fo r th e sake of happiness.

’

Then, co ntinued th e vulture , th e business should bese ttled a ccording to this saying

,wh ich corresponds

with m y own opinion,


‘ Truth be ing we ighed aga inst a thousand A swam edha sa crifice s, was found to be o f m o re couse

que nc e th an th e whole thousand offe rings.

’

Whe refore , le t th e nam e o fTruth be th e divine p receden t fo r bo th a nd e a ch o f us a nd let th e a llian cebe twe en usbe tha t which is distingu ishe d by th e titleofTh e Golden Un io n !

Th e m in iste r Know-all having sign ified h is ap p robatio n o f th e pro po sed te rm s

,F a r-se e was co m pli

m ented with a p re se nt o f rich cloth and jewe ls ; a ndbe ing e x ce ed ingly rejo rc ed a t th e event of h is

n egot ia tio ns, h e took h is le ave of th e roya l go o se ,and re turne d with th e m in iste r . Know-allinto th epresence of h is own sove re ign . Th e pe a cock kingra tified th e pe a ce , a nd, a t th e instance o f th e vulture ,e nte re d into a co nve rsation w ith Know-all, in wh ichh e pa id h im m a ny co m plim ents ; at th e conclusiono fwhich th e latte r h ad leave to depa rt, a nd h e p re

se ntly repa ired to th e cam p of th e roya l goose .

Th e m iniste r F ar-se e now te lls h is m a ste r, that a sthe ir designs we re happily accom plished, it wa sadvisable to d ire ct the ir m arch towards hom e , th e

m ounta ins of Vindhya . H is advice was followed,and th e whole a rm y a rrived at the ir resp e ctive h a bitatio ns to e njo y in peace those fru its the ir he a rtsm o st longed fo r.


GEORGE ROUTLEDGE SONS’ CATALOGUE.

NATURA L HISTORY— Z O O L OGY.

R o utle dg e’

s Illustra te d N a turalH isto ry . B y th e R ev . G.

WO O D , M A . W i th m o re th a n 1 500 Illustra tio ns by C o mm a s , o u r,

H a nn i so v Wa rn, WO O D , Z wsc x a n , a nd o th e rs Thre e Vol u r-ro yal.clo th , p ri c e £ 2 23 . T h e Volum e s a re also sold se ara tely, Viz am m a h a ,wi th Go o Illustra ti o ns, x 4 : B i rds, Wi th 500 I ustrati ons, 1 4 s. R e p tiles,F i sh es, a nd Inse c ts, 4 o o Illustra ti o ns, 1 4 3 .

R o utle dg e’

s Illustra te d H isto ry o f M a n . B e ing an A c c o unto fthe M a nn ers a nd C usto m s o fth e U nc rv rlise d R a c e s o f M e n B y th eR e v J . G WO O D , M A . , F L S . W i th m o re tha n j o o O rig in alIllustra ti o nsby Z wa c x nn, D AN BY, A N GAS , H A N D L a v . a nd o th e rs, e ngra v e d by th eB ro th e rs D A L Z IE L . VolI A fri c a , u s VolII A ustrali a , N ew Z e aland,P olynesia, A m eri ca , A sia , a nd A nc i e nt E uro p e , 1 4 3. Two Vols , superro yal8v o , clo th , 283.

Th e Im p erialN a turalH isto ry‘

. B y th e R e v . J. G. WO O D .

1 000 p ages, wi th 500 Pla tes, sup e r-ro yal8v o , clo th ,A n Illustra te d N a turalH isto ry . B y th e R e v . J

'

. G. WO O D .

W i th 500 Illustra ti o ns by WI L L IAM H a nv a v , a nd 8 full-page Pla tes byWO L F a nd H a aui so n WE IR . P o st 8 v c , clo th , g ilt edge s, 6a .

A P i c ture N a turalH isto ry A dap ted fo rYo ung R eaders. B yth e R e v J . 0 WO O D Wi th 7 00 Illustra tio ns by Wow , WE I R , & c . 4 0 ,clo th, g ilt e dges, 7 : 6d.

