PT2-03-DeceitfulFox
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. Sanbakavanam, a verdant forest, thrived with animals in Maghada Country. A fawn and a crow became thick friends. As the crow flew away in search of meat, the fawn was grazing on tender grass. Since there was an abundance of green tender grass, grazing by the fawn made it fat and muscular.
2. Looking at the thriving fawn, a treacherous fox wanted to kill and eat the fawn. That very thought made the fox salivate in profusion. The fox devised a plan to kill and eat the fawn.
3. The fox approached the fawn in a pacific manner and asked the fawn tenderly, ̎Hey friend! How are you doing? ̎
4. The fawn suspected the fox which claimed familiarity and said, ̎Who are you? You talk as if we know each other for eons. I never knew you from before. ̎
5. The fox: ̎Dear fawn! I too live in this forest, but am a sinner because I have no relatives and live a forlorn life. Seeing you makes me happy. I stay with you and will be of service to you. Show me some love and mercy. ̎
6. Hearing these fawning words from the fox, the innocent fawn fell for it. Believing what the fox said, the fawn extended its friendship to the fox. These two sauntered over and stood in the shade of Sanbaka tree.
7. A little later, the crow descended on the tree branch and noticed the fawn and the fox.
8. ̎ O fawn! Who is this new companion with you? ̎
9. Fawn: Oh my brother crow! This fox came seeking my friendship. The fox talks in a loving manner. ̎
10. The crow:   ̎Oh brother fawn! You should not trust a new acquaintance so soon. You should not take some unknown person into your trust without knowing his family and past behavior. It is like the story of the cat killing the trusting vulture. ̎
11. Hearing the crow, the conniving fox said,   ̎Did this fawn befriend you after making enquiries about you? Are you not true friends now? Why do you not consider me as a true friend? ̎ That was the scheming by the fox.
12. Hearing this, the fawn decided, what the fox said was true. It addressed the crow, ̎ My dear brother crow! Can’t we trust a newcomer? Whom do I seek to enquire about the newcomer? Is it a doable thing? Let us keep it private. ̎
13. The suspicious crow, though not convinced by the fawn, half-heartedly accepted the fawn’s reasoning. All three lived together.
14. One day, the fox said to the fawn,   ̎̎I know of a place with luxuriant grass and will take you there. ̎
15. The fawn followed the fox, grazed on the tender grass and appeased its hunger. The fawn made it a habit to graze on the green grass field.
16. The farmer seeing his seeded lawn go bare, set up a net. As usual the fawn went to graze and fell into the net.
17. The fawn felt it would die if one of his friends the fox or the crow does not come to rescue it. It was spinning like a churning pin in agony.
18. The fox came along and saw the plight of the fawn and thought,  ̎My long-held plan and desire are coming to fruition and I will eat to my heart’s content the fawn’s flesh and bone. ̎
19. The fawn seeing his friend the fox, begged for release from the net.
20. The fox:   ̎My dear fawn! I am observing a vow of fasting today. This skin-net, I cannot touch today. Tomorrow, I will return and release you. I will give my life for a friend. ̎ With such perfidy in the heart, the fox hid in a bush waiting for the farmer to kill the fawn.
21. The crow came to the tree in the evening and was disappointed at the absence of the fawn under the tree. The crow flew over the forest’s canopy and found his friend caught in the net in a pitiable condition.
22. The crow:  ̎My dear fawn! How did you, being so intelligent, get caught in the net?
23. The fawn:   ̎Dear brother crow! This is because I did not listen to your advice. ̎ The crow noticed the sad face of the fawn.
24. The crow:  ̎Where is your friend, the fox? ̎
25. The fawn: ̎To eat my meat, the fox is hiding in the nearby bush. ̎
26. The farmer was approaching the net. Immediately, the crow warned the fawn and said, ̎Here comes the farmer. Listen . Play possum. ̎
27. The farmer looked at the fawn which to him appeared dead. He rolled the net and tied it. As he rolled the net, the crow shouted, ̎Run. ̎ The fawn jumped from the grass field and scooted out of there as fast as it can.
28. Upset to see a little fawn fool him, the farmer grew angry and threw a short and stubby stick at the fawn. But the fawn flew away in a trice. The stick landed hard on the fox hiding in the bush and instantly killed it.
29. If a person does good or bad deeds, they bear fruits immediately and the person gets what he deserves. This is the message of this story.