The Tiger and the Jackal

Verse 1 (12.111.1)

असौम्याः सौम्यरूपेण सौम्याश्चासौम्यदर्शिनः । ईदृशान्पुरुषांस्तात कथं विद्यामहे वयम् ॥

asaumyāḥ saumyarūpeṇa saumyāścāsaumyadarśinaḥ | īdṛśānpuruṣāṃstāta kathaṃ vidyāmahe vayam

Some are harsh though they wear the look of gentleness, and some are gentle though they look harsh. How, father, are we to recognise such men?

Verse 2 (12.111.2)

अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । व्याघ्रगोमायुसंवादं तं निबोध युधिष्ठिर ॥

atrāpyudāharantīmamitihāsaṃ purātanam | vyāghragomāyusaṃvādaṃ taṃ nibodha yudhiṣṭhira

On this they cite an ancient tale, the dialogue of a tiger and a jackal. Listen to it, Yudhishthira.

Verse 3 (12.111.3)

पुरिकायां पुरि पुरा श्रीमत्यां पौरिको नृपः । परहिंसारुचिः क्रूरो बभूव पुरुषाधमः ॥

purikāyāṃ puri purā śrīmatyāṃ pauriko nṛpaḥ | parahiṃsāruciḥ krūro babhūva puruṣādhamaḥ

Long ago, in the prosperous city of Purika, there was a king named Paurika, cruel and fond of harming others, the lowest of men.

Verse 4 (12.111.4)

स त्वायुषि परिक्षीणे जगामानीप्सितां गतिम् । गोमायुत्वं च सम्प्राप्तो दूषितः पूर्वकर्मणा ॥

sa tvāyuṣi parikṣīṇe jagāmānīpsitāṃ gatim | gomāyutvaṃ ca samprāpto dūṣitaḥ pūrvakarmaṇā

When his life was spent he went to an unwelcome end, and, stained by his former deeds, he took the birth of a jackal.

Verse 5 (12.111.5)

संस्मृत्य पूर्वजातिं स निर्वेदं परमं गतः । न भक्षयति मांसानि परैरुपहृतान्यपि ॥

saṃsmṛtya pūrvajātiṃ sa nirvedaṃ paramaṃ gataḥ | na bhakṣayati māṃsāni parairupahṛtānyapi

Remembering his former birth, he fell into deep revulsion, and he would not eat flesh, even when others brought it to him.

Verse 6 (12.111.6)

अहिंस्रः सर्वभूतेषु सत्यवाक्सुदृढव्रतः । चकार च यथाकाममाहारं पतितैः फलैः ॥

ahiṃsraḥ sarvabhūteṣu satyavāksudṛḍhavrataḥ | cakāra ca yathākāmamāhāraṃ patitaiḥ phalaiḥ

Harming no creature, truthful, firm in his vows, he took as his food, as he pleased, fruits that had fallen.

Verse 7 (12.111.7)

श्मशाने तस्य चावासो गोमायोः संमतोऽभवत् । जन्मभूम्यनुरोधाच्च नान्यद्वासमरोचयत् ॥

śmaśāne tasya cāvāso gomāyoḥ saṃmato'bhavat | janmabhūmyanurodhācca nānyadvāsamarocayat

The jackal was content to dwell in the cremation ground, and out of attachment to the place of his birth he chose no other home.

Verse 8 (12.111.8)

तस्य शौचममृष्यन्तः सर्वे ते सहजातयः । चालयन्ति स्म तां बुद्धिं वचनैः प्रश्रयोत्तरैः ॥

tasya śaucamamṛṣyantaḥ sarve te sahajātayaḥ | cālayanti sma tāṃ buddhiṃ vacanaiḥ praśrayottaraiḥ

All his kinsmen, born with him, could not bear his purity, and they tried to turn his mind with words full of courtesy.

Verse 9 (12.111.9)

वसन्पितृवने रौद्रे शौचं लप्सितुमिच्छसि । इयं विप्रतिपत्तिस्ते यदा त्वं पिशिताशनः ॥

vasanpitṛvane raudre śaucaṃ lapsitumicchasi | iyaṃ vipratipattiste yadā tvaṃ piśitāśanaḥ

You live in a dreadful forest of the dead and yet you want to be pure. This is a contradiction in you, since you are a flesh-eater.

Verse 10 (12.111.10)

तत्समो वा भवास्माभिर्भक्ष्यान्दास्यामहे वयम् । भुङ्क्ष्व शौचं परित्यज्य यद्धि भुक्तं तदस्ति ते ॥

tatsamo vā bhavāsmābhirbhakṣyāndāsyāmahe vayam | bhuṅkṣva śaucaṃ parityajya yaddhi bhuktaṃ tadasti te

Either become like us, and we shall give you food, or give up your purity and eat; for what you have eaten is all that is really yours.

Verse 11 (12.111.11)

इति तेषां वचः श्रुत्वा प्रत्युवाच समाहितः । मधुरैः प्रश्रितैर्वाक्यैर्हेतुमद्भिरनिष्ठुरैः ॥

iti teṣāṃ vacaḥ śrutvā pratyuvāca samāhitaḥ | madhuraiḥ praśritairvākyairhetumadbhiraniṣṭhuraiḥ

Hearing their words, he answered them calmly, in sweet, courteous, reasoned and gentle words.

