Monday, March 12, 2007

Commandments For The General Health

1* Use discretion in following all sayings, for they are aimed to be effective in general only, and not in particular, dont start eating off dogs jut because it was said that dog's ,eat promotes masculinity. ----- SAGE VATSAYANA ( KAMASUTRA )

2* When life is at stake, one can eat even the non-eatables. ----- CHARAK

3* Never eat in excess. ----- MANU

4* Hunger knows neither taste, nor ripeness, nor non-cooked food. ----- CHANAKYA

5* Fasting cures many maladies, and can at times prove to be medication supreme. ----- AXIOM

6* Moderation in food intake is most advisible. ----- CHANAKYA

7* Moderation in food intake enhances health, longeivity, strength and happiness. ---- MAHABHARATA

8* Regular and timely intake of food constitutes the right policy. Irregular intake leads to many diseases and different conditions. ----- CHARAK

9* Calculated intake leads to happiness.
Happy intake promotes resistance to diseases.
Too much or too little intake damages the system. ------ AXIOM

10* Never eat at dawn or dusk.
And a light supper or no supper should succeed a top-heavy lunch. ----- MANU

11* A balanced full belly should contain 50% food, 33% water and air in the residual space. ---- VISHNU PURANA

12* Non-vegtarian food, buffalo's milk, horse riding and sleeping by the side of women are fruitful for general health ----- SARANGADHARA

13* Eat food with the same calculation you take medicine. ----- ARUNIKA UPANISHAD

14* Absolutely digestable food imparts total absorption and satisfaction. Hard to digest food should be taken in half-measure only. ------ ASHTANGA HRIDAYA

15* Eat the produce of the season ------ ASHTANGA HRIDAYA

16* Take up a load that wont prove heavy to you;
Eat down a food that doesn't prove heavy to you. ----- THE RAMAYANA

17* Eat balanced food only. ------ THE RAMAYANA

18* Non-Vegetarian diet is not good for each and every one. An year-old grain of wheat or rice is ideal for cooked intake. ----- CHARAK

19* Salt provides the greatest 'taste' of all. And salt promotes all other tastes. ---- COMMON SAYING

20* The humans cannot get nectar, nor can the gods get cow's milk. cow's milk is nectar indeed. ------- COMMON SAYING

21* No food can be called complete, without having cow's milk or a preparation made out of it. ------- COMMON SAYING

22* Contra-indicated, following intake of food, are hard study, running, Exercise, intercourse and wrestling ------ for a period of 48 minutes afterwards. ------ AATREYA

23* Post-prandial walk promotes longeivity.
Post-prandial running hastens death. ------- YOGA RATNAKARA

24* Green-gram is ideal for convalescense ------- CHARAK

25* For the maintenance of well-being, an onion is as good as one's ow mother indeed.
Garlic is equivalent, in its benefit, to ten mothers.

INDIAN PROVERBS

1. There is neither a 'know-all' nor a 'know-nothing'.

2. Greed leads to grief.

3. When he says 'just a minute', it would just mean exactly six months.

4. His great appetite for food is matched only by his great anorexia for studies.

5. Assisting____like a sweeping wind to a raging fire.

6. Jumping for the unreachable high fruit.

7. Claiming himself to be a brother unto Sage Agasthya . (Tall claim; the great sage had no brothers)

8. Like a moon-lit night over a jungle. (Unappreciated wastage of colossal gift).

9. Sent to fetch medicine, he came back just in time_____for the posthumous 'monthly ceremony'

10. If you can't catch him by the hair, do catch his feet. :
(The strategy of a villian; tyranny or surrender).

11. Regular practice renders one an expert.

12. The new chieftain's palanquin sways quite a lot. (Arrogance of sudden rise)

13. "Should that cousine die, his clothing shall be mine" (Mean selfishness)

14. It is quite the same whether the child sleeps underneath the mother's cot or down on the floor beside the dad.

15. It is the hare-brained one, who grieves over the past.

16. The sculptor's assiduous quest for perfection made a monkey out of the intended statue of a man.

17. Lamentations in the jungle. (Who will listen to?)

18. Belated reaction — like the dog that barked six months after the house-break.

19. Like placing in the palm a peeled banana.(Made extremely easy)

20. The noveau-rich person needed an umbrella at midnight to move inside his own home.

21. A trader in the sky. (Swindler;Imposter)

22. Building a ladder in the sky. (Unrealistic ambition)

23. When cows fight, the calves will be the casualties.

24. Desire knows no limit.

25. Never feel shy while learning to sing, dance or study.

26. Cocks all around the house--but not a single cock to wake you up at dawn.

27. Even God himself can not find out the inmate, who commits theft inside the residence.

28. Like the servant who let in the thief at midnight, handed him the stick and then woke his master up. (Dark treachery)

29. It is only by actual experience that one gets to know what it means to build a house - or to perform a marriage.

30. Master your house first, and conquer the world next.

31. Whirling a lighted torch from atop the hut. (a mad and self destructive adventure)

32. The distance between this village and that village is the same as the distance between that village and this village. (Stressing the need for mutual obligation)

33. Exchanging luncheon-packets of sand and cow-dung.
(the mutual trick played between two co-travellers, both unloved at home) (one trick is met by another)

34. Enquire not the origins of a river, a sage or a woman.

35. The secret offender, pounceth when the truth is mentioned, forever unknowingly.

36. Astride, one is a cavalry officer; dismounted, he is a foot-soldier.

37. There is 'no brother-in-law' inside one's own brinjal field. (Business first)

38. Will a cat faint at the death of a rat?

39. The rat stood witness for the cat.

40. The loss is identical - be it a leg for the elephant or a wing for the mosquito.

41. There are thousand paths to reach the same village.

42. Having had feasted yesterday, he is obliged to go on a medicinal feast yesterday, and he's fasting today.

43. A contention at the beginning is preferrable to a quarrel at the end.

44. Like holding a mirror to a blind man.

45. Jealous of the queen on her balcony, the commoner-female ascended on to her roof.

46. Caught between high medical fees - and unbearable funeral expenses.

47. The answerer always finds himself at the losing end of the questioner.

48. The jackal cares not the authority of the gendarme.

49. Assert not thyself at unfamiliar places.

50. The bad dancer dancer blamed on the drummer!

51. Better friend with a wise man than befriend with a fool.

52. Like the mother who niether feeds her children, not allows then to beg.

53. A simple friendly treat is preferrable to a casually invited mighty feast.

54. All 'comforters' - but no real helpers.

55. Greed knows no shame -- and sleep knows no physical comfort.

56. If the family points its finger at you, the public will point its foot at you.

57. A thousand lies are needed indeed - to cover up a single lie!

58. "Neither that lady who never obliges, no the ingratitude who daily gives something have bothered about me today", lamented the beggar.

59. "Yonder, there , see a tiger" said one. "Sure enough, there do I see its tail too" added the other. (Infectious hypnotism)

60. They both ate out of the same plate and shared the same bed. (Deep companionship)

61. The pots are the principal casualties of the blind house-wife.

62. Casting a mighty weapon for the tiny sparrow?

63. Drink not milk under a date tree, lest they say that it is toddy.
(The country liquor toddy, produced from the date tree, looks like an exact replica of milk)

64. "The bull has delivered" came the news. "Tie the calf immediately to a post" said the owner of the bull.
(Unthinking and hasty foolishness)

65. Everyman must take a dip in his own pond.

66. The sweetest thing for any man is his own life.

67. "Never indeed did I come across such a painful corbuncle as this one" declared the surgeon regarding his own corbuncle.

68. "Do you think that it would be possible to grow vegetables in the pond?" asked the rich man. "Sure, and why not?" replied the sycophant.

