Summary of Chapter 5—Apariksitakaraka

As the title of the fifth tantra suggests, it deals with the effect of an inconsiderate deed. To exemplify the effect of such deed the story of a barber is narrated.¹ 1. The story of a barber: There was a merchant called Manibhadra who had become destitute of wealth. One day he saw a dream by which he learnt 1. kudrstam kuparijnatam kusrutam kupariksitam | tannarena kartavyam napitena'tra yat krtam || Pancatantra, Apariksitakaraka [apariksitakarakam], Katha - 1, verse - 1, p.84.

103 that a Buddhist monk who would come to his house should be beaten on his head by which, he would turn into gold. Next day, morning when he was doing so at the arrival of the monk, a barber came to his house and perceived it. Being allured for the acquisition of gold, he too invited a number of monks to his house and beated them on their heads; but they did not turned into gold. Knowing this, the barber was brought before the king. On being asked by the king the reason of beating the monks, he said, what he had perceived in the house of Manibhadra. Obviously the king decided that he had done inconsiderate deed for which he should be hanged down. Therefore, at the instance of this story, it is clear that a person should not act upon what he has imperfectly seen or known or heard or examined. In other words, king's declaration in the court of law runs thus - "Nothing should be done without proper examination. It should be done after careful investigation. Otherwise it would lead to repentance afterwards." This statement is justified by the story of a brahmin-wife and a mangoose. 2. The story of a brahmin-wife and mangoose : There was a brahmin's wife who loved her new born child. Same day, in house a she mangoose gave birth to young one and nh apariksya na kartavyam kartavyam supariksitam | pascadbhavati santapo brahmanya nakule yatha || Pancatantra, Apariksitakaraka, Katha - 1, verse 17, p.19.

104 died. This woman without making any difference between her child and mangoose fostered them in all respects. One day, she told the mangoose to look after the child, till she would return from collecting the water. After her departure, the mangoose saw a black serpent coming nearer to the child, and it killed the serpent. However in the uproar of fight mangoose mouth was stained in blood. On her return, that woman saw the mangoose with its mouth covered by blood and considered herself that it had killed her child. She grew in anger at it, and beated to its death. After she enters the house she came to know that her child was protected from the serpent by the mangoose. Because of her inconsiderate deed she repented a lot at the death of her mangoose. When her husband came home, he collected what had happend. Addressing to his wife, he said "one should not have too much greed, nor one should give up ones desire altogether.³ In this regard he quotes the story of Cakradhara over powered by excessive greed. 3. The story of Cakradhara : Once four brahmin-sons suffering from poverty, left home and on the way, they met an ascetic called Bhairavananda and expressed the cause of their suffering. Being kind towards 3. atilobho na kartavyo lobham naiva parityajet | atilobha'bhibhutasya cakram bhramati mastake || Pancatantra, Apariksitakarakam, Katha - 1, verse - 21, p.24.

105 them, that yogi gave them four wicks, with the help of which they would get the wealth. So too the first three brahmin-sons got copper, silver and gold respectively with the help of wicks. The fourth one being not contented, proceeded further with a desire to get more valuable wealth than what others had acquired. But as he was moving further, he found a person with a wheel rotating on his head. Surprisingly, when he was to ask about it, instantly that wheel moved over his head. As a result of which, he became static with hunger thirst. Without seeing the fourth one, the third brahmin-son searched for the former and saw him suffering due to the wheel. He said to Cakradhara that it is better to have good sense than learning as such; because good sense is superior to mere study of sciences and the persons wanting in common sense perish, just like three brahmins at the hands of a lion.4 4. The story of three brahmins: In this story, there were four brahmin friends of whom three were well versed in the sastras but had no good sense; the other one was sharp at his intellect but not well versed. While they were going to a king, on the way, they saw the bones of the lion fallen on the ground. Due to their sastric knowledge, they desired to use their knowledge on these bones. One among them 4. ai glad un faun faunur glabatur i buddhihina vinasyanti yatha te simhakarakah || Pancatantra, Apariksitakaraka, Katha - 3, verse - 35, 35, p.40.