T h e P o p ular N a turalH isto ry . B y th e R e v . J . G. W O O D .

Wi th H undreds o f Illustra tio ns, p ri c e 7 3 . 6d .

T h e B o y’

s O wn N a turalH isto ry. B y th e R e v . J . G.WO O D .

Wi th 4 00 Illustra ti o ns, 3: 6d . clo th .

1

S k e tc h e s a nd A n e c d o te s o f A n im alL ife . B y th e R e v . J . G.

Wo o D Illustra te d by H AR R IS O N WE IR . F c a p . 8v o , clo th , 3: 64 .

A n im alT ra its a n d C h a ra c te risti cs B y th e R e v . J .G. WO O D .

Illustrated by H .WE IR . F c ap clo th , 3:

T h e P o ultry B o o k . B yW. B . TE GE TM E IE R , F . Z S . A ssistedby m a ny E m i ne nt A uth o ri ti e s Wi th 30 full-p age Illustra ti o ns o f th e

d iffere nt Va ri e ti e s, drawn fro m L ife by H AR R IS O N W E IR , and p ri nte d in

C oloursb L E IGHTO N B ro th ers a nd num e ro us Woodc uts Im p e ri al8 v o ,h alf-boun p ri c e a re .

T h e S ta n da rd o f E x c elle n c e in E x h ibitio n P o ultry . ByW. B . Tasm a ni a n. F .Z .S. F c a p clo th , 2: 6d

l

GE O R GE R O U TL E D GE S O N S’

N A TU R A L H ISTO R Y, c onti nued .

P ig e o ns. B y W. B . Ta o nru a i ii ii , F .Z S . , A ssisted by m anyE m i nentF anc i ers. W ith 3 7 C olo ured Pla tes, drawn fro m L ife by H AR R ISO NWa nt, and p ri nted by L u c i a

-O N B ro thers and num e ro usWo odcuts. In

p erial8y o , half-bound , m s. 64 .

T h e H o m in g o r C a rrier P ig e o n : Its H istory, M anagem ent,and M e th od ofTra im ng . B y W. B . Tm n

’

ru m u , F , Z .S. 13. bo ards.

C o nta iningIA ne cdo tes of B ud L ife ,

m ore esp e c ially E agles, Vulture s, H awks, ag p ie s, R oo ks, C rows, R a v e ns,P arro ts, H um m i n B irds, O stri c h es. &c & c B y th e R ev . J . G. Wo o D.

Wi th Illustra ti ons y H a n so n Wm . Clo th gilt, 3s. 6d .

B ritish B irds’ E g gs a nd N e sts. B yth e R e v . J C . A TK IN SO N .

W ith O riginalIllustra ti o ns by W. S . C O L EMAN , printed i n C olours. F ca p ..

clo th , gilt edges, p ri c e 33 . 6d .

Th e A n gle r N a turalist. A P opular H isto ry o fB ritish F resh

wa ter F ish . B y H . C uow O N D E L E v B N N B L L . P o st 8y o ,

B ritish C o n c h olo g y. A F am ili ar H i story ofth e M O L L U SC S ofth e B ri tish Isles. B y G. B . Sownnnv . Wi th 20 P a g es of C oloured Pla tes.embrac m g 1 50 subj e c ts. C lo th , 53.

Th e C ale nda r o fth e M o uth s. Giv ing an A c c ountofth e Plants,B i rds, a nd Inse c ts tha t m ay be e x ted e a c h M o nth . Wi th 1 00 Illustrati o ns. Clo th gilt. 3s. 6d . ; C h ea p d i ti o n, as.

W h ite’

s N aturalH isto ry o f S elbo rn e . N ew E d i tion. E ditedb R e v J.G.WO O D , With abo v e 200 Illustra ti o nsbyW. B a nv uv . F eap . 8 v o ,o th , 3: 6d .

