PT1-12-ThreeFish
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.


  Three fish in the lake bore the names: Mr. Caution, Mr. Brainstormer, and Mr. Loser.  
  They lived in the lake peacefully for a long time. One day, a few fishermen talked about fishing in the lake next day. Hearing this dire news, Mr. Caution told the other two that they should all leave for the next pond.   
  Mr.Brainstormer said, ˈˈWhat is the rush. We will act when it happens. We can escape using an appropriate stratagem when the occasion demands.ˈˈ  
  Mr. Caution did not accept the opinion and left for the next lake immediately. Mr. Brainstorm and others of his kind stayed in the lake.  
  The next day, the fishermen with their nets came to the lake and cast the net wide and far. Mr. Brainstorm, caught in the net, acted stiff as if it was dead. Seeing it, a fisherman threw it on the lakeside. When no one was looking, it jumped into the lake and hid out of sight. The losers and their ilk, not knowing the way out of the net, ended up dead in the hands of the fishermen.  
  He who plans will escape with certainty. The brainy person will think through and somehow escapes. The one who threw caution to the wind and cannot think on his feet will succumb to fate.