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
25 (of 60)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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80
Thus it is said "great success is achieved by the designation of
great personalities. To substantiate this statement that crow
explained the story of the Caturdanta and a rabbit.2
1. The story of Caturdanta (an elephant) and rabbit :
At the end of the previous story, a crow suggests that a
mean-minded judge i.e. king should not be resorted to, because
his words of justice would be naturally mean. Because, a person
who seeks justice from such official would meant with
destruction. In this connection the crow narrates the story of a
rabbit, Kapinjala (a sparrow).
2. The story of a rabbit and Kapinjala (a sparrow) :
Herein the rabbit and Kapinjala approach a mean minded
Tīkṣṇadamṣṭra (a cat) for seeking judgement, but it resulted in
their destruction. At the instance of this, the crow gives the
suggestion of not having Arimardana as their king. At the end
of this story, Sthirajīvi suggests that one can deceive a person
though he is very sharp and intellect. In this context, Sthirajīvi
starts narrating before Meghavarṇa the story of Mitraśarma.³
2.
व्यपदेशे� महता� सिद्धि� सञ्जायते पर� �
[vyapadeśena mahatā� siddhi� sañjāyate parā |
] 3.
शशिनां व्यपदेशे� वसन्ति शशका� सुखम� �
[śaśinā� vyapadeśena vasanti śaśakā� sukham ||
] Pañcatantra, Kākolukiyam, verse 81, p.24.
बहुबुद्धिसमायुक्ता� सुविज्ञाना बलोत्कटान् �
शक्त� वञ्चयितु� धूर्ता ब्राह्मण� छागलादिव ||
[bahubuddhisamāyuktā� suvijñānā balotkaṭān |
śaktā vañcayitu� dhūrtā brāhmaṇa� chāgalādiva ||
] Pañcatantra, Kākolukiya�, Kathā - 2, verse - 116, p.39.