D o g s a nd th e ir W ays. Illustrated by num ero us A ne c do tesfrom A uth enti c Sourc e s By th e R e v . C H A R L E S Wi L L i iuus. With Illustra ti ons. F cap 8v o , clo th , .3r. 6d .

S a g a c ity o fA n im als. With 60 E ngrav ingsby H A R R ISO N WE IR .

Sm all4 t0 , 33. 6d .

T h e Yo un g N a turalists : B y M rs. L O U D O N . I6m o , clo th ,Illustra te d, u . M .

T h e C h ild ’s F irst B o o k o f N a turalH isto ry. B y M iss B O N D .

Wi th 100 Illustra tions. rom o , clo th , i s 64 .

Th e C o m m o n O bje c ts o f th e C o untry . B y th e R ev . J . G.

WO O D Wi th Illustra ti o nsby C O L B M A N c o nta in i ng rso of th e“ O bj

be autifully p ri nted i n C olo urs. C lo th. g ilt edges, p ri c e 33 . 6d .

Also 11 C um E D ITIO N , pric e i n , in fa ncy boards, wi th Pla i n Plates.

C om m o n B ritish B e e tle s. B y th e R e v . J. G. WO O D , M A .

Wi th Wo o d c uts a nd Twelv e p ages ofPla tes of allth e Va rie ti es, be autifti ilyprm

6t

§d i n C oloursby E D i D E v a ns. F c ap. v8 v o , clo th , gilt edges, pric e

33. o

W e stwo o d’

s (P ro fe sso r) B ritish B utte rflie s a n d th e irTra n s.

fo rm a ti ons. With num ero us Illustra ti ons, bea utifully C oloured by fl u id.Im p erial81 0, clo th , u s. 64 .

y F e a th ered F rie nds.


GE O R GE R O U TL E D GE é° S O N S

F L O WE R S, P L A N TS, A N D GA R D E N IN G, conti nued .

T h e K itc h e n a n d F lo we rGa rde n , o r, Th e C ulture in th e o penund o fR o o ts,Vege tables, H e rbs, and F ru its, and o fB ulbo us, Tube ro us,

thro ns R o o te d , a nd Shm bby Flowers B y E UGE N E SE BASTIAN D E L AM E R . Fc ap clo th , g ilt edge s, p ri c e 33 . 6d . i

TH E K ITC H E N GAR D E N , se p a ra te , Is.

TH E F L O WE R GAR D E N , se p a ra te , rs.

T h e C o tta g e Gard e n . H ow to L ay it out, and C ultiv ate it toA dv an ta ge . B y A N D R E w M E i itL E . B o ards, rs.

W ind o w Gard e n in g , fo rTown a nd C o untr C omgiled ch iefly

fo r th e use o fth e Wo rk ing Classes B y A N D R EW E i it L E . o a rds, rs.

’Gre e n h o use B o tany C o nta ining a F am ilia r and T e c hnic al

D e sc ri p ti o n o f th e E xo tic Pla nts i ntroduc e d i nto th e Gre enh ouse . B yA GN E S C AT L O W. Wi th so P age s ofC olo ured Illustra ti o ns. 53.

W ild F lowe rs. H ow to S e e a nd H ow to Gath er th em . W i thR em a rks o n th e E c o no m i c ala nd M ed i c malU ses o four N a ti v e Plants. B ySPE N C E R THO M SO N , M D A N ew E d i ti o n , e n tirely R e v i se d , wrth ryr

Wo o d c uts, a nd 8 la rge C oloure d Illustra ti ons by! N O E L H UM PH R E YS F c a p .

8v o , p ri c e 33. 6d clo th , gilt e dgesAlso , p ri ce as. i n bo a rds, a C HEAP E D ITIO N , Wi th pla in Pla te s.

H aun ts o f W ild F lo we rs B y A N N E P R ATT . C olo uredPla tes. Clo th , gilt e dge s, 3: 6d .

“J Pla in Pla te s, bo a rds, as.

C o m m o n W a ysid e F lo wers. B y TH O M A S M IL L E R . Wi thC olo ured Illustra ti o nsby B IR K B

‘

I‘ F O STE R . 4 to , clo th gilt, i os.

