The Loss of Friends
Adapted from The Panchatantra, Book 1, translated by Arthur W. Ryder
Introduction
One Vishnusharman, shrewdly gathering all worldly wisdom’s inner meaning, compressed into these five books the charm of all such books the world possesses.
And this is how it happened.
In the southern country was a city called Maidens’ Delight. There lived a king named Immortal-Power. His feet were made dazzling by the light from jewels in the crowns of mighty kings who knelt before him. He had mastered all the arts that embellish life.
This king had three sons named Rich-Power, Fierce-Power, and Endless-Power, who were, unfortunately, supreme blockheads.
When the king realized that his sons had no interest in education, he summoned his counselors and said, “Gentlemen, you know that these sons of mine dislike learning and lack discernment. When I look at them, my kingdom brings me no happiness, even though all external problems have been solved. For there is wisdom in the proverb:
Of sons unborn, or dead, or fools,
Unborn or dead will do:
They cause a little grief, no doubt;
But fools, a long life through.
And again:
To what good purpose can a cow
That brings no calf nor milk be bent?
Or why beget a son who proves
A dunce and disobedient?
We must find some means to awaken their intelligence.”
The counselors, one after another, replied: “O King, first one learns grammar, which takes twelve years. If this subject is somehow mastered, then one studies religion and practical life. Only then does intelligence awaken.”
But one counselor named Keen said: “O King, life is limited, and the verbal sciences require much time to master. Let us find some kind of summary to awaken their intelligence. There is a proverb that says:
Since verbal science has no final end,
Since life is short, and obstacles impend,
Let central facts be picked and firmly fixed,
As swans extract the milk with water mixed.
“There is a Brahman here named Vishnusharman, with a reputation for competence in numerous sciences. Entrust the princes to him. He will certainly make them intelligent quickly.”
When the king heard this, he summoned Vishnusharman and said: “Holy sir, as a favor to me, please make these princes incomparable masters of the art of practical life. In return, I will bestow upon you a hundred land-grants.”
Vishnusharman replied: “O King, listen to the plain truth. I am not the man to sell good learning for a hundred land-grants. But if I do not, within six months, make the boys acquainted with the art of intelligent living, I will give up my own name. Let us be brief. My boasting comes not from greed for money. Besides, I have no use for wealth; I am eighty years old, and all objects of desire have lost their charm. But to grant your request, I will show a sporting spirit in this matter. Note the date. If I fail to render your sons, in six months’ time, incomparable masters of the art of intelligent living, then His Majesty may show me his royal bare bottom.”
The king, surrounded by his counselors, was amazed at this unconventional promise. He entrusted the princes to Vishnusharman and felt supreme contentment.
Meanwhile, Vishnusharman took the boys to his home and made them learn by heart five books which he composed and called: (I) “The Loss of Friends,” (II) “The Winning of Friends,” (III) “Crows and Owls,” (IV) “Loss of Gains,” and (V) “Ill-considered Action.”
The princes learned these, and in six months’ time, they had fulfilled the prescription. Since that day, this work on the art of intelligent living, called Panchatantra, or the “Five Books,” has traveled the world, aiming at awakening intelligence in the young.
To sum up:
Whoever learns the work by heart,
Or through the storyteller’s art
Becomes acquainted,
His life by sad defeat—although
The king of heaven be his foe—
Is never tainted.
The Loss of Friends
Here begins Book I, called “The Loss of Friends.” The first verse runs:
The forest lion and the bull
Were linked in friendship, growing, full:
A jackal then estranged the friends
For greedy and malicious ends.
And this is how it happened.
In the southern country was a city called Maidens’ Delight. It rivaled the city of heaven’s King, abounding in every urban excellence, forming the central jewel of Earth’s diadem. Its gates and palaces were equipped with various machines, weapons, and chariots. Its central portal was massive and formidable, fitted with strong bolts and bars. Its numerous temples stood near spacious squares and crossings. It was encircled by a moat and walls that recalled the high Himalayan mountains.
In this city lived a merchant named Increase. He possessed numerous virtues and a great fortune, the result of merit accumulated in earlier lives.
As he pondered one night, his thoughts took this form: “Even an abundant store of wealth, if constantly diminished, shrinks like a pile of soot. A very little, if steadily added to, grows like an ant-hill. Hence, even though money may be plentiful, it should be increased. Wealth not yet earned should be sought. What is earned should be protected. What is protected should be enlarged and wisely invested. Money, even if carefully hoarded, can disappear in a flash, as there are many obstacles. Money unused when opportunities arise is the same as money never possessed. Therefore, money once acquired should be guarded, increased, and employed. As the proverb says:
Release the money you have earned;
So keep it safely still:
The surplus water of a tank
Must find a way to spill.
