Page 35 - Śrī Pañcatantra - Eng

Mitra-bheda (Confict among Friends) 7

“Therefore, through the intelligence of nīti-śāstra I shall save
Piṅgalaka from whatever has frightened him. And from there
I shall rise to my lost post of minister once again.”

“But,” Karaṭaka countered, “How does one who is unaware of
the meaning of service win over another?”
Damanaka explained, “When I was very young my father used
to let me play on his lap as he discussed nīti-śāstra with visiting
paṇḍitas. Having listened to the stories of those sages, I will
now put their timeless lessons to work for my own benefit.
Listen to me ...

Only brave men, scholars and those who know the art of
service collect the rewards of this life. And, service to an
unappreciative king who fails to recognize the contributions
of the educated is akin to plowing the desert. (1.8)
Commentary: “A living entity is happily the part and parcel of
the Lord, and thus his natural function is to render immediate
service to the Lord. By the spell of illusion one tries to be happy
by serving his personal sense gratification in different forms
which will never make him happy. Instead of satisfying his own
personal material senses, he has to satisfy the senses of the Lord.
That is the highest perfection of life.” (Bg, Preface)
Karaṭaka wondered, “How then will you break the ice and
broach the subject with Piṅgalaka?”

Damanaka replied, “Whatever I tell him must be spoken only
at the correct moment, for ...

Even the greatly learned Bṛhaspati risks censure if he speaks
out of turn. (1.9)
Karaṭaka was not so sure. He countered, “It is not so easy to
influence the high and mighty, for ...