Page:Katha sarit sagara, vol2.djvu/47

 " Thus a person is ruined by meddling with what is not his own business. So what is the use of our penetrating the mind of the kíng of beasts?" When the grave Damanaka heard Karataka say this, he answered— " Certainly wise ministers must penetrate and observe the peculiarities of their master's character. For who would confine his attention to filling his belly?" When Damanaka said this, the good Karataka said— "Prying for one's own gratification is not the duty of a servant." Damanaka, being thus addressed, replied— " Do not speak thus, every one desires a recompense suited to his character; the dog is satisfied with a bone only, the lion attacks an elephant."

When Karataka heard this, he said, " And supposing under these circumstances the master is angry, instead of being pleased, where is your special advantage? Lords, like mountains, are exceedingly rough, firm, uneven, difficult of access, and surrounded with noxious creatures." Then Damanaka said, " This is true, but he who is wise, gradually gets influence over his master by penetrating his character."

Then Karataka said— " Well, do so," and Damanaka went into the presence of his master the lion. The lion received him kindly: so he bowed, and sat down, and immediately said to him; " King, I am a hereditary useful servant, of yours. One useful is to be sought after, though a stranger, but a mischievous one is to be abandoned; a cat, being useful, is bought with money, brought from a distance, and cherished; but a mouse, being harmful, is carefully destroyed, though it has been nourished up in one's house. And a king, who desires prosperity, must listen to servants who wish him well, and they must give their lord at the right time useful counsel, even without being asked. So, king, if you feel confidence in me, if you are not angry, and if you do not wish to conceal your feelings from me, and if you are not disturbed in mind by my boldness, I would ask you a certain question." When Damanaka said this, the lion Pingalaka answered; " You are trustworthy, you are attached to me, so speak without fear."

When Pingalaka said this, Damanaka said: " King, being thirsty, you went to drink water; so why did you return without drinking, like one despondent?" When the lion heard this speech of his, he reflected— " I have been discovered by him, so why should I try to hide the truth from this. devoted servant?" Having thus reflected, he said to him, " Listen, I must not hide anything from you. When I went to drink water, I heard here a noise which I never heard before, and I think, it is the terrible roar of some animal superior to myself in strength. For, as a general rule, the might of creatures is proportionate to the sound they utter, and it is well known that the infinitely various animal creation has been made by God in regular gradations. And now that he has entered here, I