106 joined all the bones properly, the second one filled up the skeleton with skin, flesh and blood. The third one when was about to fill in the life into the body, the fourth one came in his way and asked him not to do so, as the lion would come back to life and cause harm to them all. But the third person ignored his words as foolish, and was boastful of his excellence. Consequently the fourth one ascended the tree nearby. However the third one filled the life into the body of a lion, as a result the lion killed him. Therefore, good sense is better than the knowledge of sastra. In a similar manner another story showing the excellence of good sense is narrated by Svarnasiddhi to Cakradhara. The persons though well-versed in Sastras but ignorant of the ways of the world would become butt of redicule as in the case of foolish scholars.5 5. The story of foolish brahmins : There were four brahmins who had completed their course of education. On the way to their native places, they saw a bypass road which made them confused as to which way they should proceed. At the same time, they saw a crowd going to funeral field taking a dead body. Therefore, they opened the 5. api sastresu kusala lokacaravivarjitah | | sarve te hasyatam yanti, yatha te murkhapanditah || Pancatantra, Apariksitakaraka, Katha - 4, verse - 38, p.44.

107 book to find out a solution wherein they saw sentence which they miss interpretend as "that path should be followed which is taken by a large group of men." - "mahajano yena gata- sa panthah ". In this manner these pandits were having bookish knowledge but could not read between the lines and understand it the proper manner. As a result, they were mocked act by the people. Further Cakradhara looking to his pitiable condition said that he is suffering due to the working of ill-fate. In every aspect of life one's destiny stands commanding.6 With regard to this point, Cakradhara quotes the story of two fishes and a frog. 6. The story of two fishes and a frog : There were two fishes and a frog in a lake. Being afraid of fisherman, the frog desired to leave for some other lake. But the other two fishes were not ready to leave the place due to their fast attachment to it. In consequence of this, next day those two fishes were caught by fisherman. Therefore, it is all the working of the fate. Corroborating the statement that "friends" advice should not be ignored." Svarnasiddhi tells another story of a donkey and jackal. 6. araksitam tisthati daivaraksitam, suraksitam daivahatam vinasyati | jivatyanatho'pi vane visarjitah, krtaprayatno'pi grhe na jivati || Pancatantra, Apariksitakaraka, Katha -5, verse - 41, p.49.

108 7. The story of a donkey and jackal : In this story, a donkey, serving a washerman, while roaming, made a friendship with a jackal. and both of them were going to the fields to eat. Once after their eating, donkey desired to sing, which ofcourse was not allowed by jackal. Inspite of this, the donkey did not listen to it but sang loudly. Hearing the sound, the owner of the field came there and beated the donkey without any mercy. Thus donkey suffered the pain because of his not listening to his friend. In like manner Cakradhara said that a man who has no knowledge of descrimination of his own and does not act to the advice of his friend meets with death like a weaver." 8. The story of a weaver : There was a weaver called Mantaraka. One day while engaged in weaving cloth, the wooden tools used in weaving sawed into pieces. He searched for a suitable wood for the instrument and found out a tree which was placed near the sea shore. But tree-god requested him not to cut the tree. Instead of that, he would give him a boon. So, his friend adviced him to ask for kingdom. But, his wife suggested for one more head and two more hands. Accordingly, next day he asked for such boon, due 7. yasya nasti svayam prajna mitroktam na karoti yah | sa eva nidhanam yati yatha mantharakolikah || , Pancatantra, Apariksita-karaka, Katha - 7, verse - 57, p.64.

109 to which he obtained two heads and four arms. Then people of that village considered him to be a demon-like-person and he was beaten to death by the stones. This was happened due to not listening to the friend and lacity of good sense. Looking to his condition Cakradhara speaks that "He who enjoys the sweet fancies about what has not come to pass and what cannot well be expected to be possible, will suffer like the father of Somasarma.8 9. The story of a brahmin : There was brahmin called Svabhava Krpana who had a collection of potfull ground-barley. He decided to preserve it with the help of which he could earn more money by selling it at the time of famine. He went on bestowing the thoughts on the multiplication of riches like sheep, cows, bulls, horses, gold, buildings and son (Somasarma) etc., Being immersed in thoughts he was impelled to kick his wife due to her fault and really he kicked in the air. As a result that pot of barley was broken and fell on him. Thus all thoughts became in vain due to his greed for impossible things. Therefore, Svarnasiddhi remarks that he who does a deed through greed and pays no heed to the result, meets with deceit like a king called Candra. 8. anagatavatim cintamasambhavyam karoti yah | sa eva pandurah sete somasarmapita yatha || Pancatantra, Apariksitakaraka, Katha - 7, verse - 67, p.74.

