NO
SANSKRIT HITOPADESA STORY
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
1
On the banks of Bhagirathi, there is a town called Pataliputra.
There was a king called Sudarshan who was endowed with all
virtues of a lord.
One day that king heard two verses being recited by
someone.
The resolver of many doubts, the revealer of invisible objects
and the eye of all is scripture. For whom there is not
(scripture) he indeed in blind.
Youth, riches, power and inconsiderateness, single are
conducive to disadvantage, what to speak of the four
together?
Having heard thus, That king thought with a distressed mind
of the not attending to scripture of his sons, for whom
scripture has not gone to and for whom the course is always
improper.
What is the purpose with a born son who is not wise nor
dutiful or with a sightless eye? Indeed the eye alone is
trouble.
2
Having reflected this, the king made an assembly of learned
men.
The king said.
O O learned men!
Let it be heard.
Is there such a certain man who is learned who is now able to
make the rebirth of my sons, for who the course is always
improper and for whom the scriptures have not gone to, with
the instructions in moral conduct.
Glass acquires an emerald lustre with the association with gold
just as a fool goes to a state of cleverness with the association
with the good.
Certainly, the mind, O son, is lowered from the association
with the low and with the equal it goes to equality and with
the distinguished to distinction.
Hereafter a great learned man called Visnusarman, who is a
knower of the essence of all moral conducts, like Brhaspati
said.
Sire
These princes are born into a great family.
They are able to grasp that moral by me.
3
1.One day I, while walking in the southern forest, saw2. One old tiger, who had bathed and whose paws had kusa grass at
the bank of a lake, said
3. O o traveler
4. May this golden bracelet be accepted.
5. Having heard that speech, out of fear no one cultivates near him.
6. Then it was noticed by a certain traveler who is attracted by
greed.
7. This arises with good fortune.
8. But in this risk of one's own life, activity should not be practiced.
9. Since- Even in the attainment of the desired from the undesired,
a fortunate end is not born. where there is association with poison,
even nectar is conducive to death.
10. But in the procuring of wealth everywhere, activity indeed is a
risk.
11. And so it is said: - Not having climbed over doubt, a man does
not see good things, and again having climbed over doubt if he lives
he sees.
12. Therefore I investigate a little.
13. He said aloud.
14. Where is your bracelet?
15. The tiger, having stretched out his paw, showed (him).
16. The traveler said
17. How can there be trust in you whose nature is a killer?
18. The tiger said
19. Listen o traveler!
NO
S8ANSKRIT HITOPADESA STORY
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
4
1. Previously I was very wicked in my youthful state.
2. From the slaughter of many men, priests and cows, my sons
and wives were killed.
3. Now I am without a family.
4. Then by a certain dutiful man, I was advised.
5. 'May your honour practice law of giving.'
6. Therefore from the advice, now I practice bathing, am giver,
old, someone whose teeth and claws are blunt and pitiful. How
can there not be grounds for trust?
7. And it is said - Sacrifice, studying and giving, austerities,
truthfulness, fortitude, patience and contentment. This path is
known as eighth-fold of duty.
8. There the first fourfold class is practiced for the sake of
ostentation, and the last fourfold are found among the
magnanimous.
5
1. 'It is to be given.' Whatever gift is given onto a non-assistant
in the correct place, time or worthy, that gift is to be known as
Virtuous.
2. Therefore, having bathed in the lake, that golden bracelet is
to be accepted.
3. Then he, whose trust was born, as soon as he entered the
lake to bathe, indeed he sank in the great mud unable to
escape.
4. Having seen him fallen into the mud, the tiger said - 'ha! You
have fallen into the great mud.
5. From that, I will lift you.'
6. Having said so, approaching slowly and slowly, the traveler,
held by the tiger, thought.
7. The cause is not 'He studies the scripture of laws' and it is not
the villain's studying of the Veda. But here it is the nature which
predominates alone just as the milk of a cow is naturally sweet.
6
1. There was a brahmana called Mathara in Ujjain.
2. His Brahminical wife went to bathe, having left in charge the
brahmana for the protection of the little child.
3. Then an invitation from the king came to the brahmana to
perform a ceremony for the dead.
4. Having heard that, the brahmana from his natural poverty
thought
5. If I do not go quickly then another will take the ceremony of
death. And it is said
6. Time consumes the essence of that action which is not done
quickly of an invitation, gift and duty.
7. But there is not a protector of the child here.
8. Therefore what will I do? Be it as it may.
9. I will go, having left in charge for the protection of the child,
this ichneumon who is non different to my son and is protected
for a long time.
10. Having done so, he went there.
7
1.Then a black snake was seen by the ichneumon who was
coming near the boy and was killed.
2. Thus the ichneumon, whose feet and face was smeared with
blood, seeing the brahmana coming, quickly approaching he
rolled at his feet.
3. Then the brahmana seeing him in such a condition,
concluding 'my son is eaten by this one' killed him.
4. After, coming near, that brahmana just as he sees so the
boy stands heathy and the snake killed.
5. Then perceiving the ichneumon as indeed a helper, he whose
actions were provoked and whose heart was grief stricken, went
to a great dejection.
6. Thus I say:
He who, not knowing the true facts fell under the power of
anger indeed, just as the foolish brahmana is tormented from
the ichneumon.