Page 25 - Śrī Pañcatantra - Eng

The Pañcatantra

Paṇḍita Viṣṇuśarmā’s Introduction
to His Own Work

Once in southern India, in the city known as Mahilāropyam,
there was a king named Amaraśakti. Though he was wise and
skilled in many arts and sciences, King Amaraśakti had three
blockhead sons. Their names were Bahuśakti, Ugraśakti and
Anantaśakti. Wishing to see to their education, the king called
a meeting of his ministers and told them, “As each one of you
is aware, my sons are all nincompoops. By the very presence
of these foolish boys I am unable to think about the affairs of
state—for as it has been wisely stated:

Of stillborn, dead or dimwitted sons, the first two are preferable.
A dead son causes pain just once, while a brainless son causes
pain till the last moment. Of what use is a cow that neither
bears a calf nor gives milk? Similarly, what good is a son who
has neither wisdom nor devotion? (Introduction, verse 1)
“Therefore, gentlemen, kindly instruct me how to properly
educate my sons.”

One of the ministers arose and suggested, “Your Majesty, it
takes a full twelve years simply to master the rules of grammar.
Afterwards, the student must learn each of the various subjects—

such as the sciences, the arts, economics, warfare, dharma-
śāstra and statecraft. Only then does the student’s intelligence
become awakened.”

xxiii