Verse 12 (12.111.12)

अप्रमाणं प्रसूतिर्मे शीलतः क्रियते कुलम् । प्रार्थयिष्ये तु तत्कर्म येन विस्तीर्यते यशः ॥

apramāṇaṃ prasūtirme śīlataḥ kriyate kulam | prārthayiṣye tu tatkarma yena vistīryate yaśaḥ

Birth is no measure; it is conduct that makes a family. I shall strive for the deed by which fame spreads far.

Verse 13 (12.111.13)

श्मशाने यदि वासो मे समाधिर्मे निशाम्यताम् । आत्मा फलति कर्माणि नाश्रमो धर्मलक्षणम् ॥

śmaśāne yadi vāso me samādhirme niśāmyatām | ātmā phalati karmāṇi nāśramo dharmalakṣaṇam

If I live in a cremation ground, mark the steadiness of my mind. It is the self that brings deeds to fruit; a stage of life is no sign of dharma.

Verse 14 (12.111.14)

आश्रमे यो द्विजं हन्याद्गां वा दद्यादनाश्रमे । किं नु तत्पातकं न स्यात्तद्वा दत्तं वृथा भवेत् ॥

āśrame yo dvijaṃ hanyādgāṃ vā dadyādanāśrame | kiṃ nu tatpātakaṃ na syāttadvā dattaṃ vṛthā bhavet

If a man were to kill a brahmin within a hermitage, or give a cow outside one, would the first not be a sin, or the second a gift in vain?

Verse 15 (12.111.15)

भवन्तः सर्वलोभेन केवलं भक्षणे रताः । अनुबन्धे तु ये दोषास्तान्न पश्यन्ति मोहिताः ॥

bhavantaḥ sarvalobhena kevalaṃ bhakṣaṇe ratāḥ | anubandhe tu ye doṣāstānna paśyanti mohitāḥ

You are all given only to eating, out of utter greed; deluded, you do not see the faults that follow after.

Verse 16 (12.111.16)

अप्रत्ययकृतां गर्ह्यामर्थापनयदूषिताम् । इह चामुत्र चानिष्टां तस्माद्वृत्तिं न रोचये ॥

apratyayakṛtāṃ garhyāmarthāpanayadūṣitām | iha cāmutra cāniṣṭāṃ tasmādvṛttiṃ na rocaye

A livelihood born of distrust, blameworthy, tainted by the ruin of what is right, and harmful both here and hereafter: such a way of living I do not choose.

Verse 17 (12.111.17)

तं शुचिं पण्डितं मत्वा शार्दूलः ख्यातविक्रमः । कृत्वात्मसदृशां पूजां साचिव्येऽवर्धयत्स्वयम् ॥

taṃ śuciṃ paṇḍitaṃ matvā śārdūlaḥ khyātavikramaḥ | kṛtvātmasadṛśāṃ pūjāṃ sācivye'vardhayatsvayam

Taking him to be pure and wise, the tiger, famed for his valour, paid him honour equal to his own and raised him of his own accord to the post of counsellor.

Verse 18 (12.111.18)

सौम्य विज्ञातरूपस्त्वं गच्छ यात्रां मया सह । व्रियन्तामीप्सिता भोगाः परिहार्याश्च पुष्कलाः ॥

saumya vijñātarūpastvaṃ gaccha yātrāṃ mayā saha | vriyantāmīpsitā bhogāḥ parihāryāśca puṣkalāḥ

Gentle one, your nature is known to me; come with me on the king's business. Choose the pleasures you desire, and whatever you wish to be spared shall be set aside in full.

Verse 19 (12.111.19)

तीक्ष्णा वयमिति ख्याता भवतो ज्ञापयामहे । मृदुपूर्वं घातिनस्ते श्रेयश्चाधिगमिष्यति ॥

tīkṣṇā vayamiti khyātā bhavato jñāpayāmahe | mṛdupūrvaṃ ghātinaste śreyaścādhigamiṣyati

We are known as fierce, and I tell you so plainly. Yet though we are killers, we deal gently with you from the first, and you will come to what is best.

Verse 20 (12.111.20)

अथ सम्पूज्य तद्वाक्यं मृगेन्द्रस्य महात्मनः । गोमायुः प्रश्रितं वाक्यं बभाषे किञ्चिदानतः ॥

atha sampūjya tadvākyaṃ mṛgendrasya mahātmanaḥ | gomāyuḥ praśritaṃ vākyaṃ babhāṣe kiñcidānataḥ

Then, honouring those words of the great-souled lord of beasts, the jackal bowed a little and spoke these courteous words.

Verse 21 (12.111.21)

सदृशं मृगराजैतत्तव वाक्यं मदन्तरे । यत्सहायान्मृगयसे धर्मार्थकुशलाञ्शुचीन् ॥

sadṛśaṃ mṛgarājaitattava vākyaṃ madantare | yatsahāyānmṛgayase dharmārthakuśalāñśucīn

These words of yours, king of beasts, are fitting for one like me: that you seek helpers who are pure and skilled in right and in policy.

Verse 22 (12.111.22)

न शक्यमनमात्येन महत्त्वमनुशासितुम् । दुष्टामात्येन वा वीर शरीरपरिपन्थिना ॥

na śakyamanamātyena mahattvamanuśāsitum | duṣṭāmātyena vā vīra śarīraparipanthinā

A king cannot rule a great realm without ministers, nor with wicked ministers who are a danger to his very person, O hero.

Verse 23 (12.111.23)

सहायाननुरक्तांस्तु यतेतानुपसंहितान् । परस्परमसङ्घुष्टान्विजिगीषूनलोलुपान् ॥

sahāyānanuraktāṃstu yatetānupasaṃhitān | parasparamasaṅghuṣṭānvijigīṣūnalolupān

He should strive to win helpers who are loyal, whom no one has drawn to himself, who do not quarrel with one another, who wish for victory and are free of greed.

