PT2-02-HaplessBrahmanaKilledByTiger

Panchatantra Stories பஞ்சதந்திரம் pañca-tantiram , n. pañcan +. The Tamil version of Pañca-tantra consisting of five books, viz., mittira-pētam, cukirl- lāpam, canti-vikkirakam, artta-nācam, acampirēṭciya-kārittuvam; மித்திரபேதம், சுகிர்ல்லாபம், சந்திவிக்கிரகம், அர்த்தநாசம், அசம்பிரேட்சியகாரித்து வம் என ஐம்பகுதியுடையதாய்த் தமிழில் மொழிபெயர்க் கப்பட்ட நூல். 1. மித்திரபேதம் = mittira-pētam = Sowing discord among friends. 2. சுகிர்ல்லாபம் = cukir-l-lāpam = the acquisition of friends. 3. சந்திவிக்கிரகம் canti-vikkirakam  = Associating with a foe with a view to ruin him. 4. அர்த்தநாசம் artta-nācam  = Loss of wealth. 5. அசம்பிரேட்சியகாரித்துவம் a-campirēṭciya-kārittuvam , n. a-sam-prēkṣya-kāri-tva. Action without forethought. Inspiration: N.Natchiyappan

1. A decrepit old tiger lived in a forest. Because of its old terminal age, he could not hunt to eat. One day, it went to a lake, took a ritual bath, donned itself with Darbha grass and a gold bangle, and sat on the lakeside. At that time, a Vedic Brahmana was passing by, chanting slokas. The tiger accosted him.   2. The tiger: ̎Hey Brahmana! Look here. I will give you this gold bangle. Come here.̎     3. When he saw the gold bangle, desire seized him.   4. But he was afraid to go near the tiger. Staying far away from the man-eater, the Brahmana addressed the tiger, ̎My dear tiger! My greetings to you. You are cruel by nature and kill people for food. Giving up all that, you offered a gold bangle as a gift. What is the matter with you? ̎   5. Feigning sattvic countenance, the tiger addressed the greedy Brahmana, ̎ Hey Brahmana! Look-see. I am old and worn. Look at me well: I have no teeth and no nails. At this stage in life, I chose to give away all I have and desire to earn merits. Do not be afraid. Go into the lake and take a ritual immersion and purification. ̎  6.  The tiger continued to speak, ̎ Once you are purified, you can take the gold bangle from me. ̎    7. Thinking that all is well for an easy acquisition, the Brahmana entered the lake, which was a bog of mire.    8. He jumped into the lake, down went the feet into the bog, and he could not get out of the sticky mud. Realizing an easy meal in the mud, the tiger smacked its lips, and said, ̎Oho, you are deep in the mud. Let me release you. ̎ So saying, the tiger jumped on him and, with its front legs, killed him.    9. The tiger drank the spurting blood from his neck and pacified its hunger.    10. Without forethought, desiring for an object at an inopportune moment brings a deathly end.