Panchatantra Punches Part 18

86. When the Gods of wealth, war, water and fire engaged themselves in a war, they all lost - For victory is neither in the hands of Gods or men !!!

87. The firefly looks like fire,
      The sky appears flat,
       Yet the sky and fly are neither this or that.

88. The false seems true and the true seems false, but appearances deceive, so think it through.

89. A ruler should first take fit and friendly advice and hear it more than once. Then think about it from first to last. Finally act and harvest fame and fortune, avoiding the absurd.

90. A friend is some one who understands what you do. A friend is someone who tells you the truth about yourself.

And here ends the mega series of Panchatantra Punches which I have been posting over months. I hope readers enjoyed each and every punch so far posted. It would have definitely provoked the thinking process of each and every one. If I get to know some thing interesting for another series , you can expect some parts of wisdom again. May be some poems and thoughts or messages will be circling around next in this blog. Until then.....

Signing Off,
Siva.

Panchatantra Punches Part 17

81. "It is by our education, good or bad, that the consequences are".. It is better to cling to a wise enemy than a foolish friend.

82. When the last hour arrives, that none however shrewd miss, a noble spirit serves his kind and death itself is bliss.

83. Wrong is wrong. The wise man will never try to justify a wrong as right, just as people avoid drinking gutter water, no matter how thirsty they are ...

84. When bit of royal land are lost, they can be won back easily, but the loss of a true and understanding friend is a deadly pain. He / She can never be replaced.

85. If we desire to survive and prosper, we should not leave alive father, brother, son or bosom friend, should they become a threat to us. Learn from anyone, who is wise, even if he be a mere boy.

Panchatantra Punches Part 16

76. Do these three things only once.

a) The word of a king once spoken,
b) A saint's speech,
c) A girl given in marriage.

77. Rivers end in the salty sea, family peace ends when women disagree, secrets end when traitors are not thrown out and families end through a wicked son.

78. Where the tongue is double, you may look for trouble. Every boastful traitor skillful in slander, brings about the ruin of all those in his clutches.

79. Choose a shrewd and upright man as your friend, but if a man be foolish and false, kick him out at the earliest.

80. Better plunge into the sea or fire or the deepest fit than associate with a dangerous fool.

Panchatantra Punches Part 15

71. Educating an useless fellow does not kill his pride, but increases it. Education is supposed to remove stupidity and pride, but if it encourages them, who can cure the educated man.

72. Rulers who follow the advice of mean and vicious fellow gets trapped in the cage of misadventure.

73. A king shines as a social being not as a solitary; whoever wishes him to be lonely is his adversary.

74. Kings should suspect no poison in harsh criticism, but in flattery they should see treason.

75. Only fools seek friends through treason, through humbug righteousness, property by cheating neighbors,
learning without labor and a woman's love through cruelty and pride.

Panchatantra Punches Part 14

66. By fleeing to a distant place, you are not commune from danger.  The long arms of fate will make the careless sinner pay wherever he is.

67. A reckless adviser bent on his petty purpose, threatens life and brings ruin to the king and kingdom.

68. The wise try four means to end a quarrel-

• Peace
• Shrewd intrigue
• Bribery
• Courage

69. A rogue cannot continue other's good work,  but can ruin it.

70. A good statesman should take into account 5 factors : 

• A proper beginning.
• Resources - human and material.
• Determine the place and time.
• Safeguards against bad luck.
• Finally successful accomplishment.

Panchatantra Punches Part 13

61. Accurate self critics are secure even in times of severe strain. Plan your effort, assess your strength, then your action will bring the desired fruit.

62. A well advised scheme to separate friends will work just like the constant pressure of water on a solid rock makes it split and give way for the water.

63. The man who studies every book and understands, but does not look to his advantage, learns in vain - his books are merely a mental strain.

64. Though your speech should be sweet as sugar, steel your heart, do not draw a doubtful breath or you will pay with death.

65. For the wise man, who wishes to hurt some one, pursuing selfish ends, should keep his plans a secret.

Panchatantra Punches Part 12

56. Where the family, fame and wealth is the same, marriage or friendship is secure, but not between the rich and the poor.

57. Ambition and greed for reward blinds one to danger. Men avoid the easy good and place too much confidence in rogues.

58. Like a fruit-laden tree whose branches bend low, the peacock whose proud feather makes his walk sluggish and slow, speedy horse which is tied and fed, so also the god discover that their own good is their enemy.

59. A man is great because of his virtues is no longer true, for the world takes little or no note of a brave deed.

60. By gifts, by self denial, by sacrifices, some slowly go to heaven, but to the one who dies in a heroic battle, the entry is immediate.

Panchatantra Punches Part 11

51. A truly kind man saves you from vice, 
      A true wife shares your mind, 
      True actions keep you free from blame,
      True joy keeps you away from shame of greed,
      True wisdom wins the praise of saints,
      True friends show no restraint,
      True glory knows no arrogance &
      True men are cheerful even in distress.

52. The fool who does not know his own strengths and weakness is his own enemy. Whoever spurns a pleading enemy, disrespects the Holy Trinity - Brahma, Shiva  & Vishnu.

53. 5 kinds of people are dead even while alive: -

• The poor
• The chronically sick
• The fool
• Those living in exile
• The servants or slaves of king.

54. Women befriend rogues, money goes to the miserly, rain to the mountains and the seas, and kings with rascals.

55. False friends are worse than useless. Friends who compliment you on your face, but speak ill of you behind your back are like a jug of poison with milk cream on top.

Panchatantra Punches Part 10

45. No rogue ever gives a reason for dishonesty, and no saint for his compassion - No matter how much kindness you show to a rascal, he will remain a rascal.

46. Lost is a gift which does not fit, lost is a service when it is lavished on idiots, lost in ingratitude is the kindest advice and lost is courtesy on one who is not a gentle man.

47. A perfume on a corpse, shouting to the deaf, or applying sense to fools, brings no rewards.

48. Whether it be friend, relative. teacher or even the king, they must be kept within their limits, when they have evil designs.Otherwise they will make you bend to their will.

49. Rest your head in fire, have snakes for pillow, but do not put up with friends who knowingly commit wrong or stabs a knife on your back with a smile.

50. 3 things in life is worth living for : Virtue, money and love.

Panchatantra Punches Part 9

39. Where brute force fails, a shrewd scheme might work.
 Also when you allow a petty enemy to grow, he grows like a disease, until he goes out of control. Even gods befriend a man who chooses to climb heights of determination.

40. Whether it is broken silver or a loose tooth or a treacherous friend, relief comes only when we pull them out root and all.

41. A king should never delegate to one man all the powers of state for soon he grows in pride, plots to unseat the ruler, to occupy the seat himself.

42. His actions may be hard to bear,
      his speech harsh to hear,
     the heart though clings delighted to a person truly dear.

43. Why wear the dazzling earrings, if they cut your ear.

44. A man fat / lean can better serve the king than the proud and the mightiest elephant.