Verse 24 (12.111.24)

तानतीतोपधान्प्राज्ञान्हिते युक्तान्मनस्विनः । पूजयेथा महाभागान्यथाचार्यान्यथा पितॄन् ॥

tānatītopadhānprājñānhite yuktānmanasvinaḥ | pūjayethā mahābhāgānyathācāryānyathā pitṝn

Those wise, high-minded, great-souled men, proof against every inducement and devoted to your good, you should honour as you would teachers and fathers.

Verse 25 (12.111.25)

न त्वेवं मम सन्तोषाद्रोचतेऽन्यन्मृगाधिप । न कामये सुखान्भोगानैश्वर्यं वा त्वदाश्रयम् ॥

na tvevaṃ mama santoṣādrocate'nyanmṛgādhipa | na kāmaye sukhānbhogānaiśvaryaṃ vā tvadāśrayam

But, lord of beasts, nothing else appeals to me, for I am content. I do not desire pleasures, nor lordship that depends on you.

Verse 26 (12.111.26)

न योक्ष्यति हि मे शीलं तव भृत्यैः पुरातनैः । ते त्वां विभेदयिष्यन्ति दुःखशीला मदन्तरे ॥

na yokṣyati hi me śīlaṃ tava bhṛtyaiḥ purātanaiḥ | te tvāṃ vibhedayiṣyanti duḥkhaśīlā madantare

My nature will not agree with your old servants; being of ill disposition, they will turn you against me.

Verse 27 (12.111.27)

संश्रयः श्लाघनीयस्त्वमन्येषामपि भास्वताम् । कृतात्मा सुमहाभागः पापकेष्वप्यदारुणः ॥

saṃśrayaḥ ślāghanīyastvamanyeṣāmapi bhāsvatām | kṛtātmā sumahābhāgaḥ pāpakeṣvapyadāruṇaḥ

You are a refuge worthy of praise even for other shining ones, self-disciplined, greatly fortunate, and not cruel even to wrongdoers.

Verse 28 (12.111.28)

दीर्घदर्शी महोत्साहः स्थूललक्ष्यो महाबलः । कृती चामोघकर्तासि भाव्यैश्च समलङ्कृतः ॥

dīrghadarśī mahotsāhaḥ sthūlalakṣyo mahābalaḥ | kṛtī cāmoghakartāsi bhāvyaiśca samalaṅkṛtaḥ

Far-sighted, full of energy, open-handed, mighty, accomplished, never acting in vain, you are adorned with every promise of good to come.

Verse 29 (12.111.29)

किं तु स्वेनास्मि सन्तुष्टो दुःखा वृत्तिरनुष्ठिता । सेवायाश्चापि नाभिज्ञः स्वच्छन्देन वनेचरः ॥

kiṃ tu svenāsmi santuṣṭo duḥkhā vṛttiranuṣṭhitā | sevāyāścāpi nābhijñaḥ svacchandena vanecaraḥ

But I am content with my own lot, and I have followed a hard way of living; I know nothing of service, being a creature of the forest who lives as he pleases.

Verse 30 (12.111.30)

राजोपक्रोशदोषाश्च सर्वे संश्रयवासिनाम् । वनचर्या च निःसङ्गा निर्भया निरवग्रहा ॥

rājopakrośadoṣāśca sarve saṃśrayavāsinām | vanacaryā ca niḥsaṅgā nirbhayā niravagrahā

All the faults of the king's displeasure fall on those who live in attendance on him, while a life in the forest is free of attachment, free of fear, free of restraint.

Verse 31 (12.111.31)

नृपेणाहूयमानस्य यत्तिष्ठति भयं हृदि । न तत्तिष्ठति तुष्टानां वने मूलफलाशिनाम् ॥

nṛpeṇāhūyamānasya yattiṣṭhati bhayaṃ hṛdi | na tattiṣṭhati tuṣṭānāṃ vane mūlaphalāśinām

The fear that sits in the heart of a man summoned by a king does not sit in the contented who eat roots and fruits in the forest.

Verse 32 (12.111.32)

पानीयं वा निरायासं स्वाद्वन्नं वा भयोत्तरम् । विचार्य खलु पश्यामि तत्सुखं यत्र निर्वृतिः ॥

pānīyaṃ vā nirāyāsaṃ svādvannaṃ vā bhayottaram | vicārya khalu paśyāmi tatsukhaṃ yatra nirvṛtiḥ

Whether it is plain water got without effort, or sweet food with fear attached, when I weigh it I find that happiness is where there is peace.

Verse 33 (12.111.33)

अपराधैर्न तावन्तो भृत्याः शिष्टा नराधिपैः । उपघातैर्यथा भृत्या दूषिता निधनं गताः ॥

aparādhairna tāvanto bhṛtyāḥ śiṣṭā narādhipaiḥ | upaghātairyathā bhṛtyā dūṣitā nidhanaṃ gatāḥ

Kings do not punish servants for real offences so often as servants, ruined by the plots of others, have met their deaths.

Verse 34 (12.111.34)

यदि त्वेतन्मया कार्यं मृगेन्द्रो यदि मन्यते । समयं कृतमिच्छामि वर्तितव्यं यथा मयि ॥

yadi tvetanmayā kāryaṃ mṛgendro yadi manyate | samayaṃ kṛtamicchāmi vartitavyaṃ yathā mayi

Still, if this must be done by me, and if the lord of beasts agrees, I ask for a pact, setting out how you are to act towards me.

