अङ्कुशं शोचमित्याहुरर्थानामुपधारणे। आनाम्य फलितां शाखां पक्वं पक्वं प्रशातयेत्
They say a goad is sorrow in the pursuit of wealth; bending down a fruitful branch, one should pluck the ripe fruit again and again.
फलार्थोऽयं समारम्भो लोके पुंसां विपश्चिताम्। वहेदमित्रं स्कन्धेन यावत्कालस्य पर्ययः
For the wise in this world, all undertakings are for the sake of fruit; one should bear an enemy on one's shoulder until the time is ripe.
ततः प्रत्यागते काले भिन्द्याद्धृटमिवाश्मनि। अमित्रो न विमोक्तव्यः कृपणं बह्वपि ब्रुवन्
Then, when the time returns, one should break him as one would an object upon a stone; an enemy should not be released, even if he pleads much in misery.
कृपा न तस्मिन्कर्तव्या हन्यादेवापकारिणम्। हन्यादमित्रं सान्त्वेन तथा दानेन वा पुनः
No pity should be shown to him; one should indeed slay the wrongdoer. One should destroy an enemy by conciliation or again by gifts.
तथैव भेददण्डाभ्यां सर्वोपायैः प्रशातयेत्
Likewise, by division and punishment, and by all means, one should subdue him.
अमित्रः शक्यते हन्तुं तन्मे ब्रूहि यथातथम्
An enemy can be slain—tell me, then, the exact means for this.
जम्बुकस्य महाराज नीतिशास्त्रार्थदर्शिनः। अथ कश्चित्कृतप्रज्ञः शृगालः स्वार्थपण्डितः
O King, there was a jackal, expert in the meaning of the science of policy; and there was a certain wise fox, skilled in his own interest.
सखिभिर्न्यवसत्सार्धं व्याघ्राखुवृकबभ्रुभिः। तेऽपश्यन्विपिने तस्मिन्बलिनं मृगयूथपम्
He dwelt with his companions—the tiger, the mouse, the wolf, and the bear; they saw in that forest a mighty leader of deer.
असकृद्यतितो ह्येष हन्तुं व्याघ्र वने त्वया
This one has often tried to be slain by you, O tiger, in the forest.
युवा वै जवसंपन्नो बुद्धिशाली न शक्यते। मूषिकोऽस्य शयानस्य चरणौ भक्षयत्वयम्
He is young, swift, and intelligent; he cannot be overcome. Let the mouse eat his feet while he sleeps.
अथैनं भक्षितैः पादैर्व्याघ्रो गृह्णातु वै ततः। ततो वै भक्षयिष्यामः सर्वे मुदितमानसाः
Then, when his feet are eaten, let the tiger seize him; then we shall all eat him, our hearts rejoicing.
जम्बुकस्य तु तद्वाक्यं तथा चक्रः समाहिताः। मूषिकाभक्षितैः पादैर्मृगं व्याघ्रोऽवधीत्तदा
The jackal's words were followed accordingly by the group; the tiger then slew the deer whose feet had been eaten by the mouse.
दृष्ट्वैवाचेष्टमानं तु भूमौ मृगकलेवरम्। स्नात्वाऽऽगच्छत भद्रं वोरक्षामीत्याह जम्बुकः
Seeing the lifeless body of the deer lying on the ground, the jackal said, 'Having bathed, come back safely; I will guard it.'
शृगालवचनात्तेऽपि गताः सर्वे नदीं ततः। स चिन्तापरमो भूत्वा तस्थौ तत्रैव जम्बुकः
Because of the jackal's words, all of them went to the river; the jackal remained there, filled with deep thought.
अथाजगाम पूर्वं तु स्नात्वा व्याघ्रो महाबलः। ददर्श जम्बुकं चैव चिन्ताकुलितमानसम्
Then, having bathed first, the mighty tiger arrived and saw the jackal, whose mind was troubled with worry.
