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 4 - Arthashastra and Panchatantra—a comparison
8 (of 84)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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Bearing a similar nature of king's policy, the Arthaśāstra
also records various types of king's movements which the
minister should endeavour to read, i.e. "By cognising wisdom in
others, he is pleased; he attends to the speech of others; he
gives a seat, allows himself to be seen in private; does not
suspect in places of suspicion, takes delight in conversation,
spontaneously looks to things without being reminded; tolerates
what is said agreeably to reason; orders with smiling face,
touches with the hand; does not laugh at what is commendable;
commends the qualities of another behind him, remembers (the
courtier) while taking luncheon, engages himself in sports
accompanied by (the courtier) consults (the courtier) when in
trouble, honours the courtier more and more; gives him wealth,
and averts his troubles these are the signs of the king's
satisfaction with the courtier.
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The reverse of the above indicates the king's displeasure
still. That is described in plain terms.
Angry appearance when the courtier is in sight; evading or
refusal to hear his speech; no inclination to give him a seat or to
see him; change in syllables and accents while talking to him;
seeing with one eye, brow-beating, biting the lips, rise of sweat,
hard breathing and smiling with no palpable cause, talking to
himself, sudden bending or rising of the body, touching the body
or the seat of another, molestation to another, contempt of
learning, caste and country (of courtier), condemnation of a
colleague of equal defects, condemnation of a man of opposite
palak
VG
.3.