Verse 35 (12.111.35)

मदीया माननीयास्ते श्रोतव्यं च हितं वचः । कल्पिता या च ते वृत्तिः सा भवेत्तव सुस्थिरा ॥

madīyā mānanīyāste śrotavyaṃ ca hitaṃ vacaḥ | kalpitā yā ca te vṛttiḥ sā bhavettava susthirā

Those who are mine are to be honoured by you, my good counsel is to be heeded, and the livelihood fixed for me is to be secure.

Verse 36 (12.111.36)

न मन्त्रयेयमन्यैस्ते सचिवैः सह कर्हिचित् । नीतिमन्तः परीप्सन्तो वृथा ब्रूयुः परे मयि ॥

na mantrayeyamanyaiste sacivaiḥ saha karhicit | nītimantaḥ parīpsanto vṛthā brūyuḥ pare mayi

I shall never take counsel with your other ministers; skilled in policy and eager to prevail, they would speak against me for nothing.

Verse 37 (12.111.37)

एक एकेन सङ्गम्य रहो ब्रूयां हितं तव । न च ते ज्ञातिकार्येषु प्रष्टव्योऽहं हिताहिते ॥

eka ekena saṅgamya raho brūyāṃ hitaṃ tava | na ca te jñātikāryeṣu praṣṭavyo'haṃ hitāhite

I shall meet you alone, in private, and tell you what is good for you; and I am not to be asked about the good or ill of your kinsmen's affairs.

Verse 38 (12.111.38)

मया संमन्त्र्य पश्चाच्च न हिंस्याः सचिवास्त्वया । मदीयानां च कुपितो मा त्वं दण्डं निपातयेः ॥

mayā saṃmantrya paścācca na hiṃsyāḥ sacivāstvayā | madīyānāṃ ca kupito mā tvaṃ daṇḍaṃ nipātayeḥ

After consulting with me, you must not afterwards harm your ministers, and you must not, in anger, bring down the rod on those who are mine.

Verse 39 (12.111.39)

एवमस्त्विति तेनासौ मृगेन्द्रेणाभिपूजितः । प्राप्तवान्मतिसाचिव्यं गोमायुर्व्याघ्रयोनितः ॥

evamastviti tenāsau mṛgendreṇābhipūjitaḥ | prāptavānmatisācivyaṃ gomāyurvyāghrayonitaḥ

The lord of beasts agreed, saying, ‘So be it,’ and honoured him; and so the jackal gained the post of counsellor from the tiger.

Verse 40 (12.111.40)

तं तथा सत्कृतं दृष्ट्वा युज्यमानं च कर्मणि । प्राद्विषन्कृतसङ्घाताः पूर्वभृत्या मुहुर्मुहुः ॥

taṃ tathā satkṛtaṃ dṛṣṭvā yujyamānaṃ ca karmaṇi | prādviṣankṛtasaṅghātāḥ pūrvabhṛtyā muhurmuhuḥ

Seeing him so honoured and set to his work, the former servants, banded together, hated him again and again.

Verse 41 (12.111.41)

मित्रबुद्ध्या च गोमायुं सान्त्वयित्वा प्रवेश्य च । दोषेषु समतां नेतुमैच्छन्नशुभबुद्धयः ॥

mitrabuddhyā ca gomāyuṃ sāntvayitvā praveśya ca | doṣeṣu samatāṃ netumaicchannaśubhabuddhayaḥ

With a show of friendship they soothed the jackal and drew him in, and, ill-minded, they tried to bring him down to the same faults as theirs.

Verse 42 (12.111.42)

अन्यथा ह्युचिताः पूर्वं परद्रव्यापहारिणः । अशक्ताः किञ्चिदादातुं द्रव्यं गोमायुयन्त्रिताः ॥

anyathā hyucitāḥ pūrvaṃ paradravyāpahāriṇaḥ | aśaktāḥ kiñcidādātuṃ dravyaṃ gomāyuyantritāḥ

For before, they had been used to seizing other men's goods; now, held in check by the jackal, they could take nothing.

Verse 43 (12.111.43)

व्युत्थानं चात्र काङ्क्षद्भिः कथाभिः प्रविलोभ्यते । धनेन महता चैव बुद्धिरस्य विलोभ्यते ॥

vyutthānaṃ cātra kāṅkṣadbhiḥ kathābhiḥ pravilobhyate | dhanena mahatā caiva buddhirasya vilobhyate

Wishing for a rising against him, they tempted him with talk, and tempted his mind with great wealth.

Verse 44 (12.111.44)

न चापि स महाप्राज्ञस्तस्माद्धैर्याच्चचाल ह । अथास्य समयं कृत्वा विनाशाय स्थिताः परे ॥

na cāpi sa mahāprājñastasmāddhairyāccacāla ha | athāsya samayaṃ kṛtvā vināśāya sthitāḥ pare

But the very wise jackal did not waver, out of his steadiness. Then his enemies, having devised a plan, stood ready for his ruin.

Verse 45 (12.111.45)

ईप्सितं च मृगेन्द्रस्य मांसं यत्तत्र संस्कृतम् । अपनीय स्वयं तद्धि तैर्न्यस्तं तस्य वेश्मनि ॥

īpsitaṃ ca mṛgendrasya māṃsaṃ yattatra saṃskṛtam | apanīya svayaṃ taddhi tairnyastaṃ tasya veśmani

The meat the lord of beasts loved, which had been prepared there, they themselves carried away and placed in the jackal's house.