69. A person astride an elephant fears no barking-dog.

70. An elephant at rest is taller to a standing horse.

71. The peace of the flood in recession.
(Akin to the peace following the passage of a cyclone)

72. There was neither a wife nor a pregnancy - but he settled on the name of Soma-Lingam for his future son. (Foolish arrogance)

73. Privacy is needed for every person - including one's own mother.

74. Bargaining on a full stomach.
(The commodity is an eatable, hence a hard bargain)

75. Happiness and sorrow are the twin weights of the Balance called Life.

76. A crow maintained inside a gilded cage cannot be made to talk like a parrot.

77. Pre-destined accomplishments will get performed by Gandharva Angels.

78. There is no effect without a cause.

79. Aimlessly hopping like a cat on coals - instead of doing something about it.

80. Assume the worst consequences, in order to accomplish the best sequences.

81. When the dog appears, the stone is not to be found; and when the stone is found, not found the dog appears not.

82. The braying deprived the grazing donkey. (Foolish selfishness)/(The braying invites the attention of the farmer)

83. Poverty in materials does not mean poverty in qualities.

84. The ugly person picks up dark spots among the good looking person.

85. Like selling pots in the potters' street.

86. Like a diamond in a dung-hill.
(A worthy person among the unworthy)

87. Digging up an entire mountain in an effort to catch the rat.

88. Like rolling a stone down the hill. (Easy enterprise)

89. Scratching one's own head - with a lighted torch. (Foolish way of doing things)

90. Like a monkey in possession of a coconut. (Can neither use it nor part with it)

91. All the billion arts are but crafts to maintain the belly.

92. Even a dip into the sanctifying Ganges cannot transform a crow into a swan.

93. "I cannot care less" said the dry leaf nonchalantly - whilst high winds were blowing off boulders. (Foolish and mean self-absorption)

94. Whilst one was fleeing with his beard on fire - another was pursuing him fast, with a request to be allowed to light his cigar. (Heartlessly selfish)

95. Better a squint eye than a blind eye.

96. A worthy disciple to a worthy Guru. (Cynical sneer)

97. The dead man's eyes were 'that large'. (Lavish obituary)

98. For the Dead man's wedding , whatever received was dowry enough.
(Possibly refers to the times when weddings among the warrior-cast were conducted with a sword as the proxy for the groom out in the battle-field).

99. Helping a man climb up a tree - and then quietly removing the ladder. (Calculated treachery)

100. A grey-headed woman is not a 'dried-up female'.

101. Like a blind ox in the millet field.
(Dashing in, direction less; not able to get much out of it; aimless)

102. Sugar-coated poison.

103. If the speaker is a scoundrel, the listener need not be lacking in discretion. (Let the speaker be a fool, but the listener should be wise; SPANISH)

104. The greatest strength is local-strength, (locus-standi)

105. Out on an errand, with one foot facing the street and the other thus home. (Hamletian fixation)

106. The cat, which could not drink, upset the pot.

107. The everlasting thief does get caught one day.

108. The rich offer presents to the rich man.
The poor offer presents to the rich-man.
(The rich get richer)

109. All are friends and relations to the rich man. (A full purse never lacks friends)

110. Like a bright red fruit to the crow's beak.

111. Chasing away the crows and feeding the eagles.
(Harming the harmless and strengthening the wicked)

112. Scoding gruel (rice-water) to a burning (hungry) stomach.
(Hobson's choice); (Beggars can not be choosers); (Sadistic helpers)

113. A slip, followed by a fall — and he branded the village to be a bad village, (mindless misattribution)

114. Can a grown-up antelope match a tiger's cub?

115. Sit down first, lie down next. (Caution against physical haste)

116. The monkey will not dance unless you shake the stick.

117. Will the jackal sympathize over a sheep's grief?

118. Preaching Ramayana and felling down temples.
(Conscienceless hypocrisy) (Ramayana is the name of the biography of Lord Rama)

119. Hesitate not to apply the big stick — even if the snake be small.

120. Hiding the mini-pot, while asking for butter-milk. (pride and poverty); (not being straight forward)

121. Felling the tree to fall down straight on one's own self. (wrong planning)

122. Like a gem in the dark. (unrecognised)

123. Presenting him the grown crop, together with the sickle as well. (Presenting lock, stock and barrel)

124. Should you teach swimming to fish?

125. A servant without pay sure deserves a boss without anger.

126. The first to board the boat was the fare-less man.

127. Leaving his own door open, he went out to stand guard over another's house.

128. A man is ever followed by his own shadow.
(by his own shadow of good deeds and bad deeds)

129. Like teaching the grandfather how to cough.

130. He sneezed and said to himself "a hundred years unto me". (sneezing and saying to the self "God bless you")

131. One should know what he can swallow - and of that which can swallow him.

132. Part of the book is a choice selection from the great poet Tallapaka. The rest is his own rubbish. (literary review, oral)

133. Fleeing from the police, he unwittingly hid himself in the house of the police officer.

134. God alone is the helper of the helpless.

135. The distant mountains appear smoother.

136. Trusting the astrologically lucky day, the house-breaker went on with his theft till day-break.

137. God had granted him a boon alright, but the priest delays delivery of the same.

138. The thief suspects everyone.

139. A thief is needed to catch another thief.

140. A thief stung in his act by a scorpion.

141. A king without courage, together with a minister without brains.

142. You can wake up a person asleep, but not a person pretending to be asleep.

143. A pill out of that doctor's hand provides an immediate passage to heaven.

144. Why touch fire - and why get burned?

145. The band of hundred blind men led themselves straight into a wide well. (there is need for leadership with vision)

146. Like cat playing with the rat - and rat literally dying with fright.

147. The nature of a man is derived at birth, lasts unchanged till death. (The nature derived at birth ends only with the funeral pyre)

148. Like the jackal that branded himself - in imitation of the tiger.

149. Short in physical stature, height in mental stature. (The short man has brains many)

150. Go in for an old barber and a young washerman.

151. The depth of a well is fathomable, but not the depth of a mind.

152. Should all blossoms turn fertile and bear fruit, the produce will cover the earth entire.

153. Like covering up her organ before the gyneacologist.

154. The larger the number of guests, the thinner the butter-milk.

155. A gem alone can cut another gem.

156. Caught between a chasm in the front and a well in the behind.

157. The monkey settled the bread dispute.

158. Inwardly rotten, externally tantalising.

159. A miser ultimately loses - from all the four directions.

160. The miser's money ultimately turns out to be the thief's booty.

161. When the attendant is a friend, one can well afford to sit down at the farther end of the banquet line.

162. He is the voice that calls the tune and names the dance as well.
(High authority)

163. Like wealth, like pomp. Like learning, like humility.

164. Don't believe all that you hear.
Don't divulge all that you believe.

165. Hit one on the back, if you may, But hit none on the belly.
(Deceipt is preferrable to deprivation)

166. Like a stone in the hand of a mad man.
(unpredictable and dangerous power)

167. There are a thousand forms of idiocy and ten thousand forms of insanity.

168. It was but one single jump that he made.
It was but one single fracture that he sustained.

169. Enthusiasm if half-strength.

170. Like a funster on the stage, bit by a scorpion. (who will believe him?)

171. Little learning goes hand in hand with Great Pride.

172. A fallen mountain is thought lightly of.

173. Fools learn by their own past.

174. Silence is half-consent.

175. Where there is smoke, there is fire.

176. Venture brings victory - and wealth.

177. Like a cat crouching for a rat.

178. A nail in time spares the axe later.

179. When the owner cried for the lost cow, the shoe-maker cried for lost cow-hide.

180. Strife leads to loss. Friendship leads to gain.

181. Preserve your honor, even at the cost of your own life.

182. Cut not your feet to suit the size of your smaller foot-wear.

183. Apology obviates the servant's folly.

184. Like a blow of the pestle on the whitlow.
(unkindest cut)

185. When one rides gratis, he will apply the whip more often.
(A free ride tempts application of a frequent whip)

186. Like a cat drinking milk with closed eyes — and believing that none is seeing the theft.

187. Cutting the udder in order to draw milk.

188. Kicking the very breast that had suckled. (ingratitude)

189. With commonsense, one can control a cluster of villages.

190. A baby's word is Brahma's word.
(A word spoken by a baby can be a word spoken by God himself)

191. A full-pot is a stable pot.

192. The woman that arouses one's fancy is unto him a Rambha -- the celestial sex-siren.

193. 'New' is pleasure; 'stale' is disgust.

