Page 31 - Śrī Pañcatantra - Eng

Mitra-bheda (Confict among Friends) 3

tracks, they fabricated their own version. “Sir,” they said to
Vardhamānaka, “Sañjīvaka has now gone to his next existence.
We gave him a proper funeral and cremated his remains.”
Touched, Vardhamānaka also performed the last rites in fond
memory of his faithful departed bull.

But Sañjīvaka had a different destiny. The diet of tender plants,
the refreshing water of holy Yamunā and gentle breeze revived
the bull even as one reborn. Gradually his injury healed. As we
learn from nīti-śāstra...

Even an unprotected person escapes difficulties when good
fortune smiles on him. But when luck turns a corner, the
same person becomes doomed even if he is protected by King
Indra. As long as his destiny is kind, it smiles on him even if
he is alone and defenseless in a jungle, and a man lives to see
another day. Yet when his fate runs out the same person dies
in the comfort of his own house. (1.3)
Commentary: “The Supreme Personality gives directions as to
what is good and what is bad, and one simply has to act in
Kṛṣṇa consciousness to attain the perfection of life. No one can
ascertain his destiny as the Supreme Lord can; therefore the
best course is to take direction from the Supreme Lord and act.
No one should neglect the order of the Supreme Personality
of Godhead or the order of the spiritual master who is the
representative of God. One should act unhesitatingly to execute
the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead—that will keep
him safe under all circumstances.” (Bg 18.59, purport)

Now there in the forest alongside the Yamunā lived a great lion
named Piṅgalaka who was worshiped by a large entourage of
followers. One day Piṅgalaka made his way to the Yamunā
to quench his thirst. As he approached the water he heard
the great roar of Sañjīvaka. Terrified, he hurried back to his