B ri tish F e rns an d th e A lli e d Pla n ts. C o m pri sm g th e ClubM o sse s, P e p p e rwo rts, a nd H o rse ta ils B y THO M AS M O O R E F L S Wi thP a ges ofC olo ured Illustra tio ns, embra c m g 5x w e C lS Clo th , se.

O ur W o o dla nds, H e a ths , a n d H e dg e s A P o pular D ese rts.ti o n ofTre es, Sh rubs, W ild F ru i ts, &c wi th N o ti c e s o fth e ir Inse c t Inh ata nts. B y \V. S C O L E M AN , M E S L W ith 4 : Illustra ti o ns printed in

C olours o n E igh t Pla te s F c a p p ri c e 3: 6d clo th , gilt e dge sA C HE AP E D ITIO N , wi th pla in Pla tes, fa nc y boards, 1 :

B ritish F e rns a n d th e i r A lli e s. C om pnsrng th e C lub-M o sses,P e p e rwo rts, a nd H o rse ta ils B y T H O M AS M O O R E W i th 4 0 Illustrati onsby S . C O L E M AN , be autifully p ri nted i n C olours. F c a p . 8v o , clo th , gilte dges,a

" A C H EAP E D ITIO N , wi th C oloured Pla tes, pri ce sr., fa ncy bo a rds.

Pla n ts o f th e W o rld ; o r, A B o ta nic alE x cursio n R o und th eWo rld B y E M C E d i te d by C HAR L E S D A U B E N v , M D .

, F .R S &c .

Wi th 20 P age s o fC oloure d Pla tes o fSc e ne ry . Clo th , 53 .

P alm s a n d th e ir A lli es. C o nta ining a F am ili ar A c c ount ofth e irStruc ture , D istributi o n , H isto ry, P ro p e rti e s a nd U ses a nd a c om le toL ist o f allth e sp e c i es i ntro duc e d into o ur Ga rde ns B y B E R THO L D E E

M AN N , P h .D M A F L S W ith so P age s of C oloured Illustra ti ons, c inbra c i ng inany v an s " C lo th . 5:

B O O K S O N S C IE N CE , é't'

.

F L OWE R S , P L A N TS. A N D GA R D E N IN G, c onti nued.

P ro fitable Pla n ts'

A D escrip ti o n of th e B o tani caland C om m eretalC h ara cte rs ofth e ri nc i palA rti cles o fV stable O rig in, used fo r F o od,Clo th ing , Tanni ng, ye ing , B uild i ng , M C ine, P erfum ery, &c . B yTHO M AS C . A R C HE R , C olle c tor fo r th e D e p artm ent ofA ppli ed B o ta ny inth e C rystalP ala c e, Syde nham . Wi th so P ages of C oloured Illustrauo ns,e m bra c ing ro 6 Pla tes. Clo th , 53.

Th e L an gua g e o f F lowers. B y th e R ev . R . TYA S. W ithC oloured Pla tesby K R O N I-IE IM . Ito , 7 s 64 .

L a n gua g e o fF lowers. C om p iled and E dited by M rs. L . B U R K E .

C lo th elegant, a: 6d

C HE APE R B o o rcs, rs. and 64 .

self/veg.

D isc o v eri e s a nd Inv entio ns o f th e N in e te enth C e ntury . ByR O BE R T R O UTL E D GE , B .se . and F .C .S . Wi th m a ny Illustrations, a nd a

be autifulC olo ure d Pla te , 7 3 , 6d .

S c ie n c e in S p o rt m a de P h ilo so p h y in E arne st. B y R O B E R T:R O UT L E D GE . P o st 8v c , clo th , gilt e dge s, 9 ,

T h e B o ys’B o o k o f S c ie n c e . Includi ng th e Suc c essfulP e rfo rm

anc e o f Sc i entific E xperim ents._4 7 o E ngra v i ngs. B y P rofessor P E PPE R ,

la te of th e P olyte chn i c . C lo th , gilt edges, 53,T h e B o o k o f M e tals. Including P erso nalN arrativ es ofVisits to

C o al, L e ad , C o p p er and T i n M ines ; w i th a la rge number o f in te resti ngE xp erim e nts. Illustrati ons. B y P rofesso r P E PPE R , la te of th e P olyte c hm c . P o st v o , clo th , gilt edge s, 53 .