194. The respective fortunes of a stone, a place and a man can not be foretold.

195. Every palate has its own taste and every head has its own idiosyncracy.

196. The egg heckled at the hen.
(Generation Gap)/(The ignorant heckle the learned)

197. Who did evil to the scorpion?

198. When the scorpion was given power, it bit people night-long.

199. Like flies flocking on to a piece of cane-sugar.

200. Word for word, blow for blow.
(Tit for tat)

201 Lasting for a millenium, under daily threat to life.

202. The big pumpkin is at the receiving end of the thin knife.

203. Attempting to cross the river Godavari, clinging on to the tail of a swimming dog.
(A ridiculous strategy; an exercise of idiocy)

204. One cannot play the role of a dog - without the ability to bark.

205. There is medicine for fever -- but not for fate.

206. Brining fetters for one's own feet.

207. Where is jackal? And where is Heaven? (An impossibility; a contrast)

208. Tell the truth and invite trouble.

209. If you get a foothold first, you can get a seat afterwards.

210. Water knows the downward inclination of the land and God knows the truth.

211. He is the type of a man who first presents you rupees hundred — and later fleeces rupess ten million.

212. The joint-husband died of neglect.

213. The idle barber gave the cat a hair-cut.

214. A single blow --- and pieces two. (precision)

215. Lucky --- like the person whom the tiger liked ---- and then went its way.

216. Like king, like people.

217. Fasting is best medicine.

218. From labour, unto fruit.

219. 'More' is the fruit of 'much'.
(The extra-mile)

220. Once the crossing is over, "Mr Boatswain" is called the "bad boatswain

221. Trust not a 'crying man' or a 'laughing woman'.

222. Like a bird with wings broken.

223. Better a blind husband than no husband.

224. The imperfect cook seeks a lot of priase.

225. "I am cured at last, of my madness: you just wrap this stick around my head" said the man.
(A chronic case)

226. "The man who seeks your faults" is your father.
"The man who praises you" may be , is your jealous enemy.

227. Truth prevails -- in good time.

228. Are there any holes -- unknown to the jackal?

229. Applying the big arrow on the tiny sparrow.

230. A full-pot is a stable pot.

231. Where there is honey, there will gather flies.

232. No gourd is heavy for the creeper;
No child is heavy for the mother.

233. He planned for something and god planned for something else.

234. Like employing a wolf to watch over the sheep.

235. God alone is the protector of the unprotected.

236. Put your house in order while the lamp is burning.
(Make hay while the sun shines)

237. The milk won't be released in to udder unless the calf suckles.

238. On being informed that the he-buffalo had delivered, he ordered that the calf be tied immediately to a post. (unthinking haste)

239. A thief is ever suspicious of everyone.

240. A thief thinks like a thief and a gentleman thinks like a gentleman.

241. A thief knows another thief.

242. A mindless minister for a valourless king.

243. Extend courtesy and receive courtesy.

244. Like a sugar that dropped into milk. (A chance of luck"

245. Like a tiger giving him a lick and then letting him go. (A fantastic narrow escape)

246. Greater the effort, greater the yield.

247. A speaker of truth will be treated as an enemy by everyone.

248. Like king, like public.

249. Fasting is best medicine.

250. The possessor of knowledge turns out to be the possessor of fortune.

251. The inferior man promises but delivers not.
The superior man promises not but delivers.

252. Variegated are the tastes of mankind.

253. Heat neutralises heat.

254. Little learning, lot of arrogance.
(The proud ignoramus)

255. Repetition improves the melody.

256. A honey-coated blade.

257. The wolf volunteered to look after the goats, free of pay.

258. Like purchasing leather from a shoe-maker. (A costlier transaction)

259. A father finds faults, unlike the enemy, who praises.

260. Like putting a bridle at the rear of the horse.
(Like putting the cart before the horse)

261. Can a blind man discover the colour of gold?

262. Unending, like the rope of Kondaveedu.
(The deep wells of Kondaveedu need buckets with long ropes)

263. False gold glitters like gold.

264. One the conception is confirmed, prepare yourself for the delivery. (the next logical step)

265. Can "a clap with a single hand" produce any sound? (A single handed effort always fails)

266. Fearing that the cow may kick, the shifted towards the rear of the horse. (The way of an idiot)

267. While the villagers put their rice to dry, the jackal put out its tail to dry. (foolish imitation)

268. The use of garlic equals the care of ten mothers. (medicinal advantage)

269. Where there is a fire, there is a smoke.

270. A squirrel performs a squirrel's service;
(service as per one's own limited capacity)

271. Does not the planter of a tree water it?

272. Selling firewood in a place where he sold sandalwood once.
(reversed fortune)

273. Should one teach a horse how to eat boiled gram?

274. Will a sapling that failed to bend would bend on becoming a full grown tree?

275. What does the ox know of the taste of parched grain?

276. What does a donkey know of the scent of sandalwood?

277. A blind horse eats no lesser than a normal horse.

278. He insisted that the hare he got had but three natural legs only.
(stupidity) (intransigent bluff)

279. Employment maketh a man. (like 'the apparel maketh a man')

280. Madhav Bhatt develops cold twice a year and each time it lasts full six months.

THE HUNTER AND HIS TRAPPED DEER

Once, a deer on flight from a hunter, out-ran him for a long long distance to take refuge in a big lake, and an interaction with two crows high up on a tree, resulted in a staunch alliance.

And one day, finding that the animal did not return for a dangerously long time, the alarmed crows flew hither and thither in search of their friend.

Ultimately, they discovered the deer trapped by a net, with the prospect of the forest-hunter's return any moment.

The crows hit upon on an idea and advised the animal to pretend a death that occured a long while ago, enacting the tell-tale signs and symptoms of a dead animal : fixed stare, stiffly out-stretched feet, etc. And the crows began pretending to be feeding on the eyes, etc., of the 'dead' deer.

The hunter came and duly turned away in despair', away from the "carcass', along with his net.

"Clever friends can save one's own life indeed!"

Friday, February 23, 2007

FROM FRIEND MONKEY, WITH COMPLIMENTS : MEDICINE FOR

A monkey and a crocodile became mighty friends.

And after a while, the crocodile invited the monkey to visit the home of himself and Mrs. Crocodile as their guest, to which the
flattered monkey readily assented.

The ride home was proceeding across the river, with the monkey astride the back of the crocodile.

And en route, the monkey detected some deep sadness in the croco-dile and solicitously enquired the reason why.

"What can I tell you ?. Mrs. Crocodile is suffering from an incurable disease".

"Have you cared to consult any doctor ?" demanded the monkey.

"Sure I did indeed, but it is well-neigh impossible to procure the prescribed medicine", replied the crocodile with a heavy heart.

What could it be ?" enquired the monkey.

"The doctor says that the only medication for this otherwise incurable ailment is the heart of a monkey", replied the crocodi1e in a he1p1ess sigh.

"Don't worry, my dearest friend. Can't I do such a simple help to your suffering wife?" stated the monkey in affirmative.

"Thanks a lot. A friend in need is a friend indeed',, said the crocodi1e.

"Dash it, don't mention it, for this is a matter between friends", the monkey said with a friendly reprimand.

The crocodile started accelerating, when the monkey said, ''Oh, dash my foolish brains, my friend ! 1 just recollected that I kept my heart at home at a secure place, while starting out. Better start. back immediately so much so we would be able to cure Mrs. Crocodile at the earliest!"

The crocodile promptly turned back and headed fast towards the monkey's abode and soon set the monkey safely back on the bank.

"Good-bye - and convey my sympathies to Mrs. Crocodile" , said the monkey from atop a tall tree to the crocodile.

"Never trust a predator."

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

FORESIGHT SAGA

Once, lived in a pond, a' frog named 'Single Brain' and two very large fish named 'Hundred Brains' and 'Thousand not Bains' - not to mention innumerable number of other fish, etc.

One there came to the pond two fisherman, from whose conversation it could be made out that having had discovered a profitable pond, they planned to return with their nets the next morning.

"Let us flee from here right away" said Single Brain, the frog. The large fish refused to listen." Where is the proof that they do as planned? They may change their plan or see pond. We are not going to abandon our home to effect an escape".

"I have only 'one brain' and will do as it tells me", said the frog and escaped from the pond, along with Mrs. Frog.

Next morning, the fishermen came and made their catch of the two big fish.

"One good brain is worth more than eleven hundred lesser brains put together."

