PT1-04-Self-InflictedMisfortune 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. Panchatantra Stories in Tamil by Nara Nacchiayappan பஞ்ச தந்திரக் கதைகள் ஆசிரியர் பாவலர் நாரா. நாச்சியப்பன் Translation Veeraswamy Krishnaraj

Once upon a time, there was a Swamiyar by the name Devasanmā, whose daytime job was begging. He tied his coins in the ragged clothing. No one knew his savings. A Brahmin by the name Āshtābhūthi discovered the Swamiyar's coin treasure. Being a thief, Āshtābhūthi thought once he took the Swamiyar's coin-laden dirty laundry, he did not have to steal every day. The thieving Brahmin was looking to enjoy life with the stolen money. He hatched a plan. Āshtābhūthi came to the gullible Swamiyar, paid homage, claimed he was a Brahmachari, desired to be his disciple and follow a virtuous life at Swamiyar's guidance. Āshtābhūthi accepted him as his disciple and served the Swamiyar as if he was a straight arrow. These two were guests at the home of another Brahmin. They departed from the guest. Āshtābhūthi discovered a piece of straw on his head, and, pointing it to the Swamiyar, he insisted that the host's straw clung on him, and he had to return it to the owner. This attitude was because a guest should not steal even a straw from the host. The Swamiyar agreed, and Āshtābhūthi ran to restore the straw to the rightful owner. On the way, he hid in a place and returned to the Swamiyar. This event made the Swamiyar trust Āshtābhūthi more. One day the Swamiyar and his disciple reached a lakeside. He entrusted his coin bags and rags with Āshtābhūthi and went to the lake to wash his feet and hands. When Swamiyar returned to the shore, he saw two headbutting rams with a fox at the side waiting to lick the spilled blood. The fox hurried to lap up the dripping blood, got between the heads, and died a crushing death. Unaware of the disciple's absence, Swamiyar watched the headbutting. Āshtābhūthi, thinking he would get no other opportunity to run with the loot, absconded into the adjacent forest. Not finding him where he left him, Swamiyar wandered from town to town, searching for him. What he gained was perambulation, but his totes with bundles of coins were missing along with Āshtābhūthi. For lack of wisdom, Swamiyar lost his hoard of meager wealth. The fox lost its life caught between butting heads. These events make the story of self-imposed misfortune.