T h e M i c ro sc O p e : Its H istory, C o nstruction, and A p lic atio n.

B e igg

a F am iliar Introduc ti o n to th e U se O f th e Instrum en an th e Studof i c ro sc O p i c elSc i enc e . B y A B E ! H O GG, F . L .S F .M .S. Wi

upwards of500 E ngra v ingsa nd lo ured Illustra tio ns by Turn s: WE ST.E igh th E di ti on , crown 8v o , clo th , 7 : 6d .

T h e C o m m o n O bj e c ts o f th e M ic ro sc o p e . B y th e R e v . J. G.

WO O D Wi th Twelv e P a es o f Pla tes by T U F F B N WEST, embra c i ng upwards of 4 00 O bj e c ts. T e Illustra ti o ns printed in C olours. F c ap 8v o ,3s 6d cloth , gilt e dges

A C HE AP E D ITIO N , with Pla in Pla tes, 1 : fancy boards.

T h e O rbs o f H e a v e n 3 o r, Th e Planetary and StellarWo rlds.A P o pular E xp o siti o n ofth e gre a t D isc o v eri es and Th e ori es o fM o d e rn

B y 0 M M ITC HE L L . W ith num erous Illustra ti o ns. C ro wnv o , ” O

P o p ularA stro n o m y ; o r, T he Sun, Planet, Satellites, and C om ets.

Wig}.Illustra ti o ns ofth e ir T elesc opi c A pp e aranc e . B y 0 . M . M ITC HE L L .

as.

T h e S to ry o f th e P e asa nt-B o y P h ilo so p h er. F ounded o n th eE arly L ife of F E R GUS O N the Astro nom e r. B y H E N R Y M AYHEW. Illustrated. Clo th gilt, 3s. 6dl

GE O R GE R O U TL E D GE é? S O N S'

SC IE N C E , confirm ed

T h e Vi m i tte n s o r S c ien c e ; T h e Sto ry ofYou H U M PH R EYD A W , th e C o rnish A o th eca ry

’s B oy , who taug ht H i N a turalP h ilo

so p hy B y H E N R Y A v H Ew. Illustrated. Clo th g ilt, 3s. 6d.

T h e B o o k o fTra d e s, and th e To olsused in Th em . B y O ne ofth eA uth ors of E n d

’sWo rksho ps.” Wi th num ero us Illustrations. Sm all

4 to , clo th , gilt g es, 3s. 6d .

W o nd erfulInv en tio n s, from th e M ariner’s C om to th e

E lec tric Telegraph C able . B y JO HN TIM E S. Illustrated. ost 8v o , 53.

A M a nual o f F re t-C uttin g a nd W o o d-C arv in g . B y S irTHO M AS SE ATO N , X.C B C rown 8v o , clo th , Ir. a

T h e L aws o f C o ntra st o f C olo urs, and th e ir A p lic ation toth e A rts. N ew E d i ti o n , wi th a n im p ortant Se c tio n o n A rm y lo th i ng . B yM E C a m sur. Transla te d by JO HN SPAN TO N . Wi th C olo ured Illustratio ns. C rown 8v o , 3: 64 . clo th gilt.

Ge olo gy fo r th e M illi o n . B y M A R GA R E T P L U E S. E dited byE DWAR D WO O D , F .G S . W i th 80 Illuttrati

o ns. F cap. , pic ture boards, rs.

A M a nualo f W e a th e r-c a sts and S to rm P ro g n o stic s o n

L and and Se a : or, Th e S igns wh ereby to judge of C o m ing Wea th er.

A dapted for allC ountri e s. B y A N D R EW ST E IN M E Tz. B oards, Is.