DIVISION : The Unmaking of an Alliance

Cursed are those evil beings, who, like Fox Damanak the brother of Fox Karatak, contrive to gain for themselves by dividing and destroying mutually dedicated allies _ , allies like Bull Sanjeev and Lion King Pingal. For, when leadership turns confused, deceipt jumps on to the front seat.

Once, a caravan of humans in bullock carts got stuck up while negotiating an inhospitable terrain inside a dense forest : one of the bullocks sprained a knee and turned immobile. And unyoking the bullock to fend for himself, the caravan of traders moved on, crunching, creaking and moaning along....

The abandoned bull, Sanjeev by name, not merely became normal again, but also gathered enormous strength by subsisting on the abundant forest fare available all around.

And then one day, in a mood of exultance at his own outstanding strength, he let out a loud bellow that burst out like a thunder, straight off the clouds.

The spine-chilling and blood curdling sound made the leaves shiver, the lesser animals run helter-skelter, and the birds take off from trees. And even Pingal, the Lion King of the forest out on the way for a drink at a pond— got him self frozen still with fright. His two ministers, Foxes Kautuck and Pautuck, shot straight off deep into their respective holes.

Fear and panic can unmake the rulers and bring forth leaders — good and bad alike. And fear can even drive a noble and valiant lion to take refuge in the leadership of a wily fox.

Fox Damanak saw his opportunity. He conveyed Fox Karatak, of his intention to approach King Pingal, with the apparent purpose of relieving the lion of his panic. Both the foxes were the sons of a late minister, and Fox Damanak wanted to become a successor to his father's post.

"It is not wise to get involved in delicate and unfamiliar matters, like the monkeys that

meddled in the lumber yard "Monkey Business in the Lumbar Yard", cautioned Karatak.

"One cannot thrive without the ruler's patronage. The wise one gets honoured by rulers and can even be made a minister himself. So, here I go", declared the adamant Damanak.

Fox Damanak then approached with utter humility Lion King Pingal and conveyed with great tact and diplomacy that one should not be frightened by strange sounds "The Fox and the Battle Drum", but should in stead, investigate the same.

"And I will, with the permission of Your Majesty, go forth to undertake that investigation myself," he offered, and was asked to proceed accordingly.

However, the accompanying Fox Karatak tried once again to ward off Damanak from a responsibility that was not his own, like that donkey "The Donkey Sense of Division of Labour" in the story.And brushing offfys persistent brother once again, Damanak approached Sanjeev the great bull and addressed him thus:

"Salutations, 0 Mighty Bull! This forest is the domain of the great Pingal the Lion King. And we have both come down here as the Representatives of His Majesty. It is against the law here to roam and rant at will. Since you are obviously a new coiner to this forest, we are conveying this information from the King himself—, who ordered us to fetch you forthwith, himself.

And if you follow us, we will make you a friend of His Majesty!"

The great bull Sanjeev, opting for an alternate-less protection of a lion from the beef-preferring tigers ever on the prowl, acceded readily.

As Fox Karatak was leading the bull, Damanak made a dash through a short-cut to the Lion King and submitted thus :

"I have just found out that the strange, fierce sound heard was but a bellow from the mighty bull Sanjeev — a very decent fellow with great brains — who befits a ministership, and is indeed seeking an audience with Your Majesty,
King Pingal readily agreed.

And it so proved out to be love at first sight for the noble bull and the noble lion. They became fast friends. The services of the ministers that failed — of Foxes Kautuck and Pautuck — were dispensed with, and Bull Sanjeev was made the prime-minister, in stead. The unexpected development aroused the jealousy of the Fox-brothers Karatak and Damanak against Bull Sanjeev.
"Look at these two! They are so thick in their camaraderie that they ignore our very existence altogether! Now, do think of me, brother Karatak. This Bull Sanjeev literally snatched away from me — by mine own foolish haste, no doubt — the very ministership upon which I had put mine own sights. I do find myself got literally trapped by the very ropes that I brought to bind another. I am now sharing the misery of the guru of Aashad Bhooti "Aashad Bhooti, the Ideal Disciple" greed brought me to the destiny of that unfortunate jackal that was caught betwixt the two fighting rams "The Day of the Jackal"

And now, we should destroy this friendship, like the crow which brought down the death of "An Air-lift for the Crab" that pincered off the neck of a crane," stated Damanak. the snake "The Crow and the Necklace". He continued his pitch thus :

"Remember, brother Karatak, there can be no resistance to be met with for one armed with a great brain, for mental power is stronger to physical prowess "The Lion Kin's Well-Being".

Now, my plan of action is like this. I find that the tare currying the favour of Premier Sanjeev to get back their posts. And I will utilise the opportunity presented by this situation to turn the tables and play off— by convincing talebearing and cool backstab — the Bull Sanjeev against Lion Pingal."

And thus concluded Damanak, much to the instinctual approbation of the admiring Karatak
for a change —, for there is honour among foxes. "Be careful however, brother Damanak, as you are dealing with two fast friends. For, when two close allies do choose to go in direct for a straight talk, it would indeed be the tale-bearer himself who receives the ultimate crush, cautioned Karatak.

Fox Damanak thereupon approached King Pingal, with that utter humility that characterises an outright deceiver, and submitted thus:

"Victory unto the King! As your most humble and dedicated devotee, I have come here on a matter of high security. I have learnt with disbelief—but in such a definite way as to believe indeed —, that a plot of high treason is being hatched surreptitiously against you, right under your very nose.

And it concerns Bull Sanjeev.

Believe it or not, the prime-minister has turned traitor and is actually trying to usurp your own very throne itself, no less!".

The Lion King was taken aback, but with outright disbelief.

"No, never. I can't imagine, even for a fleeting moment, that my dearest friend and ever-grateful ally Sanjeev is capable of turning treacherous unto me!" Pingal roared in disagreement.

Fox Damanak, pleading for patience and a dispassionate hearing, submitted with an utmost sincere tone, thus to King Pingal:

"It is quite elementary, Your Majesty —, for changes not ever the basic nature of a lowly being.wo ex-ministers Kautuck and Pautuck

Will a cobra resist its temptation to bite, even when carried honourably as a coiled crown one's own head itself?

Never trust an absolute stranger —, like this Bull Sanjeev who came from human territory.

Believe me, Sir. Sanjeev is now actually planning to wage war — war itself, no less — with you!"

The Lion King's regal temper shook to an extent.

"Then let us defeat and drive him off our domain", he roared.

"Not so fast, Your Majesty. For, a long-standing friend relieved peremptorily, is bound to wreak revenge by inflicting irreperable damage", submitted Fox Damanak.

"Is Bull Sanjeev that strong and capable himslef?" enquired hesitantly King Pingal.

"He is not alone in this nefarious enterprise. He is being ably aided and abetted by those two disgruntled former ministers and sinister schemers, Foxes Kautuck and Pautuck, together with their coterie and followers," replied Damanak.

"Their sole aim is to kill you off, and their sole goal is to replace you by Sanjeev" he added.

And there-upon, King Pingal the lion became rather frightened — and thus lost his self-confidence. The confused lion there upon placed his faith in Damanak and thus turned dependent on the fox's leadership.

"You better go to Sanjeev and find out his mind yourself," he requested Damanak. "And bring him back to me", he ordered.

The wily fox wasted not a moment in pursuing his sinister plot and reached fast the bull.

And on seeing Damanak, Bull Sanjeev greeted him with great cordiality and made solicitous enquiries regarding the welfare of King Pingal, Fox Karatak and others.

"All are faring quite safe and well — all, except you, my dear Sanjeev", replied Damanak.

And after a significant pause to allow his words to sink in, he continued thus :

"You are now under a very great, dangerous situation. And I do grieve at your impending fate, my dear friend.

King Pingal is no longer the same person you have known. Egged on by conspirators, he is actually planning to kill you — and to drink your own blood!

The Lion King has actually ordered me to bring; you to him, forthwith!

And that, mine own cherished friend, is the grave situation I do find you in" The steadfast ally Sanjeev couldn't be that easily convinced against his friend, the King.

"Go away. I don't believe you. It is incredible that my trusting and noble friend Pingal would ever conceive such an idea", he rebuffed.