110 10. The story of the king - Candra: In a palace of the king Candra there lived a group of monkies and a ram. Observing the mischievous deed of the ram, the king of the monkies said that in future a great difficulty would befall them due to the ram. Therefore, it said, it is better to leave for the forest. But as other monkies were not ready to go with the chief. The chief left that place and betook to the forest. In course of time, all these monkies were killed by the king for their fat to be given as medicine to the wounded horses. By knowing this, the chief monkey desired to take revenge against the king. Accordingly, the monkey planned and led all the relatives of the king to the lake excepting the king. Those who entered into the water were eaten up by a demon. Thus all relatives of king were died of greed. 11. The story of Bhadrasena : There was a king named Bhadrasena, who had a daughter called Ratnavati. Once a demon entered into the Ratnavati's room and tried to kidnap her but he failed. After some time, again he came there and heard the words of Ratnavati that a demon is giving trouble daily. By hearing these words, that demon thought that another big demon could be coming here. So he changed into the form of a horse. Later a thief saw the horse and tried to ride. The demon in the form of horse ran with great speed. The thief unable to control it. So he tried to safeguard his life, he held a branch of tree. In the same tree,

111 there was a monkey which was a friend of that demon, saw all these and tried to withhold the horse by giving advice. In the meanwhile thief escaped to save his life. Svarnasiddhi said the words that "let him experience the fruits of his deeds." Then Cakradhara too gave the opinion that by the command of destiny, men obtain the fruits in accordance with their deeds. In this connection, Cakradhara told the story of a blind man, a hunch back, and a princess who gained their objects by wrong means. Yet, the fate turned favourably towards them.⁹ 12. The story of a blind man and a princess : There was a king Madhusena who had a daughter with three breasts. Following the words of a learned man, he retained his daughter in a palace. In course of time, he declared the marriage for his daughter. At that time, a blind man, accepted the princess as a wife. Being bid farewell by the king, the blind man, his friend (hunch back) and his wife left that place. As all the three started living together, a hunch back enjoyed princess, and both of them planned to kill the blind man. Once both of them went outside asking the blind man to bake poisonous serpent. Fortunately that blind man gained the sight 9. andhakah kubjakascaiva tristani rajakanyaka | trayo'pyanyayatah siddhah sammukhe karmani sthite || Pancatantra, Apariksitakaraka, Katha - 10, verse - 84, p.100.

112 due to the smoke emitted from baking the serpent. Then he came to know the evil deeds of his wife and hunch back. He beated them with his stick and extra breast of the princess was disappeared. In this manner, the destiny sometimes works contrary to one's deeds. Afterwards, Svarnasiddhi said that one should not be hasty in his deeds without proper thinking. 10 If otherwise, the person will perish. In this connection Svarnasiddhi explains the story of a bird Bharunda. 13. The story of a bird : There was a bird named Bharunda who was having single stomach with two necks. Once, he got a fruit which was very sweet in taste. One of the heads began to eat and explained about its sweetness. So another head also wanted to taste it. But the first neck did not want to give. On some other day, the same bird of second neck got poisonous fruit. So he recollected the words spoken by the first neck and ate it and came to death. When Svarnasiddhi was about to start, Cakradhara suggested him that he should be accompanied by somebody else," who 10. daivanukulataya sarvam kalyanam sampadyate | tathapi purusena satam vacanam karyam | punarevameva vartitavyam | atha evameva yo vartate, sa tvamiva vinasyati | Pancatantra, Apariksitakaraka, Katha - 12, verse - 241, p.111. 11. api kapuruso marge dvitiyah ksemakarakah | karkatena dvitiyena jivitam pariraksitam || Pancatantra, Apariksitakaraka, Katha - 13, verse - 94, p.116.

113 would be of great help on the way. In this regard, Cakradhara tells the story of a brahmin and a crab. 14. The story of a brahmin and a crab : There was a brahmin named Brahmadatta. Once he had work in nearby village. His mother advised him to take any one along with him. He ignored her words. Then she immediately brought a crab from the nearby pond and ordered him to carry that crab. He kept the crab in a bag containing camphor powder. On the way, he slept under the tree. From the cavity of that tree a serpent came out and tried to eat the camphor powder. But the crab which was placed in that powder was killed by the serpent. After some time, he woke up and saw that died serpent and felt happy. • Here ends Apariksitakaraka forming the concluding portion of the Pancatantra.