S c i e n tific A m use m en ts. E dited by P rofesso r P E P P E R . Io o

Wo odcuts. rs bo ards ; rs 6d . , clo th gilt.E le c tri c L igh ting . Translated from th e F rench o f L e C omte

Th . du M o nc el. B y R O B E R T R O U T L E DGE , B Sc . (L o a d F .C 5. C rown 8mclo th, at. 64 .

HISTO RY.

TH E H IS TO R IC A L WO R K S O F WM H . P R E S C O TT.

T h e H i sto ry o f th e R e ign o f F erd in an d a n d Isabella th eC a th oli c ofSp a i n B y WI L L IAM H . P R E SC O TT. Wi th Ste elP ortra i ts.Two Vols 8v o clo th , pri c e i or.

D o . Th re e Vols. p o st8v o , clo th , to : 6d0 .

D o . D o . O ne Vol. c rown 8v c , clo th , 6 4 .

H isto ry o f th e C o nqu e st o f M e x ic o . W ith a P relim inaryView ofth e A n c i e nt M e xi c a n C i i ' ili sa tion, a nd th e L ife o f th e C o nque ro r,F E R N AN D O C O R TE S B y WI L L IAM H . P R E S C O TT. W i th P ortra i ts on

Ste el Two Vols. 8v c , clo th , tor.

D o . D o . T hre e Vols p o st 8v o , clo th , To: 64 .

D o . D o . O ne Volcrown 8v o , clo th , 64

H isto ry o f th e C o nque st o f P eru. With a P relim inaryVi ewo f th e C i v ilisa ti o n of th e Inc as B y WIL L IAM H . P R E SC O TT . Wi th Ste el

Two Vols. 8v o , clo th , to r.

D o . D o . T hre e Vols. p o stsv c , clo th , ror. 6d .

D o . D o . O ne Vol. crown 8v o , cloth ,


GE O R GE R O U TL E D GE é ' S O N S'

H ISTO R Y, confirm ed.

B a n c ro ft’s H isto ry o f th e U n ite d S ta tes, from th e D isc o v ery

o f th e Am erican C ontine nt to th e D e clara tio n of Independenc e in 1 7 7 6 .Se v en Vols. teal) . 8v o , R o xburgh e , 1 53.

T h e H isto ry o f F ra n c e , from Clo v is, A . D . 4 81 , to th e R epublic ,1 87 0 . B y E MI L E D E B O N N E C H O SE . A N ew E d iti on, wi th c om ple te Inde x .P o st 8v o , clo th , pri ce 7 s. 6d .

E x tra o rd inary P o p ular D elusio ns, a nd th e M a dn e ss o fC rowds. B y C HAR L E S M A C itA v , L L .D . Th e M iSS i SS i p i S c h em e—So uthSea B ubble—Tuli pom ania—Alch em y—F ortune Telli ng, c . 3: 6d . clo th.

D e an M ilm a n’s H isto ry o f th e J ews. With M aps and Plans.

C rown 8v e , clo th , 33. 6d .

T h e A ntiquiti es and th e W a rs o f th e J ews. B y

’

F L AVIU sJO SE P H v s. Transla ted byWis. WH IST O H , wi th L ife ofth e A uth or. P o st8v o , 3s. 64 .

T h e S to o f th e R efo rm a ti o n o f th e S i x te e nth C entury .

B y th e c v . J. H . M E R L E D'

A v nIGN B . Tra nsla ted by th e R e v . J O H HGI L L . C rown 8v o , clo th , 3s. 6d .

Vi c to ria H isto ry o f E nglan d , to IS7 6 . B y‘

A R TH U R B A IL E YTHO M SO N . C rown 8v o , wi th 400 E ngra v ings by th e B ro th ers D A L Z IE L .

Cloth gilt, 63.D o . D o . s,6o o Q ue sti o ns on th e abo v e , u . M .

A H isto ry o f E ngla nd , from th e E arli estTim es. B y th e R ev .