The fox laughed and laughed at the words of the bull — and said thus :

"It is a true fool indeed that trusts in the everlasting loyalty of a ruler.

An obstinate ruler insists that the hare he had caught was born but with three legs only — and brooks no contradiction.
Once aroused, there is no containing of a ruler's mood and effulgence, either in friendship or anger. They can sacrifice their own lives — or with equal ease —, take off the very lives of others, on but mere whim and fancy.

Is there a greater hell than service under a ruler?

Show me one single being who can confidentially attest that he was indeed benefited by serving under a ruler!

And even if there was some benefit derived, it would have been but temporary and transcient.

And under the service of a ruler, the only benefit that one can be ever sure of is the benefit of the ultimate axe indeed!"
Bull Sanjeev gathered his wits from the shattering opinions delivered by Damanak, and said at last thus:

"I suspect foul play. Some one had indeed brainwashed and prevailed upon Pingal that I am conspiring with those wily foxes Kautuck and Pautuck.

Otherwise, how else could the Lion King think thus of me —, me with an unblemished record as a true friend and unshakable ally!

I know not of what crime I had committed.

I know not of what gain those conspirators are aiming for.

Anyway, I am resigned to my undeserved fate.

And in any case, why fear death — death the definite evantuality for all beings once born?

Fox Damanak declared thus:

"King Pingal has resolved to kill you, without an iota of doubt. He is good, and there is no doubt about it. But he is now in bad company, like a river that turns bitter in the company of the sea."
Bull Sanjeev said, "Some have hatched a sinister plan against me, eventhough I haven't harmed any one in any fashion. I am going to be: sacrificed by them the same way the camel "A Camel's Service" was killed off in that story. I should have deserted the lion in bad company in good time, like that carpenter "The Carpenter and the Lion" who ran away from that lion, once found in bad company.

One should be choosy in selecting his company: it is but the self- same Fire God, who in alliance with his friendly Wind God, develops the power to destroy everything to ashes, who in the

company of iron does receive blows from the blacksmith's hammer and who, in the company of water, gets himself destroyed."

Thereupon, Fox Damanak thought within himself thus:

"I pulled off my trick wisely thus far. His resignation to fate does suit ideally my purpose. But I shouldn't forget for a single moment his enormous strength. And he can dispatch me off at the slightest suspicion of my betrayal.

It is not advisable to get oneself considered suspect or adverse by the mighty and the powerful. Hence, I must change my tack here."

And then turning to Bull Sanjeev, he stated thus, convincingly:

"You must be careful where rumours are concerned. But you must, at the same time, listen scrupulously to the words of your well-wishers too—unlike that tortoise "The Flying Tortoise" warning of its friendly swans, or those two big fish "The Foresight Saga"who brushed off the advice of their friendly frog.

However, the bullish mood of Sanjeev, brooking, no circumvent counsel, plumped in for direct action in stead. "There is but one single course for the mighty ones to follow, when it comes to resolve precipitated issues — a straight fight to settle strengths", declared Bull Sanjeev.

And there-upon, Fox Damanak hurried to Lion Pingal and conveyed him thus:

"My counsel has proved out to be very correct, Your Majesty!

Bull Sanjeev's arrogant eyes have ascended on, straight to the very top of his head.

He had had the cheek to call you a witless being, and stated that you are wanting in discrimination.
He called you an unstraight crook and a circumvent traitor.

He stated that he hates to bow down his head to you any more.

His words do confirm the old adage that a doomed being's thoughts do get fantastically addled.
He declared his determination to dispatch you to kingdom come.

And besides, he uttered many, many words that my tongue hates to repeat."

And thereupon, the fuse of the ruler was thus lit at long last, by the demonic Damanak.
Pingal the Lion King of the forest let out a rampaging roar of uncontrollable fury — and of outright challenge.
And in turn, he could hear the responding thunderous bellow, replete with the thumping sound of approaching hoofs, of the mighty bull on the run.

Then the two giants clashed.

The roaring Lion King attempted a left hook with his paw.

The snorting Prime Minister dodged it dexterously and then deftly gored the ribs of His Majesty, broadside on. -
The Lion King thereupon was knocked out and fell unconscious, down on the dust below.

Thereupon, the noble bull refrained to press forth his fatal attack on his fallen ex-ally and waited for him to come back.

And thus came an interval in the fateful fight.

Fox Karatak, who was watching, said thus to his brother:

"Do look Damanak, and find for yourself to what i. sad pass your greed has brought our noble king to — and to what a critical moment you brought our gentlemanly friend, the great and noble bull Sanjeev!

My words of caution to ward you off your sinful endeavour, at the very beginning itself, proved out to be useless — and if pressed on further, would have turned out to be counterproductive and self-destructive to me, like that bird's advice to the monkeys trying to warm themselves by the fire-flies "The Power of Unsolicited Advice" or such indeed was your blindness in ambition. You wouldn't have hesitated to dispose off your own brother, the same way that that deceiptful merchant tried to use his own father! "The Talking Tree."

I do blame mine own self now, for two negatives will not make a positive "Two Negatives may not make a Positive" in the higher realities of earthly existence.

You are a deceiver, who is bound to get deceived ultimately—"Iron and Mice" like that merchant who claimed that the mice ate off the entire iron that was entrusted to his safe custody. Your divisionistic tactics will now lead to the end of one of these two noble, staunch allies. Enjoy, do enjoy yourself that spectacle presently!"

And such was the sarcastic jeer of his brother Karatak at Damanak.

Quite soon, the expected climax occurred.

Rousing himself from his reverie, the wounded lion pounced upon the bull's neck and killed him outright, by breaking the neck and plunging his canine teeth into the jugular vein of the bovine.

And then descended the stark anti-climax. The Lion King was overtaken by remorse.

"I have killed indiscriminately my beloved friend and ally Sanjeev — and have thus earned for myself eternal infamy from both my conscience and from the kingdom as well," he was wailing and wailing in continuous growls, for long....

"Why did you do it?" demanded Karatak of his brother.

"Perfidy is the principal weapon to victory of the inferior being. The mighty lion and the noble bull just lacked the bigness to be ever alert against the ever-scheming foxes," clarified Damanak.

"You had sunken to the lowest depths of even foxkind!" remarked the brother fox.

"Demand not greatness ever from others, including your own brothers," stated Damanak.

"What did you gain?" rebuked Karatak.

"Power!" declared Fox Damanak.

"And why at all did you go in for power, you sneaking schemer?" persisted Karatak.

"People gravitate to centres of power in order to destroy their enemies or to protect their friends, MINISTER Karatak," replied Damanak.

There-upon, Fox Karatak fell silent.

And then Damanak gently approached the Lion King Pingal, still grieving for having had killed his own noble prime minister.

"A king shouldn't cry —, much more so when he had but just discharged his normal duty as a great monarch," conveyed Fox Damanak; "And a wise king should never forget his duty for the welfare of his own kingdom and subjects," he added —, as he roused up and led the Lion King, in his self-achieved and hard-earned high office as the new prime minister of the beasts of the jungle.

And as the dark shadows of the night were closing in fast over the brightness of the day, an emotionally overwhelmed Fox Karatak there upon dashed up to a near by hillock. Then, he let out continuous, ecstatic hoots heralding that under a witless king in that jungle polity, integrity was displaced by a treacherous administration that offered death for the great.

Friday, February 9, 2007

Inside the Royal Kitchen

Who doesn't want to be a prince? Blessed indeed are the lives of the kid princes.

The type of food they crave for gets precedence over even the king's own preference, in the royal kitchen.

If they are tired of human playmates and fancy for simian company, there they are brought in ready, those trained monkeys.

And if they want to entertain those new playmates with choice food preparations, no force in the kitchen can ward off their fancy.

And for their tiny chariot — too small for a horse —, a ram can be provided for the same purpose.

And such indeed was the life style of the little princes in a certain kingdom of yore.

One day, the senior monkey called out all the other monkeys for an important meeting and addressed them thus:

"Friends, you are living in a fool's paradise. Bowled over by the choice preparations being handed over personally to you in the royal kitchen by the princes themselves, you have all turned literally blind to a great danger that is surreptitiously enveloping you all.