Wild elephants are caught by tame;
With capital it is the same:
In business, beggars have no scope
Whose stock-in-trade is empty hope.
If any fail to use his fate
For joy in this or future state,
His riches serve as foolish fetters;
He simply keeps them for his betters.“
Having organized his thoughts, he collected merchandise bound for the city of Mathura, assembled his servants, and after saying farewell to his parents at an auspicious time, set forth from the city. His people followed him, with the sound of conch-shells and drums preceding them. At the first water stop, he asked his friends to return to the city, while he continued his journey.
To pull his wagon, he had two bulls of good omen. Their names were Joyful and Lively; they looked like white clouds, and their chests were adorned with golden bells.
Soon he reached a forest beautiful with grisleas, acacias, dhaks, and sal trees, densely planted with other charming trees. The forest was fearsome with elephants, wild oxen, buffaloes, deer, boars, tigers, leopards, and bears. It had abundant water flowing from mountain sides and was rich in caves and thickets.
Here the bull Lively became overwhelmed, partly by the excessive weight of the wagon and partly because one foot sank helplessly into mud created by water from cascades. At this spot, the bull somehow snapped the yoke and collapsed in a heap. When the driver saw that Lively was down, he jumped anxiously from the wagon, ran to the merchant who was not far away, and bowing humbly, said: “My lord! Lively was exhausted by the journey and has fallen in the mud.”
Hearing this, merchant Increase was deeply saddened. He halted for five nights, but when the poor bull did not recover, he left caretakers with a supply of fodder and said: “You must join me later, bringing Lively if he lives; if he dies, after performing the proper ceremonies.”
After giving these instructions, he departed. But the men, fearing the many dangers of the forest, soon abandoned the bull and followed after their master.
When Lively was left alone, he gradually regained his strength by eating tender grass and drinking cool water. Wandering through the forest, he grew fat and began sporting in the woods, bellowing powerfully.
Now in this same forest lived a lion named Rusty. He was served by a large retinue, and his mighty chest was scarred by the tusks of elephants he had killed.
One day, feeling very thirsty, he went to the bank of the Jumna River to get a drink. There he heard Lively’s tremendous bellowing, a sound he had never heard before. Alarmed, he stood frozen in his tracks, ready to face danger. With bristling mane, eyes darting this way and that, and tail stiffly upraised, he thought: “What creature makes this dreadful noise? It must be as powerful as it sounds. I’d better go back to my own place until I can determine what kind of creature this is.”
Having made this decision, he returned to his own place and remained there, his heart troubled by fear and wonder. He said nothing to anyone.
Now among his followers were two jackals, sons of counselors, named Cheek and Victor. These two noticed that their master was disturbed and discussed it privately. Cheek said: “My friend Victor, our master Rusty went for water but has returned without drinking and now sits in silence, absent-minded. What can be the reason?”
Victor replied: “There must be some good reason why our master is so disturbed. As the saying goes:
The lion, mighty though he be,
The elephant can scare:
The elephant fears man, and man
Fears death. So fear is everywhere.“
Cheek said: “You are quite right. I will ask him.” So he approached the lion and said respectfully: “O King, why did you go for water and then return thirsty, to sit here in dejection?”
When the lion heard this, he replied: “My friend, I am terrified. Today I heard a dreadful sound near the river. The creature that made it must be as mighty as it sounds. If so, then this forest is no longer ours.”
Cheek said: “Oh, is that all? Why be frightened merely by a sound? As the verse says:
The cave that magnifies a sound
May frighten fools who hear;
But those who have intelligence
Find nothing there to fear.
Therefore, Your Majesty should not abandon the forest that has been inherited from generations of ancestors because of mere sound. For if you do so, your enemies will hear of it and will grow strong, while your retinue will desert to other masters. Therefore, please return to the river. I am curious to learn what this is.”
The lion said: “Cheek, I have no idea what kind of creature it might be.”
“How can we find out,” asked Cheek, “unless we go there? Only after determining the source of the sound can appropriate action be taken. As the saying goes:
Until he knows the very facts,
No man of sense should act or speak:
The man who acts or speaks in haste,
Will usually rue his freak.“
After listening to this, the lion said: “Well, if you think so, let us go. But we must be very careful.”
