The Old Tiger and the Traveller Flashcards
अहमेकदा दक्षिणारण्ये चरन्नपश्यम् । एको वृद्धव्याघ्रः स्नातः कुशहस्तः सरस्तीरे ब्रूते । भो भोः पान्थाः । इदं सुवर्णकङ्कणं गृह्यताम् । तद्वचनमाकर्ण्य भयात्कोऽपि तत्पार्श्वं न भजते । ल्ततो लोभाकृष्टेन केन चित्पान्थेनालोचितम्। भाग्येनैतत्संभवति । किं त्वस्मिन्नात्मसंदेहे प्रवृत्तिर्न विधेया । यतः
Once, in the Southern forest, while walking, I saw: on the shore of a lake a certain old tiger who had [recently] bathed, Kuśa grass in his paw, who said, “O traveller! Take this golden bracelet!” Having heard his words, a person does not cultivate his proximity. After that, attracted by greed, it was observed by a certain traveller, “This arises due to good luck. However, in this case, when there is personal risk, activity is not to be practiced. Whence:”
अनिष्टादिष्टलाभेऽपि न गतिर्जायते शुभा ।
त्रास्ति विषसंसर्गोऽमृतं तदपि मृत्यवे ॥
When there is even the acquisition of the desired from the undesired, a fortunate result does not arise. When ambrosia is associated with poison, then that also [leads to] death.
तु सर्वत्रार्थार्जने प्रवृत्तिः संदेह एव । तथा चोक्तम् ।
न संशयमनारुह्य नरो भद्राणि पश्यति ।
संशयं पुनरारुह्य यदि जीवति पश्यति ॥
Moreover, in all cases, in the procuring of wealth, activity is indeed a risk. And likewise it is said, “Having not overcome doubt, a man does not see good things. On the contrary, having overcome doubt, if he lives, he sees them.
तन्निरूपयामि तावत् । प्रकाशं ब्रूते । कुत्र तव कङ्कणम् ।व्याघ्रो हस्तं प्रसार्य दर्शयति । पान्थोऽवदत् । कथं मारात्मके त्वयि विश्वासः । व्याघ्र उवाच । शृणु रे पान्थ ।
“Therefore I shall investigate a little. He says aloud, “Where is your bracelet?” The tiger, having stretched forth his paw, shows it. The traveller said, “How can there be confidence in you, who are, by nature, a killer?” The tiger said, “Listen, O traveller!”
प्रागेव यौवनदशायामतिदुर्वृत्त आसम् । अनेकगोब्राह्मणमनुष्यवधान्मे पुत्रा अनेकशो मृता दाराश्च । सांप्रतं निर्वंशोऽस्मि । ततः केनापि आआधार्मिकेणाहमुपदिष्टः । दानधर्ममाचरतु भवानिति । तदुपदेशादिदानीमहं स्नानशीलो दाता वृद्धो गलितनखदन्तो दयावांश्च कथं न विश्वासभूमिः । उक्तं च ।
Verily, formerly, when I was in a youthful state, I was excessively wicked. Due to the slaughter of numerous cows, Brahmins and men, my children and wives were dead in great numbers. Now I am without family. Thus, by a certain virtuous person, I was advised: “May your honour practice the duty of generosity! Due to his advice, now I am a practicer of ablutions, a giver, old, with decayed teeth and claws, and pitiful. How am I not an object of confidence? And it is said:
इज्याध्ययनदानानि तपः सत्यं क्षमा दमः ।
अलोभ इति मार्गोऽयं धर्मस्याष्टविधः स्मृतः ॥
Sacrifice, study, generosity, austerity, truth, fortitude, patience and contentment – this is said to be the eightfold path of righteousness.
तत्र पूर्वश्चतुर्वर्गो दम्भार्थमपि सेव्यते ।
उत्तरश्च चतुर्वर्गो नाहात्मसु विद्यते ॥
Regarding this, the former fourfold class is practised even for ostentation, but the latter fourfold class is found only in the magnanimous.
दातव्यमिति यद्दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे ।
देशे काले च पात्रे च तद्दानं सात्त्विकं स्मृतम् ॥
‘It is to be given’ – whatever gift is given to the non-assistant in a proper place, time, and on a worthy recipient, that is said to be a virtuous gift.
तदत्र सरसि स्नात्वा सुवर्णकङ्कणमिदं प्रतिगृहाण । ततो जातविश्वासो यावदसौ सरः स्नातुं प्रविष्टस्तावद्देव महापङ्के निमग्नः पलायितुमक्षमः । पङ्के पतितं दृष्ट्वा व्याघ्रोऽवदत् । अहह । महापङ्के पतितोऽसि । अतस्त्वामुत्थापयामि । इत्युक्त्वा शनैः शनैरुपगम्य तेन व्याघ्रेण धृतः स पान्थोऽचिन्तयत् ।
Therefore, having bathed in the lake, accept the golden bracelet! Thereupon, his trust [was] built, and as soon as he entered the lake to bathe, then he became stuck in deep mud and was unable to escape. Having seen him fallen in the mud, the tiger said, “Ha! You have fallen into deep mud! Hence, I will lift you out. Having spoken thus, he [the tiger] approached him gently; the traveller, seized by that tiger, thought:
न धर्मशात्रं पठतीति कारणं न चापि वेदाध्ययनं दुरात्मनः ।
स्वभाव एवात्र तथातिरिच्यते यथा प्रकृत्या मधुरं गवां पयः ॥
“cause [of this situation] is not that he reads the law texts, not the villain’s study of the Veda; there is innate nature alone, just as the milk of cows is naturally sweet.”