I am referring in particular to that ram, to whom an entry into the kitchen is barred. Yet, he dashes in, on and off, and has grown accustomed to the royal fare, snatched away by it from time to time.

And even though the ever alert cooks do try to drive it off by throwing at it plates, utensils, etc.,

— whatever that was available handy to them —, he has become a versatile dodger. He has indeed turned bold inside the royal kitchen.

And now I tell you of what is going to happen next, and you all better do listen very carefully.

There definitely looms ahead a certain day, when one of the patience — exhausted cooks, unable to find any handy metallic object, is going to fling a burning firewood, off the stove, straight at the ram.

And that would set fire to the ram's wool. The ram would then dash off to the adjacent big stable and would try to scotch off those flames by rolling himself on the hay.

And once the hay catches fire, the entire stable, including the royal horses, would turn a casualty.

Then, when the royal physicians are called in to cure the horses that had sustained burns, they will invariably recommend the brains of the monkeys, as being the immediate palliative and invariable alliative for the burns sustained.

The king will then have no alternative except to order to catch all of us monkeys, to get at our brains.

Hence my serious advice to you is that we should all leave immediately for our natural abode — by the trees in the forest".

The monkeys were aghast at the apparent machinations of the wandering mind of the senile simian. They laughed at their senior, stated their determination to continue to enjoy the luxurious of the royal kitchen and advised the old monkey to leave for the forest, if it so desired.

"If you all do not care enough for your own lives, that is your business. But I do care, for mine own's", declared the senior monkey, and left for the forest.

However, it took but a little while only, for the far-sighted prediction of the chain of events, as visualized by the senior simian, to materialize.

When a fire-brand flung by an exasperated cook struck with great impact, the coat of the ram caught fire. Roaring with pain, the ram rolled over the hay in the stable. While some horses bolted away and many neighing horses sustained grievous burns, most of the other high-breed horses perished in the carnage. And on the advice of the physicians, all the monkeys of the band were captured, and the extract from their brains was utilized to treat the burns.

The saddened senior monkey in the forest then planned for revenge. And one day, it went near a pond in search of water. However, it noted with great attention to detail, that all the footprints made were in the forward direction only and not in the return direction. Suspecting the presence of a crocodile, it thereupon approached that pond of no return with great care and drank its water — without entering itself into the pond — by the use of a long, porous stem of a lotus.

A gem-necklaced demon, however, materialized immediately above the pond.

"Congratulations, wise one. None, who ever came to this place, had shown brains of your calibre. I am a water-bound demon who subsists on all beings who enter this pond. However, I am helpless on land. Pleased by you, I am offering you any co-operation that you may desire from me. And in return, I want you to procure fresh victims, as food, for me" stated the Water-Demon.

The deal was agreed to and closed upon there, conditional to the presentation, as a first step, of the gem necklace to the old monkey. The water-demon acceded readily.

And when the gem-necklaced monkey returned to the capital city of the king, the entire town went agog with wonder.

"Where at, and how, did you get that gem-necklace?" asked with all eagerness the citizens, king included.

"There is a pond — called the Gem-Necklace Pond — inside the forest. Any one who wades into the pond at sunrise will find a gem-necklace for himself," replied the monkey.

"Please show it; Please lead us all to it," pleaded eagerly the riches-hungry citizens. The monkey obliged, and led them all to that Pond of No Return.

"Wait, friends. You all are to enter the pond at the exact moment when the sun has half-risen across the pond. Any deviation from that particular moment will deprive you of the treasure," cautioned the monkey.

And once they were all at the pond, the monkey however drew the king aside and whispered that he would be shown the exact spot where the earlier gem-necklace, — an extremely brilliant one — was obtained. Thereupon, the greedy king stood by the monkey and watched as all his subjects entered the pond at the exact, stipulated moment.

And they all became ready food for the waiting water-demon.

"Where are my men?" asked the shaken king at long last.

"They are all now at the very place where all my monkeys are!" replied the monkey, while explaining the entire episode.

"Tit for tat!"

"Never under-estimate the minds, feelings and capacities of the lesser beings".

The Jungle's First Family

A lion issued out of his family's den in search of food, slipped by chance into a quagmire and was raising a loud alarm. A kindly fox duly helped the lion to clamber out, by laboriously pushing many pieces of huge dead-wood into the quagmire.

Consequently, a great friendship developed between the two and their families began to dwell in the royal den.

The fox used to help the lion in the hunt as a look out. The magnanimous lion was allowing the fox and his family to share food with his own's.

Naturally, a great camaradarie developed between the children of both the families.

Hoever, the haughty lioness started to discourage her children from mixing with those of the vixen.

"Yours is a lowly family, while ours is a royal dynasty. And hence is the need to groom the children apart," explained condescendingly the proud lioness to the hurt vixen.

And the matter duly escalated to their husbands. The aggrieved fox conveyed his determination to shift his family away from the royal den.

The angered lion thereupon headed straight to the lioness in the den.

"You fool, — who talks of royal dynasties —, where were you when your own husband was sinking in that quagmire?

Would I have been alive today — as the king of the forest — but for the effort undertaken at great risk, to his very life itself, by that humanitarian fox?

And I am now leaving you and your 'royal dynasty,"-------to live along with the fox's 'lowly family'!" roared the lion furiously at the lioness.

Thereupon the haughty lioness realised her own vacuous dignity and agreed to co-exist on terms of equality with the family of the great, friendly fox.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

The Fanning Swan

Near Ujjain the seat of high learning in the northern part of central India, there was a certain forest.

And in that forest by a tree, a close friendship developed between a swan and a crow.

One hot sweltering afternoon, the crow was appalled to see a strange sight.

A tired hunter was having a disturbed sleep underneath the tree. And the swan, perched on a low-hanging proximate branch, was rendering royal service by fanning him with his wings!

"You are downright mad, my noble friend! And don't you know that you are doing service to a heartless hunter of the bird kind?" chastised the crow.

The undeterred swan waved the crow away. And the crow flew back to its high perch on the tree.

After quite a while, the hunter suddenly turned wide awake — on receiving on the face a dropping let loose inadvertantly by the foolisi crow.

And concluding that it was but the swan that had done it, the hunter instinctively raised his bow and released a fatal arrow at the noble benefactor.

"The fatal friendship with the foolish!"

"Never go near or help a born enemy".

The Brahmin and the Burning Snake

"Give a snake a good name and it will turn out to be a good snake!"

Thus thought a good brahmin as he saw a vicious cobra trapped helplessly in a bush fire.

And taking out his stick and tying to its end his empty bag, he extended it to the cobra. The cobra promptly curled itself into the bag. After scooping it out thus, the well-meaning brahmin let the cobra loose.

The cobra however, following its vicious nature of 'converse gratitude', made a beeline to bite the benefactor himself to death.

A Witnessing fox, feigning ignorance, sought for and got the details of the incident straight from the cobra itself.

"No I cannot believe your story, Mr.Cobra. It is hard to get convinced that you could successfully have adjusted your very lengthy self into that tiny bag," sneered the clever fox,

"I dare you demonstrate it", he challenged the cobra.

Thereupon, the cobra duly entered an coiled itself entirely, inside the bag.

"Do lift up the stick and fling that bag right into the bush fire, Mr.Foolish Good", ordered fox.

There-upon, the brahim followed the advice immediately.

"It is extremely hot here and I am beginning to burn. Do save me!", pleaded piteously the cobra.

"You evil being — who planned to harm your own saviour himself—, should now undergo the punishment due, for your unpardonable crime," retorted the fox to the burning cobra.

INSIDE ANIMALKIND

Once a king on a hunt got seperated from his party and lost his way in a forest. He spoted a sage in deep mediatation and waited patiently, till the sage came bacvk to, and opened his eyes.

Impressed, the sage pressed him on to get a boon out of him. The boon ultimately chosen by the king was to be blessed with the gift of 'foriegn body entry'....... of the capacity for his soul to leave his own safely deposited body for a temporary while and to enter into any corpse, to be able to move around in its revived condition.

With the boon granted thus, the king tried it on animal kind.... after depositing his own body in the safety of a hole of a tree.... and his soul entered the dead body of a blue bull, a beast bigger than a big deer. And the revived blue bull, guided by the soul of the king, roamed hither and thither, till he came across and got killed by a leopard that descended unexpectedly in a yellow flash from the branch of a tree.