Having made this decision, the lion started back toward the river with Cheek leading the way. Just then Lively bellowed—a terrifying sound. The lion was frightened and said: “My friend, the sound is truly dreadful. Let us turn back.”
But Cheek replied: “Your Majesty, please wait under this fig tree while I go and investigate.”
The lion agreed, and Cheek hurried forward to discover what creature was making the sound. He soon found the bull pawing the earth, and thought: “Ah, it is only a bull, a kind of animal that serves as food for our master. Yet the master was terrified by the mere sound. How true is the proverb:
In battle, counsel, books, or art,
A previous failure chills the heart.
I will go back and bring the master here, to restore his self-confidence.”
So he returned to the lion and said cheerfully: “Your Majesty, I have seen the creature. It is a mere bull, the food of our kind.”
“Is that the truth?” asked the lion.
“Of course,” said Cheek. “If it is not, let Your Majesty make me your next meal.”
“In that case,” said the lion, “I am no longer afraid. Let us go there at once.”
With Cheek leading the way, the lion approached Lively. The bull saw him coming and thought: “This must be my death. This is a lion, the king of beasts, coming toward me with his retinue. I will try to make friends with him. For the wise have said:
When facing one too strong to fight,
The weak should seek alliance;
For wise men say there is no doubt
That life is more than defiance.“
Having made this decision, Lively called out: “Welcome, friend! Make yourself at home.”
When he heard this, the lion thought: “This creature seems to address me as an equal, not showing the slightest fear. Yet all animals fear me. Perhaps he has already defeated many lions, tigers, and other animals. That must be why he speaks to me with such self-confidence. As the saying goes:
From self-respect a man derives
His worth, both here and in the skies:
The man who holds himself in scorn
Will never, never, never rise.
Therefore, I should make friends with him rather than fight him.”
So the lion said: “My friend, I am Rusty, king of the forest. I came to the river for a drink and heard your tremendous voice. Why do you keep bellowing? This forest has been in my family for generations, but I have never heard such a sound before.”
Lively replied: “Great King, I am a bull named Lively. I was the vehicle of blessed Shiva before I was given to a certain merchant named Increase as a mark of favor. While traveling with a heavily loaded wagon, I was abandoned in this forest by careless servants because I had injured my foot and could not continue the journey. Now I am well and strong, and I stand at your service.”
The lion said: “My friend, you should not live in the forest alone. Dangers are many here. Come to my home, where you can enjoy yourself in safety.”
“As you wish, King,” said Lively. “But I am a grass-eater, while you and your retinue feed on meat. How can we be friends? For:
Where food and habits, birth and breeding
Reveal such wide, such deep division,
There friendship finds no soil to flourish,
However careful the decision.“
“No, no,” said the lion. “This forest is under my protection. No one will do you harm. Besides, I have taken a liking to you.”
“I am honored,” said Lively. So they made a pact of friendship and began to spend their days in mutual satisfaction, enjoying pleasant conversation on various subjects.
Now Victor, the other jackal, observed this friendship with alarm. He took Cheek aside and said: “My friend, you have done a foolish thing by bringing these two together. How can there be friendship between grass-eaters and meat-eaters, between food and feeder? You have acted without thinking. As the saying goes:
Whoever leaves the course prescribed
By prudent, moral teaching,
Will soon perceive that acts of folly
Have suffering in their reaching.“
Cheek replied: “You don’t understand practical matters. When danger threatens, even enemies should be welcomed if they can help. This bull is strong and intelligent. Through his advice, our master may someday escape a great danger. Besides, I did not bring them together on my own initiative. Our master was terrified by the mere sound and was about to abandon his ancestral forest. It was to prevent this that I brought them together.”
Victor said: “Even so, you did wrong. You did not consider the future. As the proverb says:
The man who does not see the future outcome,
The present joy or sorrow, and the past,
Will find himself in trouble very quickly,
And rue his action while his troubles last.
For now our master has a new friend, and we are out of favor. Indeed, all the retinue is neglected. You see how the bull has come between us and the master. The lion spends all his time with him, in private conversation. Therefore, this bull must be separated from our master.”
“But how can we separate them?” asked Cheek. “Their friendship is growing stronger every day.”
Victor replied: “Even the firmest friendships can be broken by determined cunning. Remember the saying:
No task too high for cunning planned;
The sea itself may yield dry land.
I will find a way to set them against each other.”
“But,” said Cheek, “our master is intelligent and virtuous, and Lively is honest and helpful. How can you create enmity between them?”
Victor laughed and said: “What has intelligence to do with it? The wisest are easily deceived when their confidence is won. I will separate them by a scheme so clever that even you will be amazed.”
