“And that is why” said Karataka,
Where one unusual incident can take place, another unusual incident can also take place.
“You did all this because you could not tolerate Pingalaka favouring Sanjeevaka. It is rightly said…”
प्रायेणात्र कुलान्वितं कुकुलजाः श्री-वल्लभं दुर्भगा दातारं कृपणा ऋजून् अनृजवो वित्ते स्थितं निर्धनाः ।
वैरूप्योपहृताश् च कान्त-वपुषं धर्माश्रयं पापिनो नाना-शास्त्र-विचक्षणं च पुरुषं निन्दन्ति मूर्खाः सदा ॥ ४४८ ॥
prāyeṇātra kulānvitaṃ kukulajāḥ śrī-vallabhaṃ durbhagā dātāraṃ kṛpaṇā ṛjūn anṛjavo vitte sthitaṃ nirdhanāḥ |
vairūpyopahṛtāś ca kānta-vapuṣaṃ dharmāśrayaṃ pāpino nānā-śāstra-vicakṣaṇaṃ ca puruṣaṃ nindanti mūrkhāḥ sadā || 448 ||
In this world, people born in bad families blame those born in good families, the unfortunate blame those who are fortunate, the misers blame the charitable, the cheats blame the righteous, the ugly blame the beautiful; the unhappy blame the happy, and the fools blame the intelligent.
” And also…”
मूर्खाणां पण्डिता द्वेष्या निर्धनानां महाधनाः ।
व्रतिनः पाप-शीलानाम् असतीनां कुल-स्त्रियः ॥ ४४९ ॥
mūrkhāṇāṃ paṇḍitā dveṣyā nirdhanānāṃ mahādhanāḥ |
vratinaḥ pāpa-śīlānām asatīnāṃ kula-striyaḥ || 449 ||
The learned are hated by the fools; the rich are hated by the poor; sinners hate those who live a disciplined life and the loyal and devoted wives are hated by unchaste women.
And it is due to your vile character, that you blamed Sanjeevaka, and you brought only harm to Pingalaka, in the guise of doing good. After all, it is said…
पण्डितो ऽपि वरं शत्रुर् न मूर्खो हित-कारकः ।
वानरेण हतो राजा विप्राश् चीरेण रक्षिताः ॥ ४५० ॥
paṇḍito ‘pi varaṃ śatrur na mūrkho hita-kārakaḥ |
vānareṇa hato rājā viprāś cīreṇa rakṣitāḥ || 450 ||
An enemy who is learned is better than a well-wishing idiot. The king was killed by the monkey; the Brahmins were saved by the thief.”
Damanaka said “How did that happen?”
Karataka replied…
नृपसेवकवानरकथा
The story of the monkey who served the king
In a city not so far away from here, lived a king who was served by a loyal monkey. The monkey served the king with a lot of devotion, he served as his minister and personal bodyguard as well. Since he was highly trusted, he had unrestricted access to the king’s palace, including his private chambers.
One night, the king was fast sleep on his bed; the monkey was at his side, fanning him gently, with love and devotion. Suddenly, he noticed a fly enter the room, and sit right on the king’s chest. The monkey tried to get rid of the fly by fanning faster, but no avail. The fly sat put on the king’s chest.
This was too much, thought the monkey. How dare he disturb my benevolent master? Looking around, he saw the king’s sword lying to the side of the bed. Angry with the fly, the monkey grabbed the sword, and hit the fly with full force.
The fly escaped easily, but the king’s chest split open and he died on the spot.
“And that is why a king who wishes to live long, should not employ fools as servants.”
चौरब्राह्मणकथा
The story of the Brahmin thief
In a city not so far away, lived a highly-learned Brahmin. Unfortunately, due to his past karma, he lived as a thief.
One day he saw four Brahmins who had recently come to his city, selling some wares….
to be continued…
This is the last story in the Mitra-Bheda series. We are moving towards the conclusion of this series tomorrow. Will Sanjeevaka live, or die? What will happen to Pingalaka? More importantly, what lessons would we learn from this journey?
Let’s find out tomorrow!
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