The king then entered into a dead cobra. And feeling hungry inside the revived cobra, the hunted for and captured a live frog. Next began the slow, natural process of swallowing it.The fading erooks of the choking frog drew sharp the attention of a mangoose, a venon-proof mortal enemy of the reptile kind. soon a life and struggle followed, eulminating in the victory of the mongoose. The mongoose then bit off the dead cobra to pieces and consumed them all.

The soul of the king there-upon entered a dead tiger. The revived tiger was soon joined by a tigress, but drew sharp the jealousy of a passing tiger. The passing tiger gave a ferocious fight and also killed off the tiger.

Entering then into the body of a dead ant, the king soon joined the army of its fellow-ants, Enroute, an army of a different species of ants gave battle and the ant got killed in the process.

Spothing a dead dove, the king's soul entered into it and joined its covey in flight. However on alighting, the birds got themselves trapped in a net. The hunter toncerned came to the scene some while later, wrung their necks to death and flung them all into his shoulder sack.

The king had enough and went back to his own body in the hole of the tree. Finding a python making its slow process to creep into the hole in order to swallow the body, the king hastened back into it and jumped, in time, right out escaping the snatch of the python.

And then the king hurried back to his own people and kingdom

Sunday, January 21, 2007

THE FLYING TORTOISE

There had been a long drought and consequently, a pond inside a forest was getting rapidly dried up. Among the affected victims were three fast friends: a couple of swans and a tortoise.

The swans planned to migrate to a distant, water some lake. The two noble birds, however, didn't want to leave their friend behind. And all the three, accordingly, hatched a plan for effective rescue.

The flight strategy was simple, though.

The tortoise, with a tight grip by its mouth, was to hang on fast to a strong enough stick, held firmly on either side by the sturdy beaks of the two flying swans.

But, there was one natural, and compulsory precaution : under no circumstances should the tortoise let go of its oral hold on the stick, right from the take - off to the touch - down stage.

Soon, the air-lift was effected. And en route, the entire populace of a town down
below came out to watch, admire and pay encomiums to the genius behind the strange enterprise.

Their greatest praises were reserved especially for the daring tortoise, which
went into its head and rendered it clean-bowled.

"It is not bravery alone, but sheer necessity for me!" the tortoise wanted to say to
the admiring crowd.

However, as it opened its mouth to convey the planned message, the tortoise lost
its hold on the vital support and fell down to smash sharp to death, on the rocks
below.

"Extra-ordinary enterprises require iron-clad precautions.

"Observe strict silence in high places — and during high adventure."

GOING BY THE BOOK

The ancient Indian texts convey a lot of wisdom. Naturally, all those texts are in sanskrit. Since one single sanskrit word answers several dictated meanings, great discrimination is needed for due interpretation of the great texts.

In the kingdom of "KANYA-KUBJA", four scholars - all former classmates — set out on a journey, taking along with them their texts.

"What route should we now take? " asked one scholar.

"Take that particular route, which parties in large numbers take to, " read one person, from a text. And that was how they did take to the 'funereal route'. They had no difficulty en route, for they followed a funeral procession.

At that site of ultimate destination, they spotted a donkey saved the foolish four.

"Knowledge is a double-edged weapon and is to be used carefully".

Tuesday, January 9, 2007

MAN, THE HOST UNGRATEFUL OF ALL BEINGS

A poor brahmin in search of a comfortable livelihood set out into the wide world.

En route, he had to pass through a jungle. Driven by thirst, he came upon a big well and discovered that there were four live beings who had had the misfortune to have fallen individually into the well earlier. One was a monkey. The other one was a tiger. Yet another was a man and the fourth one was a snake. And listening to their heart-rending entreaties, he saved them all. They all promised him help in case of need, conveyed him of the location of their individual abodes or modes of contact and went their separate ways.

However, as bad luck would have it, the poor brahmin could make no progress in his guest for a better life. And then he remembered his beneficiaries and approached them one by one at their respective places.

The monkey provided a choice assortment of fruits to the poor brahmin.

The tiger provided great riches in the form of golden ornaments belonging to the past human victims of himself.

And it was then that the brahmin went to his human beneficiary in the city and sought his help in converting the ornaments into currency.

The man, a goldsmith by profession, took the ornaments by himself and set out on the ostensible purpose of showing them to another goldsmith in the city.

However, it was to the king indeed that the man headed straight.

He conveyed to the king that he had identified the ornaments as belonging to the king's missing son and that the obvious murderer, the brahmin, was to be found waiting at the goldsmith's own residence. And soon, the brahmin was duly clapped in jail on a charge of theft and regicide, with a sentence of death staring him straight in the face.

And such indeed was the idea of gratitude of the human beneficiary of the brahmin, - who in his darkest hour of need thought of his fourth beneficiarv, the snake.

As per the plan, the snake promptly came by the fastness of the night into the jail - on being mentally called for - arid conveyed of a plan he hatched in order to save the brahmin.

As per the plan, the snake proceeded straight to the royal palace and bit the sleeping queen. And with the condition of the queen turning thus, the king announced a royal reward to her saviour-to-be.

The brahmin in jail, as per the snake's plan, offered his services and was taken to the royal chamber. And when he placed his hand on the queen's forehead for a while, the poison got itself duly neutralized and the brahmin was feted and presented with the announced reward by the king.

Such indeed was the gratitude of the snake towards his benefactor.

And when questioned by the king later, the brahmin conveyed in detail the treachery of his human beneficiary.

The goldsmith was duly punished and the brahmin was presented by the king with a big house too, besides the huge financial reward, to live happily ever after with his wife and children.

GOING BY THE BOOK

The ancient Indian texts convey a lot of wisdom. Naturally, all those texts are in sanskrit. Since one single sanskrit word answers several dictated meanings, great discrimination is needed for due interpretation of the great texts.

In the kingdom of "KANYA-KUBJA", four scholars - all former classmates — set out on a journey, taking along with them their texts.

"What route should we now take? " asked one scholar.

"Take that particular route, which parties in large numbers take to, " read one person, from a text. And that was how they did take to the 'funereal route'. They had no difficulty en route, for they followed a funeral procession.

At that site of ultimate destination, they spotted a donkey saved the foolish four.

"Knowledge is a double-edged weapon and is to be used carefully

IRON AND MICE

Once upon a time in a certain village, there were two friends. Both of them were merchants, and one of them dealt with iron. When the iron merchant went out on a long business trip, he entrusted his iron, far safe custody, to his friend.

However, when he ultimately returned, he had had a shock in store • for him. The rats, it appeared, got the iron! The friend told him that the rats did such a clean job that not even a trace of iron remained.

The non—plussed friend was shocked into silence, because the other merchant was richer and had great credentials as an honest businessman of great integrity. "We are all helpless against acts of fate" he told the rich merchant.

And sometime later, he took the rich friend's son along with him for a long visit to the bazaar. However, he returned - , minus the boy. "The boy was carried off by an eagle" he explained ,feigning sadness.

Naturally , the matter went straight up to the King, who pulled the lesser merchant sharp for having invented a patently impossible occurence.

"If rats can eat away iron. Your Majesty, then eagles can carry off children!" explained the merchant.

And on hearing the entire story, the king sentenced that the boy should be entrusted back home, while his dad was to be entrusted to the goal together with a big fine.

UNTOPUCHABLE EMINENCE

Two aborginals deemed untouchables in orthodox ancient india went outside the jungle to catch and skin animals.

Suddenly, they heared voices from a tree above.None however were visible. The voices, they conjectured, must have belonged to the gandarva's angels.

"The queen of this kingdom is incurbly sick.All the royal physicans have held up their hands in despair ," conveyed one angel.

"Those physicans no nothing. If they do but dig up that red plant and the belive plant over there, mix their roots and administer a boiled-and-cooled decortion of those herbs, the queen will recover promptly, " declared the other angel.

Thereupon, the aboriginals made their way, post-hste, to the gtes of the king's port. Howere, they were stalled--as being follish an suspect by the 'high-born' gate-keepers.

They laughed at their claim of having heard angles speak.

The altercation continued for hours, when a couple of royal physicians came out, with apparently hopless counteriances.