Verse 46 (12.111.46)

यदर्थं चाप्यपहृतं येन यच्चैव मन्त्रितम् । तस्य तद्विदितं सर्वं कारणार्थं च मर्षितम् ॥

yadarthaṃ cāpyapahṛtaṃ yena yaccaiva mantritam | tasya tadviditaṃ sarvaṃ kāraṇārthaṃ ca marṣitam

For what purpose it was taken, by whom, and what had been plotted, all this he knew, and, for the sake of his purpose, he bore it.

Verse 47 (12.111.47)

समयोऽयं कृतस्तेन साचिव्यमुपगच्छता । नोपघातस्त्वया ग्राह्यो राजन्मैत्रीमिहेच्छता ॥

samayo'yaṃ kṛtastena sācivyamupagacchatā | nopaghātastvayā grāhyo rājanmaitrīmihecchatā

This pact was made by him when he took up the ministry: that the king, who wishes for friendship, must not take the way of harming him.

Verse 48 (12.111.48)

भोजने चोपहर्तव्ये तन्मांसं न स्म दृश्यते । मृगराजेन चाज्ञप्तं मृग्यतां चोर इत्युत ॥

bhojane copahartavye tanmāṃsaṃ na sma dṛśyate | mṛgarājena cājñaptaṃ mṛgyatāṃ cora ityuta

When the meal was to be served, that meat was not to be seen; and the king of beasts commanded, ‘Let the thief be sought!’

Verse 49 (12.111.49)

कृतकैश्चापि तन्मांसं मृगेन्द्रायोपवर्णितम् । सचिवेनोपनीतं ते विदुषा प्राज्ञमानिना ॥

kṛtakaiścāpi tanmāṃsaṃ mṛgendrāyopavarṇitam | sacivenopanītaṃ te viduṣā prājñamāninā

And the schemers told the lord of beasts that the meat had been carried off by his learned minister, who thought himself wise.

Verse 50 (12.111.50)

सरोषस्त्वथ शार्दूलः श्रुत्वा गोमायुचापलम् । बभूवामर्षितो राजा वधं चास्याभ्यरोचयत् ॥

saroṣastvatha śārdūlaḥ śrutvā gomāyucāpalam | babhūvāmarṣito rājā vadhaṃ cāsyābhyarocayat

Then the tiger, hearing of the jackal's lapse, grew angry and indignant, and the king approved of putting him to death.

Verse 51 (12.111.51)

छिद्रं तु तस्य तद्दृष्ट्वा प्रोचुस्ते पूर्वमन्त्रिणः । सर्वेषामेव सोऽस्माकं वृत्तिभङ्गेषु वर्तते ॥

chidraṃ tu tasya taddṛṣṭvā procuste pūrvamantriṇaḥ | sarveṣāmeva so'smākaṃ vṛttibhaṅgeṣu vartate

Seeing that opening against him, his former ministers said, ‘He is working to break the livelihood of us all.’

Verse 52 (12.111.52)

इदं चास्येदृशं कर्म वाल्लभ्येन तु रक्ष्यते । श्रुतश्च स्वामिना पूर्वं यादृशो नैष तादृशः ॥

idaṃ cāsyedṛśaṃ karma vāllabhyena tu rakṣyate | śrutaśca svāminā pūrvaṃ yādṛśo naiṣa tādṛśaḥ

This deed of his is of that kind, and only the king's favour shields it; he is not what the master was told of him before.

Verse 53 (12.111.53)

वाङ्मात्रेणैव धर्मिष्ठः स्वभावेन तु दारुणः । धर्मच्छद्मा ह्ययं पापो वृथाचारपरिग्रहः । कार्यार्थं भोजनार्थेषु व्रतेषु कृतवाञ्श्रमम् ॥

vāṅmātreṇaiva dharmiṣṭhaḥ svabhāvena tu dāruṇaḥ | dharmacchadmā hyayaṃ pāpo vṛthācāraparigrahaḥ | kāryārthaṃ bhojanārtheṣu vrateṣu kṛtavāñśramam

He is righteous in word only, and by nature cruel; this wretch is a sham of dharma, who has taken up empty observances. For the sake of his ends and his meals he has toiled at vows.

Note on the text: Rebuilt from the raw page. Wikisource prints this three-line verse as a couplet labelled ५३ plus a lone third line (कार्यार्थं भोजनार्थेषु …) that is also labelled ५३ (input rows 53 and 54). The CE has it as one verse of three lines (12.112.53a, c, e: vāṅmātreṇaiva …, dharmacchadmā …, kāryārthaṃ bhojanārtheṣu …), the sentence runs on into the third line, and the page's own numbering has only one verse 53, so the two are joined, with the daṇḍa after line 2 and a single closing ॥. The CE's star lines 12.112.53f*0264_01-02 are not on the page's text (they appear only as a variant in its gloss).

Verse 54 (12.111.54)

मांसापनयनं ज्ञात्वा व्याघ्रस्तेषां तु तद्वचः । आज्ञापयामास तदा गोमायुर्वध्यतामिति ॥

māṃsāpanayanaṃ jñātvā vyāghrasteṣāṃ tu tadvacaḥ | ājñāpayāmāsa tadā gomāyurvadhyatāmiti

Learning that the meat had been taken away, and hearing their words, the tiger then gave the order, ‘Let the jackal be killed.’

