The Old Tiger And The Traveller- Part 1

Question 1

अहमेकदा दक्षिणारण्ये चरन्नपश्यम् । एको वृद्धव्याघ्रः स्नातः कुशहस्तः सरस्तीरे ब्रूते । भो भोः पान्थाः । इदं सुवर्णकङ्कणं गृह्यताम् । तद्वचनमाकर्ण्य भयात्कोऽपि तत्पार्श्वं न भजते । ल्ततो लोभाकृष्टेन केन चित्पान्थेनालोचितम्। भाग्येनैतत्संभवति । किं त्वस्मिन्नात्मसंदेहे प्रवृत्तिर्न विधेया । यतः

Answer 1

Once, in the Southern forest, while walking, I saw: on the shore of a lake a certain old tiger who had [recently] bathed, Kuśa grass in his paw, who said, “O traveller! Take this golden bracelet!” Having heard his words, a person does not cultivate his proximity. After that, attracted by greed, it was observed by a certain traveller, “This arises due to good luck. However, in this case, when there is personal risk, activity is not to be practiced. Whence:”

Question 2

अनिष्टादिष्टलाभेऽपि न गतिर्जायते शुभा ।
त्रास्ति विषसंसर्गोऽमृतं तदपि मृत्यवे ॥

Answer 2

When there is even the acquisition of the desired from the undesired, a fortunate result does not arise. When ambrosia is associated with poison, then that also [leads to] death.

Question 3

तु सर्वत्रार्थार्जने प्रवृत्तिः संदेह एव । तथा चोक्तम् ।
न संशयमनारुह्य नरो भद्राणि पश्यति ।
संशयं पुनरारुह्य यदि जीवति पश्यति ॥

Answer 3

Moreover, in all cases, in the procuring of wealth, activity is indeed a risk. And likewise it is said, “Having not overcome doubt, a man does not see good things. On the contrary, having overcome doubt, if he lives, he sees them.

Question 4

तन्निरूपयामि तावत् । प्रकाशं ब्रूते । कुत्र तव कङ्कणम् ।व्याघ्रो हस्तं प्रसार्य दर्शयति । पान्थोऽवदत् । कथं मारात्मके त्वयि विश्वासः । व्याघ्र उवाच । शृणु रे पान्थ ।

Answer 4

“Therefore I shall investigate a little. He says aloud, “Where is your bracelet?” The tiger, having stretched forth his paw, shows it. The traveller said, “How can there be confidence in you, who are, by nature, a killer?” The tiger said, “Listen, O traveller!”