However, after hearin the story of the boriginals, they prevailed upon the lather to part with the herbs. Then they mode they made the decotion, claimes it to be their own, and administred it to the queen.

Therefore, the queen's condition worered immadiately, then the physicians confessed the truth, and the aboriginls at the gate were brought in for due punishment by the king.

The aboriginals stuck to their story. And then with the king's permission, they administred another lose of the same medicine themsleves, to the queen.

The queen immediately recovered.

"The physicians failed because they administered the medicine without faith, besides greed for great reword in lose of success. Our administration proved efficacious because our humane motivation was pure, and was driven by loyalty to the thereone and the kingdom," they explained.

THE ELEPHANT AND THE TAILOR

The elephant,it is said, is endowed with great memory and deep gratitude.

In a certain town, a tamed elephant used to go rounds, door-to-door, every morning as the recipints of many eatables preferred to his trunk. However, when any any resident used to say "please go away" the elephant used to turn away, like a gentleman.

One of the regular patorn was a tailor.

However the tailor behaved rather out-of-turn on one occasion. For it was the busy seasonfor marriages and tailors hands were literally full with urgent assignments.

And when the elephant, in spite of being told to go away by his regular pattorn, he waited for a long while, hoping against hope.

The work harried tailor there upon stuck deep his needke into the out stretched trunk of the elephant. Having had apprantly learnt his lesson, the elephant went away.

And next morning, the elephant returned as usual and stretched out his trunk.

But before the tailor could offer something, the revenge full eleplhant raised the trunk and sprinkled muddy water all over the new dress that were being prepared.

The elephant, with his prodigious memory remembered the insult and came back loaded with muddy water, with the express purpose of awarding punishment to the tailor.


"Discourtesy invites disproportionate retribution"

"TIT FOR TAT" !

THE DANCING HARE

“You are a mighty performer in acrobatics and dance. Why not u feast my eyes with a display of your distinction in dancing ?” extreated the hare a wily fox.

The hare could understand the malifide intention behind the flattery; that since the fox cannot overtake a hare on a run, he wanted to go to grab the hare while he was dancing nearby.

"What an hornour indeed, coming from an being with an extraordinary brain like you ! Sure, iwill oblige you," replied the hare. "But as i get myself ready in my make up for the performance, you must shut tightly both your eyes for a duration of five minutes," added the hare.

And finding the hare thus apparently falling into his trap, the greedy fox readily obeyed.

However, when he opened his eyes, the hare was now where to be found...

"The greed-blinded being !"

Wednesday, January 3, 2007

INSIDE ANIMALKIND

Once a king on a hunt got seperated from his party and lost his way in a forest. He spoted a sage in deep mediatation and waited patiently, till the sage came bacvk to, and opened his eyes.

Impressed, the sage pressed him on to get a boon out of him. The boon ultimately chosen by the king was to be blessed with the gift of 'foriegn body entry'....... of the capacity for his soul to leave his own safely deposited body for a temporary while and to enter into any corpse, to be able to move around in its revived condition.

With the boon granted thus, the king tried it on animal kind.... after depositing his own body in the safety of a hole of a tree.... and his soul entered the dead body of a blue bull, a beast bigger than a big deer. And the revived blue bull, guided by the soul of the king, roamed hither and thither, till he came across and got killed by a leopard that descended unexpectedly in a yellow flash from the branch of a tree.

The king then entered into a dead cobra. And feeling hungry inside the revived cobra, the hunted for and captured a live frog. Next began the slow, natural process of swallowing it.The fading erooks of the choking frog drew sharp the attention of a mangoose, a venon-proof mortal enemy of the reptile kind. soon a life and struggle followed, eulminating in the victory of the mongoose. The mongoose then bit off the dead cobra to pieces and consumed them all.

The soul of the king there-upon entered a dead tiger. The revived tiger was soon joined by a tigress, but drew sharp the jealousy of a passing tiger. The passing tiger gave a ferocious fight and also killed off the tiger.

Entering then into the body of a dead ant, the king soon joined the army of its fellow-ants, Enroute, an army of a different species of ants gave battle and the ant got killed in the process.

Spothing a dead dove, the king's soul entered into it and joined its covey in flight. However on alighting, the birds got themselves trapped in a net. The hunter toncerned came to the scene some while later, wrung their necks to death and flung them all into his shoulder sack.

The king had enough and went back to his own body in the hole of the tree. Finding a python making its slow process to creep into the hole in order to swallow the body, the king hastened back into it and jumped, in time, right out escaping the snatch of the python.

And then the king hurried back to his own people and kingdom

"The civilised humans have developed a great system of securty, co-operation and promotion of mutual benefit. Any deviation from that system of security would land them into a jungle of british beasts."

THE 100% LEARNED MAN

It was the rainy season. The Learned Man, a great scholar, was crossing a river on a boat. He got into a conversation with the only other person in the boat, the illiterate boatswain. It was the rainy season.

"Do u know arthimetic ?" enquired the Learned Man.

"No, sir and how can i with my humble origins? " replied the boatswain, in the negative.

"In that case, one quarter of your life has been waste", the learned man gave his judgement,

"Perhaps you know a little bit of reading and writing ?" continued the Learned man and ehicited with the similar answer.

"Then, man half of your precious life has gone waste", started thus the Learned man.

Next came the following query:

"Have you ever gone out of your limited locality, to know other lands and people's?"

"How could i, being hooked to this shuttling profession day in and day out?" the boatswain gave once again a reply in the negative.

"I am sorry to find that three-fourths of your valuable life has turned useless", opined the Learned man sympathetically.

There after, was a deep silence between the two, when suddenly the boatswain asked whether the Learned Man had ever learnt swimming.

"Man, that is one thing that i never bothered to learn? I must honestly confess regarding my absolute inability in this aquatic exercise" said the Learned man.

There was a pregnant silence and a sign from the boatswain.

There was a sudden inspiration from the Learned Man, who wanted to know of what pmopted that question.

"Then look yonder there, Learned pundit. We are heading inescapably towards a fatel whirlpool. There is no other alternative except to jump down and swim off to safety before it turns too late....... just as i am doing at this very moment," blabbered the boatswain as he linger into the river in spate.

"Pundit, know that your entire life of great distinction is lost because you didn't ever care to learn swimming" declared the boatswain, as he swam away from the imminent whirlpool.


" An illiterate man need not necessarily an incapable man "

"The pragmatic illiterate !"

Tuesday, January 2, 2007

HOW TO STOP THINKING AND START SEEKING ADVICES

A weaver in search of some choice wood applied the axe to the trunk of a tree and was stunned to hear a voice from the tree talk with him. And that voice belonged to a demon among demons, the 'brahmin—demon'.

"Stop, for this is my assigned abode. And if you obey, I will grant you a gift, any gift", said the 'brahmin-demon'. "Mighty Sir, I will definitely obey your orders. But regardinq the gift you promised, please give me some time for consultation with my •folks before makinq a due choice", replied the weaver. The brahmin-demon readily gave the desired permission.

The weaver went first to his friend, a barber. "Ask him for a kingdom and you can be a king, while I will be your minister", suggested the friend. "That is ' good advice indeed - but all the same, let me also consult my wife", replied the weaver.

"A house where a boy, a woman or a gambler is the advisor collapses by itself", cautioned the barber.

The weaver went thereupon to his home and conveyed in detail the entire development, including the brahmin-demon's promise and the friend's advice.

"Seek not the advices of sycophants, boys and barbers. What would a kingdom bring to us - except troubles for which we are untrained to cope up with ? Once we get a kingdom, even our own relations can lead us into dangerous situations, due to their own greed. Let us be satisfied with our own profession, the hereditary creed of our caste.

It is enough if we first double our income. And the solution too, is easy. You earn your living by using one head and two hands. You better hurry up to the 'brahmin-demon' before he changes his mind, to help in the 'strategy for double-income', by asking for one more head and two more hands", counselled the weaver's wife emphatically.

There-upon, the weaver went back to the tree and procured from the demon-brahmin the necessary implements for 'the strategy for double income' - the gift of one more head and two more hands.

And on his way back, a crowd gathered around the weaver with two heads and four hands. And frightened by the 'monster', they duly stoned him to dea