Essay name: Panchatantra: A reflex of Arthashastra
Author:
M. N. Indrani
Affiliation: Karnatak University / Department of Sanskrit
The essay studies the Panchatantra in relation to the Arthashastra by proposing that that Indian fable literature divides into educative and entertaining narratives, both traced back to the sacred Vedic texts. It highlights the 'Pancatantra' and its kin as representative of educative stories.
Chapter 3 - Contents of the Panchatantra
6 (of 60)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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61
through pride, does not honour men in proximity with a king,
whether they are the best or low or middling, falls from his
position, as did Dantila in the third story.
4. The story of Devaśarmā :
As Sañjīvaka and Pingalaka became bosom friends,
Pingalaka gives all the responsibility of the kingdom to both
Damanaka and Karaṭaka and starts treading soft path of life.
Therefore, other animal-subjects suffer by the want of food.
Observing this, Damanaka charges against Karaṭaka, that the
plightful condition prevailing in the kingdom of the forest
caused by disinterestedness of Pingalaka, is all due to mistake
committed by Karaṭaka himself. Listening to the words of
Damanaka, Karaṭaka, supports the Damanaka's stand-point
and adduces three examples of the jackal, Devaśarma and
dūtikā who suffer because of their own mistakes; and thus the
fourth story is read to indicate the cause of suffering as being
one's own fault. As "the jackal owing to the fight between (two)
rams, I on account of Āśādhabhūti and the female messenger
through her being serviceable to another, suffered; in all these
three cases the fault was of one's own making.�
8. यो � पूजयते गर्वादुत्तमाधममध्यमान् �
भूपसंमानमान्योऽप� भ्रश्यते दन्तिल� यथ� �
[yo na pūjayate garvāduttamādhamamadhyamān |
bhūpasaṃmānamānyo'pi bhraśyate dantilo yathā ||
] Pañcatantra, Mitrabheda, Kathā-2, verse-141, p.44
9.
जम्बुक� हुडुयुद्धे� वय� वाषाढभूतिन� �
दूतिका परकार्ये� त्रय� दोषा� स्वयंकृताः �
[jambuko huḍuyuddhena vaya� vāṣāḍhabhūtinā |
dūtikā parakāryeṇa trayo doṣāḥ svayaṃkṛtā� ||
] Pañcatantra, Mitrabheda, Kathā-3, verse 173, p.57.