JAMES WHITE . C rown 8v o , clo th , 3: 6d .

Goldsm ith ’s H isto ry o f E n gland . A N ew E d iti o n, with

C o ntinua tio n to th e D ea th ofWE L L IN GT O H . Wi th P o rtra i ts of allth eSo v e re igns, and Q uesti o ns to ea ch C h a p ter. Clo th , 2

’

s.

L a ndm arks to th e H isto ry o f E ngland . B y th e R ev . JA M E SWH ITE . C lo th , at.

A H a n dy H isto ry o f E ngla nd for th e Yo ung . By H . W .

B o r

gia “ . Wi th n o Illustra tions, engra v ed by th e B roth ers D A L Z IE L .

as.

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Glim p ses o f o ur Isla n d H o m e . B e ing th e E arly H istorylo f

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P erc y’s T ales o f th e K in gs a nd Q ue e ns o f E ngla nd.

N ew and Im pro v e d E d i tion. W ith Illustra tionsby JO H N GIL BE R T. Eca p .8v o , clo th gilt, 3s. 6d .

A Sum m ary o f E n glish H isto ry, from th e R om an C onquestto 387 0 . With O bse rv a ti o ns o n th e P rogress ofA rt, Sc i e nc e , a nd C i v ilina tio n, and uestio ns adap ted to e a c h P p h . F or the use ofS ch o ols.By A M B L IA%. E DWA R D S. In tam e , bo a pric e 64 .

B O O /(S O N B IO GR A P H Y, (SJ-w.

H ISTO R Y, can tm uea’

.

Gre a t B a ttle s o f th e B ritish A rm y , includ i ng th e Ind ianR e v olt a nd A byssm ia . Wi th 8 Illustra ti o ns by WI L L IAM H AR VE Y. P o st

8v o , clo th ,

Gre a t B attle s o f th e B ritish N a v y , including Sv e abo rg , 1855.

B y L i eut C . R . L ow. W i th 8 C oloure d Pla tes, c rown 8v o , clo th , 5:

T h e Gre a t S ie g e s o f H isto ry , includi ng th e S i eg es o fP ari s.

C olo ured Illustra ti o ns 5s.

H isto ry fo r B o ys. B y J. G. E DGA R . 3s. 64 .

S h ipwre c ks a n d D isa ste rs a t S e a . B y W. H . K IN GST O N .

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B a i n e s’

H isto ry o f L a n c a sh ire . A N ew E d i ti o n. E d ited by

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wh ole C o unty . P ri c e £ 3 1 3: 6d o r o n L a rge P a p er, (I5 srE labora te S ta tisti c alT a bles q/ a v e ry w eft ! k i nd ha v e been a dded .

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Vols c rown 8v o , clo th , 7 :

Gre g so n’s P o rtfoli o o f F ra gm e n ts relativ e to th e H isto ry and

A n ti qu itie s, T o p o gra p hy and Ge n e alo g i esofth e C o unty P ala ti ne and D uc h yo f L anca ste r E m belli sh e d Wi th num ero us E ng ra v mgs of Vi ews, Se a ts,A rm s, Seals, and A ntiqu i ti e s Th ird E d i ti o n, W i th A dd i ti o ns a nd Im ro v e

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T h e H isto ry o f th e O rig in alP arish o fW h alley an d H o n o r

o f Cli th e ro e C o nta ini ng th e O rigi nalIllustra ti o ns. A N ew E d i ti on, be ingF o urth , of th e la te D r WH ITAK E R ’

S well-k nown a nd v aluable Work .

Two Vols., Sm allP ap e r, £ 4 1 4s. 6d. L a rge P a p er, £ 6 1 6: 6d.

BIOGRAPHY.

M e n O f th e T im e : A D i c ti o nary of C o ntem p o rary B io graph y ofE m i ne n t L i v mg C h ara c te rs ofbo th Sexe s' T e n th E d i ti on

vth oro ug hly re

Vised, a nd brough t down to Janua ry, 1 87 9. O ne th i c k 01. c rown 8v o ,Clo th , 1 5:

Ge o rg e M o o re . A M em o ir, from th e F am ily P ap ers, by D r.SAM UE L SM I L E S . Wi th P o rtra i t C rown 8v o , clo th , 63.