Verse 55 (12.111.55)

शार्दूलवचनं श्रुत्वा शार्दूलजननी ततः । मृगराजं हितैर्वाक्यैः सम्बोधयितुमागमत् ॥

śārdūlavacanaṃ śrutvā śārdūlajananī tataḥ | mṛgarājaṃ hitairvākyaiḥ sambodhayitumāgamat

Hearing the tiger's order, the tiger's mother then came to advise the king of beasts with words for his good.

Verse 56 (12.111.56)

पुत्र नैतत्त्वया ग्राह्यं कपटारम्भसंवृतम् । कर्मसङ्घर्षजैर्दोषैर्दुष्यत्यशुचिभिः शुचिः ॥

putra naitattvayā grāhyaṃ kapaṭārambhasaṃvṛtam | karmasaṅgharṣajairdoṣairduṣyatyaśucibhiḥ śuciḥ

Son, you should not accept this, wrapped as it is in a pretence of deceit. By the faults that spring from the clash of deeds, the pure man is made to look impure by the impure.

Verse 57 (12.111.57)

नोच्छ्रितं सहते कश्चित्प्रक्रिया वैरकारिका । शुचेरपि हि युक्तस्य दोष एव निपात्यते ॥

nocchritaṃ sahate kaścitprakriyā vairakārikā | śucerapi hi yuktasya doṣa eva nipātyate

No one tolerates a man who has risen high; a scheme breeds enmity. Even on a man who is pure and diligent, a fault is made to fall.

Verse 58 (12.111.58)

लुब्धानां शुचयो द्वेष्याः कातराणां तरस्विनः । मूर्खाणां पण्डिता द्वेष्या दरिद्राणां महाधनाः । अधार्मिकाणां धर्मिष्ठा विरूपाणां सुरूपकाः ॥

lubdhānāṃ śucayo dveṣyāḥ kātarāṇāṃ tarasvinaḥ | mūrkhāṇāṃ paṇḍitā dveṣyā daridrāṇāṃ mahādhanāḥ | adhārmikāṇāṃ dharmiṣṭhā virūpāṇāṃ surūpakāḥ

The pure are hated by the greedy, the brave by the timid, the learned by fools, the rich by the poor; the righteous by the unrighteous, the handsome by the ill-formed.

Note on the text: Rebuilt from the raw page. Wikisource prints this three-line verse as a couplet labelled ५८ plus a lone third line (अधार्मिकाणां धर्मिष्ठा …) that is also labelled ५८ (input rows 59 and 60). The CE has it as one verse of three lines (12.112.58a, c, e), the page's own numbering has only one verse 58, and the third line completes the list of those who are hated, so the two are joined, with the daṇḍa after line 2 and a single closing ॥.

Verse 59 (12.111.59)

बहवः पण्डिता लुब्धाः सर्वे मायोपजीविनः । कुर्युर्दोषमदोषस्य बृहस्पतिमतेरपि ॥

bahavaḥ paṇḍitā lubdhāḥ sarve māyopajīvinaḥ | kuryurdoṣamadoṣasya bṛhaspatimaterapi

Many learned men are greedy, and all of them live by deceit; they could fasten a fault on one without fault, even on one with the wisdom of Brihaspati.

Verse 60 (12.111.60)

शून्यात्तच्च गृहान्मांसं यदद्यापहृतं तव । नेच्छते दीयमानं च साधु तावद्विमृश्यताम् ॥

śūnyāttacca gṛhānmāṃsaṃ yadadyāpahṛtaṃ tava | necchate dīyamānaṃ ca sādhu tāvadvimṛśyatām

As for that meat taken today from your unwatched house: he does not take meat even when it is offered him. Let this first be weighed well.

Verse 61 (12.111.61)

असत्याः सत्यसङ्काशाः सत्याश्चासत्यदर्शिनः । दृश्यन्ते विविधा भावास्तेषु युक्तं परीक्षणम् ॥

asatyāḥ satyasaṅkāśāḥ satyāścāsatyadarśinaḥ | dṛśyante vividhā bhāvāsteṣu yuktaṃ parīkṣaṇam

Things that are untrue look true, and things that are true look untrue; things of many kinds are seen so. In these, examination is the right course.

Verse 62 (12.111.62)

तलवद्दृश्यते व्योम खद्योतो हव्यवाडिव । न चैवास्ति तलं व्योम्नि न खद्योते हुताशनः ॥

talavaddṛśyate vyoma khadyoto havyavāḍiva | na caivāsti talaṃ vyomni na khadyote hutāśanaḥ

The sky seems to have a surface, and the firefly seems like fire; yet there is no surface in the sky, and no fire in the firefly.

Verse 63 (12.111.63)

तस्मात्प्रत्यक्षदृष्टोऽपि युक्तमर्थः परीक्षितुम् । परीक्ष्य ज्ञापयन्ह्यर्थान्न पश्चात्परितप्यते ॥

tasmātpratyakṣadṛṣṭo'pi yuktamarthaḥ parīkṣitum | parīkṣya jñāpayanhyarthānna paścātparitapyate

So even what is seen with the eyes should be tested; a man who tests before he declares his purposes does not repent afterwards.

Verse 64 (12.111.64)

न दुष्करमिदं पुत्र यत्प्रभुर्घातयेत्परम् । श्लाघनीया च वर्या च लोके प्रभवतां क्षमा ॥

na duṣkaramidaṃ putra yatprabhurghātayetparam | ślāghanīyā ca varyā ca loke prabhavatāṃ kṣamā

It is no hard thing, my son, for a lord to have another killed; but forbearance in the powerful is praised and chosen above all in the world.