किं शोचसि महाप्राज्ञ त्वं नो बुद्धिमतां वरः। अशित्वा पिशितान्यद्य विहरिष्यामहे वयम्
The tiger said, 'Why do you grieve, O wise one? Are you not the best among the intelligent? After eating the flesh today, we shall roam about.'
शृणु मे त्वं महाबाहो यद्वाक्यं मूषिकोऽब्रवीत्। धिग्बलं मृगराजस्य मयाद्यायं मृगो हतः
'Listen to what the mouse said, O mighty-armed one,' replied the jackal. 'Shame on the lion's strength, for today this deer was killed by me.'
मद्बाहुबलमाश्रित्य तृप्तिमद्य गमिष्यति। तस्यैवं गर्जितं श्रुत्वा ततो भक्ष्यं न रोचये
'Relying on my own strength, I will be satisfied today.' Hearing such boasting, I no longer desire to eat the meat.'
ब्रवीति यदि स ह्येवं काले ह्यस्मि प्रबोधितः। स्वबाहुबलमाश्रित्य हनिष्येऽहं वनेचरान्
'If he truly speaks so, and I am now awakened at this time, relying on my own strength, I will kill the forest-dwellers.'
खादिष्ये तत्र मांसानि इत्युक्त्वा प्रस्थितोवनम्। एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु मूषिकोऽप्याजगाम ह
'I will eat the flesh there,' he said, and set out into the forest. At that very moment, the mouse also arrived.
तमागतमभिप्रेक्ष्य शृगालोऽप्यब्रवीद्वचः। शृणु मीषिक भद्रं ते नकुलो यदिहाब्रवीत्
Seeing him arrive, the jackal spoke these words: 'Listen, O mouse, may good befall you; hear what the mongoose said here.'
मृगमांसं न खादेयं गरमेतन्न रोचते। मूषिकं भक्षयिष्यामि तद्भवाननुमन्यताम्
'I will not eat the deer's flesh; I do not desire such pride. I will eat the mouse; let this be approved by you.'
तच्छ्रुत्वा मूषिको वाक्यं संत्रस्तः प्रगतो बिलम्। ततः स्नात्वा स वै तत्र आजगाम वृको नपृ
Hearing these words, the mouse, frightened, fled into his hole. Then, having bathed, the wolf also arrived there.
तमागतमिदं वाक्यमब्रवीज्जम्बुकस्तदा। मृगराजो हि संक्रुद्धो न ते साधु भविष्यति
When he arrived, the jackal spoke these words: 'The lion is enraged; it will not be good for you.'
सकलत्रस्त्विहायाति कुरुष्व यदनन्तरम्। एवं संचोदितस्तेन जम्बुकेन तदा वृकः
'He comes here leaving everyone terrified; do what you must next.' Thus urged by the jackal, the wolf then—
ततोऽवलुम्पनं कृत्वा प्रयातः पिशिताशनः। एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु नकुलोऽप्याजगाम ह
Having seized a portion, the flesh-eater departed. At that very moment, the mongoose also arrived.
तमुवाच महाराज नकुलं जम्बुको वने। स्वबाहुबलमाश्रित्य निर्जितास्तेऽन्यतो गताः
In the forest, the jackal said to the mongoose, 'Relying on their own strength, they have been defeated and have gone elsewhere.'
मम दत्वा नियुद्धं त्वं भुङ्क्ष्व मांसं यथेप्सितम्
'Having given me single combat, you may eat the flesh as you wish.'
निर्जिता यत्त्वया वीरास्तस्माद्वीरतरो भवान्। न त्वयाप्युत्सहे योद्धुमित्युक्त्वा सोऽप्युपागमत्
'Since you have defeated the heroes, you are braver than they; I too am not able to fight you,' saying this, he also departed.
एवं तेषु प्रयातेषु जम्बुको हृष्टमानसः। खादति स्म तदा मांसमेकः सन्मन्त्रनिश्चयात्। एवं समाचरन्नित्यं सुखमेधेत भूपतिः
When they had all departed, the jackal, his mind delighted, ate the flesh alone, having decided by counsel. Acting thus always, one prospers happily, O king.