T h e L ife o f F re de ri c k th e Gre a t. Wi th 500 Illustratio ns.R o yal8v o , 7 : 6d.

GE O R GE R O U TL E D GE 6 ° S O N S’

B IO GR A P HY c ontm ued.

H o m e’s L ife o f N ap ole o n . Illustrated by H O R A C E VE R N E T.

R oyal8v o , 7 3. 6d .

H o m e s a nd H aun ts o fth e B ritish P o e ts. B yWM . H O WITT .

Wi th Illustra ti o ns. P ost 8v o , 7 s 6d .

F em ale S o v e re ig ns. B y M rs. JA M E SO N N ew E d i ti o n , u i th

P ortrait. C rown 8v c , clo th , 33. 64 .

T h e Q ue e ns o f S o c i e ty . B y GR A C E and P H IL IP WH A R T O N .

Wi th i 6 Illustra ti onsby D O Y L E , &c . P o st 8v o , clo th, 3: 6d .

T h e W i ts a n d B e a ux o f S o c i e ty . B y GR A C E and P H I L IPWHAR TO N . i 6 Illustra ti o ns. P ost 8v o , clo th, 3: 6 4 .

M em o irs o fGre a t C o m m a n d e rs. B y G. P . R . JA M E S . W i thC olo ured Pla te s. P o st 8 v o , sr.

F ro m C a d e t to C olo n el. Th e R e c o rd ofa L ife o fA ctiv e Serv ic ei n Ind i a , A fgh anistan, and duri ng th e M utiny. B y Sir THO M AS S E ATO N ,

K G.B 3s, 6d .

T h e L ife o f C ard in alR ic h eli eu . By W. R O B SO N . C rown 8v o ,s: C h ea p er E d i ti o n , as 6d

M em o irs o f C elebra te d W o m en . By G. P . R . JA M ES . P o st8v o , 3: 64 .

H alf-H o urs with th e B e st L e tter-W rite rs a nd A utobi o

g ra pbers. B y C HAR L E S K N IGHT. C rown 8v c , Cle th ,

O nc e up o n a T im e : Glim pses of th e P ast. B y C H A R L E SK N IGHT. 33 64 .

B o swell’s L ife o f D r J o h nso n and T o ur to th e H ebride s.

Wi th m any Illustra ti o ns. F i v e Vols po st 8v o , clo th , p ri c e 1 3: 6d .

B o swell’s L ife o f D r. J o h nso n . Two Vols. , clo th g ilt, Ior.

B o swell’s L ife o f D r. J o h nso n . C om plete in O ne VO L , 33. 6d.(R outk dg

‘

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sS ta nda rd L ibra ry .)

T h e L ife o fJ o e Grim ald i, th e c elebrated Clown E d ited by

C HAR L E S D i c it E N S, a nd Illustrated by GE O R GE C R U IR SH A N E . C rown 8v o ,clo th , pri c e as. 6d . bo a rds, as.

C um berla nd W o rth i e s. B y H E N R Y L O N SD A L E , E sq., M .D .

Vol. Igri m e C Gv a N a nd WM B L A M IR E , M P

Vola . irJAM E S R . G GR AHAM , B a rt o fN e th e rbyVol. 3. Th e H O WAR D S, R e v . R . M A TT H E ws, JO HN R oo x E , a ph in

O SE P H H U D D A R T

Vol. 4 . M . WO R D SWO R TH , S B L A M IR E , T . T i C ItE L L , J C . B L A M IE E , theL O SHE S , D r A D D ISO N .

Vol. 6. G GR AHAM , F R S A B R AHAM F L E TC HE R , E . T R O UGHTO N , a.

and Te n O th ers. s

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Es Faustus Chronicle of Tee Cid. An, an Pantagruel. Ce, by Machiav