Verse 65 (12.111.65)

स्थापितोऽयं पुत्र त्वया सामन्तेष्वधि विश्रुतः । दुःखेनासाद्यते पात्रं धार्यतामेष ते सुहृत् ॥

sthāpito'yaṃ putra tvayā sāmanteṣvadhi viśrutaḥ | duḥkhenāsādyate pātraṃ dhāryatāmeṣa te suhṛt

You set him in place, son, and he is famed among the neighbouring chiefs. A worthy vessel is hard to find; keep him; he is your friend.

Verse 66 (12.111.66)

दूषितं परदोषैर्हि गृह्णीते योऽन्यथा शुचिम् । स्वयं संदूषितामात्यः क्षिप्रमेव विनश्यति ॥

dūṣitaṃ paradoṣairhi gṛhṇīte yo'nyathā śucim | svayaṃ saṃdūṣitāmātyaḥ kṣiprameva vinaśyati

He who wrongly takes a pure man to be stained by the faults of others, having himself ruined his ministers, is soon destroyed.

Verse 67 (12.111.67)

तस्मादथारिसङ्घाताद्गोमायोः कश्चिदागतः । धर्मात्मा तेन चाख्यातं यथैतत्कपटं कृतम् ॥

tasmādathārisaṅghātādgomāyoḥ kaścidāgataḥ | dharmātmā tena cākhyātaṃ yathaitatkapaṭaṃ kṛtam

Then someone from the band of the jackal's enemies, a righteous soul, came and told how this deceit had been worked.

Verse 68 (12.111.68)

ततो विज्ञातचारित्रः सत्कृत्य स विमोक्षितः । परिष्वक्तश्च सस्नेहं मृगेन्द्रेण पुनः पुनः ॥

tato vijñātacāritraḥ satkṛtya sa vimokṣitaḥ | pariṣvaktaśca sasnehaṃ mṛgendreṇa punaḥ punaḥ

Then, his conduct understood, he was honoured and set free, and embraced again and again with affection by the lord of beasts.

Verse 69 (12.111.69)

अनुज्ञाप्य मृगेन्द्रं तु गोमायुर्नीतिशास्त्रवित् । तेनामर्षेण सन्तप्तः प्रायमासितुमैच्छत ॥

anujñāpya mṛgendraṃ tu gomāyurnītiśāstravit | tenāmarṣeṇa santaptaḥ prāyamāsitumaicchata

Taking leave of the lord of beasts, the jackal, learned in the science of policy, burned with that humiliation and wished to sit down to fast unto death.

Verse 70 (12.111.70)

शार्दूलस्तत्र गोमायुं स्नेहात्प्रस्रुतलोचनः । अवारयत्स धर्मिष्ठं पूजया प्रतिपूजयन् ॥

śārdūlastatra gomāyuṃ snehātprasrutalocanaḥ | avārayatsa dharmiṣṭhaṃ pūjayā pratipūjayan

There the tiger, his eyes streaming with affection, tried to stop the righteous jackal, honouring him in return for his honour.

Verse 71 (12.111.71)

तं स गोमायुरालोक्य स्नेहादागतसम्भ्रमम् । बभाषे प्रणतो वाक्यं बाष्पगद्गदया गिरा ॥

taṃ sa gomāyurālokya snehādāgatasambhramam | babhāṣe praṇato vākyaṃ bāṣpagadgadayā girā

The jackal, seeing him come in flustered with affection, bowed and spoke in a voice choked with tears.

Verse 72 (12.111.72)

पूजितोऽहं त्वया पूर्वं पश्चाच्चैव विमानितः । परेषामास्पदं नीतो वस्तुं नार्हाम्यहं त्वयि ॥

pūjito'haṃ tvayā pūrvaṃ paścāccaiva vimānitaḥ | pareṣāmāspadaṃ nīto vastuṃ nārhāmyahaṃ tvayi

I was honoured by you first, and afterwards slighted; I have been made a target for others. I cannot live with you.

Verse 73 (12.111.73)

स्वसन्तुष्टाश्च्युताः स्थानान्मानात्प्रत्यवरोपिताः । स्वयं चोपहृता भृत्या ये चाप्युपहृताः परैः ॥

svasantuṣṭāścyutāḥ sthānānmānātpratyavaropitāḥ | svayaṃ copahṛtā bhṛtyā ye cāpyupahṛtāḥ paraiḥ

Servants who are content with their lot, who have fallen from their post, been lowered from honour, who have been won over by themselves or by others,

Verse 74 (12.111.74)

परिक्षीणाश्च लुब्धाश्च क्रूराः काराभितापिताः । हृतस्वा मानिनो ये च त्यक्तोपात्ता महेप्सवः ॥

parikṣīṇāśca lubdhāśca krūrāḥ kārābhitāpitāḥ | hṛtasvā mānino ye ca tyaktopāttā mahepsavaḥ

the ruined, the greedy, the cruel, the tormented by fines or prison, the plundered, the proud, those who have given up what they took, those with great ambitions,

Verse 75 (12.111.75)

सन्तापिताश्च ये केचिद्व्यसनौघप्रतीक्षिणः । अन्तर्हिताः सोपहिताः सर्वे ते परसाधनाः ॥

santāpitāśca ye kecidvyasanaughapratīkṣiṇaḥ | antarhitāḥ sopahitāḥ sarve te parasādhanāḥ

any who have been harassed and wait for a flood of troubles, the hidden and the secretly placed: all these are the tools of others.