“Then tell me your plan,” said Cheek.
“Listen,” said Victor. “First, I will win the lion’s confidence by serving him zealously. Then, when the moment is right, I will approach him with a troubled face. When he asks what is wrong, I will say: ‘Your Majesty, I have terrible news. Your trusted friend Lively is plotting against you. He has told me: “I know all the lion’s weak points. I will kill him soon and rule the forest myself.”‘ The lion will believe me because I have earned his trust. He will become suspicious of Lively.
“Then I will go to Lively with a similar story, saying that the lion plans to kill him. Lively, being naturally timid, will believe me and will begin to show signs of fear in the lion’s presence. The lion, seeing these signs, will become convinced of Lively’s treachery and will kill him. Thus, we shall regain our former position.”
Cheek was troubled by this plan but could not dissuade Victor. So Victor began to implement his scheme. He first won the lion’s confidence through diligent service. Then one day, he approached Rusty with a worried expression.
The lion asked: “Victor, why do you look so troubled today?”
Victor replied with a sigh: “Your Majesty, I am troubled because I see danger approaching you. I have hesitated to speak because one should not carry tales or create discord between friends. Yet a servant who values his master’s welfare cannot remain silent when danger threatens. The bull you trust so much is plotting against you. He has told me: ‘I know all the lion’s weaknesses. Soon I shall kill him and become lord of the forest myself.'”
When the lion heard this, he was shocked but remained calm. He thought: “Lively has always been honest and helpful. He has never shown any sign of treachery. Perhaps Victor is jealous of my friendship with Lively. As the saying goes:
The mean-minded cannot bear
To see another’s prosperity;
Just as the moon’s increasing light
Is painful to the owl’s dim sight.“
So the lion said: “Victor, I do not believe that Lively would betray me. He is gentle and virtuous.”
Victor replied: “Your Majesty, those who plot treason always wear the mask of virtue. The most dangerous enemies are those who pretend to be friends. Please be on your guard. Watch Lively carefully, and you will see signs of his treachery.”
The lion remained unconvinced but agreed to be watchful. Meanwhile, Victor went to Lively and said with feigned distress: “Friend Lively, I have come to warn you of a great danger. Our master the lion has decided to kill you. He told me today: ‘I am tired of this bull. His flesh must be very tasty. Tomorrow I shall kill him and feast on him.'”
Lively was stunned. “But why?” he asked. “I have done nothing to harm him. I have been a loyal friend.”
“That may be so,” said Victor, “but the lion has made up his mind. Perhaps he is simply hungry for your flesh. You know the nature of meat-eaters. They can turn on their friends without warning. If you value your life, you should either flee this forest or prepare to defend yourself.”
Lively was deeply troubled. He thought: “I cannot flee. Where would I go? And how can I, a grass-eater, fight against the king of beasts? Yet I cannot simply wait to be killed. Perhaps I should watch the lion carefully. If I see signs of hostility, I will at least try to defend myself.”
The next day, when Lively approached the lion, he was nervous and watchful. The lion, remembering Victor’s warning, noticed Lively’s unusual behavior and thought: “Victor was right. Look how nervous and suspicious Lively appears. He must indeed be plotting against me.”
From that day on, mutual suspicion grew between them. Lively would approach cautiously, ready to defend himself, which made the lion more convinced of his treachery. The lion, in turn, would watch Lively with narrowed eyes, which confirmed Lively’s fears.
Victor observed this growing tension with satisfaction and continued to feed their suspicions with more lies. Finally, one day when Lively approached, the lion saw him pawing the ground and lowering his horns—normal bull behavior, but which the lion now interpreted as preparation for attack.
With a mighty roar, the lion sprang upon Lively. Though taken by surprise, Lively fought bravely with his horns. But in the end, the lion’s superior strength prevailed, and Lively was killed.
After killing Lively, the lion was filled with remorse. He said to himself: “What have I done? I have killed a friend who may have been innocent, based on mere suspicion and the words of another. How true is the saying:
Before you act, investigate;
False rumors often circulate.
The hasty fool is quick to rue
The deeds that hasty fools will do.“
But it was too late. Lively was dead, and the jackals had achieved their purpose. They once again became the lion’s favored attendants and lived happily in the forest.
This tale teaches that even the strongest friendships can be destroyed by malicious gossip and unfounded suspicion. It warns against listening to those who might benefit from creating discord between friends, and reminds us that hasty actions based on suspicion often lead to regret.