Verse 76 (12.111.76)

अवमानेन युक्तस्य स्थापितस्य च मे पुनः । कथं यास्यसि विश्वासमहमेष्यामि वा पुनः ॥

avamānena yuktasya sthāpitasya ca me punaḥ | kathaṃ yāsyasi viśvāsamahameṣyāmi vā punaḥ

I, who was insulted and then restored, how will you come to trust me again, or I you?

Verse 77 (12.111.77)

समर्थ इति सङ्गृह्य स्थापयित्वा परीक्ष्य च । कृतं च समयं भित्त्वा त्वयाहमवमानितः ॥

samartha iti saṅgṛhya sthāpayitvā parīkṣya ca | kṛtaṃ ca samayaṃ bhittvā tvayāhamavamānitaḥ

You took me up as capable, set me in place and tested me, and then broke the pact that had been made and insulted me.

Verse 78 (12.111.78)

प्रथमं यः समाख्यातः शीलवानिति संसदि । न वाच्यं तस्य वैगुण्यं प्रतिज्ञां परिरक्षता ॥

prathamaṃ yaḥ samākhyātaḥ śīlavāniti saṃsadi | na vācyaṃ tasya vaiguṇyaṃ pratijñāṃ parirakṣatā

One who was first declared virtuous in the assembly should not be spoken of as lacking virtue by one who keeps his pledge.

Verse 79 (12.111.79)

एवं चावमतस्येह विश्वासं किं प्रयास्यसि । त्वयि चैव ह्यविश्वासे ममोद्वेगो भविष्यति ॥

evaṃ cāvamatasyeha viśvāsaṃ kiṃ prayāsyasi | tvayi caiva hyaviśvāse mamodvego bhaviṣyati

And what trust will you place in one so slighted? When you have no trust in me, I shall have only unease.

Verse 80 (12.111.80)

शङ्कितस्त्वमहं भीतः परे छिद्रानुदर्शिनः । अस्निग्धाश्चैव दुस्तोषाः कर्म चैतद्बहुच्छलम् ॥

śaṅkitastvamahaṃ bhītaḥ pare chidrānudarśinaḥ | asnigdhāścaiva dustoṣāḥ karma caitadbahucchalam

You are suspicious and I am afraid; the others watch for any gap; they are unfriendly and hard to satisfy, and this whole affair is full of tricks.

Verse 81 (12.111.81)

दुःखेन श्लेष्यते भिन्नं श्लिष्टं दुःखेन भिद्यते । भिन्नश्लिष्टा तु या प्रीतिर्न सा स्नेहेन वर्तते ॥

duḥkhena śleṣyate bhinnaṃ śliṣṭaṃ duḥkhena bhidyate | bhinnaśliṣṭā tu yā prītirna sā snehena vartate

What is broken is joined with difficulty, and what is joined is broken with difficulty; an affection that has been broken and mended does not rest on love.

Verse 82 (12.111.82)

कश्चिदेव हि भीतस्तु दृश्यते न परात्मनोः । कार्यापेक्षा हि वर्तन्ते भावाः स्निग्धास्तु दुर्लभाः ॥

kaścideva hi bhītastu dṛśyate na parātmanoḥ | kāryāpekṣā hi vartante bhāvāḥ snigdhāstu durlabhāḥ

Scarcely anyone is seen to be afraid, whether for another or for himself; men act with an eye to their own ends, and truly loving ones are rare.

Verse 83 (12.111.83)

सुदुःखं पुरुषज्ञानं चित्तं ह्येषां चलाचलम् । समर्थो वाप्यशक्तो वा शतेष्वेकोऽधिगम्यते ॥

suduḥkhaṃ puruṣajñānaṃ cittaṃ hyeṣāṃ calācalam | samartho vāpyaśakto vā śateṣveko'dhigamyate

Knowledge of men is very hard to gain, for their minds are changeable; whether a man is able or unable, hardly one in a hundred is truly understood.

Verse 84 (12.111.84)

अकस्मात्प्रक्रिया नॄणामकस्माच्चापकर्षणम् । शुभाशुभे महत्त्वं च प्रकर्तुं बुद्धिलाघवात् ॥

akasmātprakriyā nṝṇāmakasmāccāpakarṣaṇam | śubhāśubhe mahattvaṃ ca prakartuṃ buddhilāghavāt

Men raise a man up on a whim and cast him down on a whim; through the lightness of their minds they proclaim greatness in matters good and bad.

Verse 85 (12.111.85)

एवं बहुविधं सान्त्वमुक्त्वा धर्मार्थहेतुमत् । प्रसादयित्वा राजानं गोमायुर्वनमभ्यगात् ॥

evaṃ bahuvidhaṃ sāntvamuktvā dharmārthahetumat | prasādayitvā rājānaṃ gomāyurvanamabhyagāt

Having spoken thus at length with comforting words, reasoned in matters of right and purpose, and having appeased the king, the jackal went off to the forest.

Verse 86 (12.111.86)

अगृह्यानुनयं तस्य मृगेन्द्रस्य स बुद्धिमान् । गोमायुः प्रायमासीनस्त्यक्त्वा देहं दिवं ययौ ॥

agṛhyānunayaṃ tasya mṛgendrasya sa buddhimān | gomāyuḥ prāyamāsīnastyaktvā dehaṃ divaṃ yayau

The wise jackal did not accept the lord of beasts' entreaty; he sat down to fast unto death, gave up his body, and went to heaven.

Note on the text: Rebuilt from the raw page: the input row carried the page's closing label inside the verse (॥86॥ 12.111.90, with a second ॥) and had no verse number; the label is removed and one ॥ kept. This is the page's verse 86. The page ends here with no colophon.