Excerpted from the classic Indian guide to citizenship and wisdom, translated for the contemporary reader, from “The Nitopadesha” translated by Nitin Pai, who was at the International Centre Goa on August 14, 2023 as part of a Kitaab: Books in Discussion program. The program included launch of the book as well as a discussion. The Nitopadesha consists of around 30 animal stories translated from the Tocharian script and seem to date back to the second century according to Bibek Debroy who has written the Forward. The book is an a mesmerising, memorable collection of morality and power stories on the subject of governance, politics and society in ancient times as seen through the eyes of animals we recognise well and not so well…say our very own animal world of fables to learn from!
2.3
Story of the Singing Cats
My second cousins once removed, Rakamma, Thanakka and Pallavi, trained as singers in the household of the great music guru of Kovai, Srenesha the peacock. As his students they had to reside in his compound, sharing household duties such as cooking and cleaning, and helping take care of their guru’s many children. It was a comfortable life, so comfortable that they showed no sign of leaving even after they had completed their musical training.
One day, Srenesha summoned them before him and said, Ladies! You have learnt all that I had to teach you. So you should set forth. You are all talented, and you should go into the world and aim for great accomplishments. So you should set forth.
Great fortune awaits you, and will certainly be yours if you make good use of the opportunities that come your way. So you should set forth.’ In one voice the three cats repliedO Guru! Your words do motivate us to consider moving out. But we like it here in your household. Go we shall, but what is the rush? Can we stay another summer? Or two?’
Srenesha shook his head, `Many new students have been waiting to take your places in my school. To house them all I will have to move you to the attic above the kitchen. There you can stay the summer or two that you wish to.’
The cats got the guru’s hint, for they could not imagine living in the cramped and smoky attic. Thus it was that they set forth and headed for the city of Poompuhar.
They first arrived at a place called Mariyadai, where they were greeted with huge garlands by all the elders of the town when it became known that they were musicians from the household of the great Srenesha. The elders requested the cats to grace their own by their continuing presence, as they would be appointed town musicians and treated with the greatest respect. The monthly wage would be one copper coin, which was enough for a modest living in that realm.
Rakamma liked the status of the position and accepted the town’s proposal. There she sang for many years, motivated by her status. Thanakka and Pallavi, however, thought one copper coin was too little, and so they continued their journey on the road to Poompuhar.
Next they arrived at Bellimalai, where they were asked to meet the chief of the town’s theatre. After putting them both through an audition, the pleased chief made an offer. For a monthly wage of a silver cooin each, he would employ them in his troupe.
Thanakka liked the wage offered and accepted the chief’s proposal. There she sang for many years, motivated by the pay. Pallavi, however, thought one silver coin was too little and sought gold in Poompuhar.
On the outskirts of Murattur, she was seized by a group of jackals and taken to their chief. After chaining her to a large boulder, the notorious bandit chief , Veeranari, made an offer. His band of brigandfs wished for daily entertainment to lighten their rough routine. If she sang, she would be treated well, and given food and drink. But if she did not perform whenever asked, she would be properly beaten.
Pallavi feared the beating and accepted the chief’s proposal. There she sang for many years, motivated by fear and pain.
Bellikota said, Thus , my grand-aunt used to say that it is ever important to remember that people are motivated by incentives. Incentives make one move form rest. Incentives make one move faster. Incentives make one change direction. Truly, an incentive is a force. For without incentives no one moves, speeds up or changes direction.’ Udaradevan did not understand.Why does she say that?’ he asked.
Bellikota a replied, The cats set forth from their home because of two incentives. They were pulled by the call of fortune and pushed by their guru’s rebuke. Push and pull, punishment and reward, loss and gain, these are the two faces of this force. Takamma was moved by the prospect of higher status. Her two sisters by that of greater wealth. Pallavi, because of her misfortune, was moved by fear of punishment. All three were moved by a different type of incentive.’
Then Udaradevan said, It seems to me that moral incentives, such as higher status or respect, are superior to monetary incentives, such as mere coins of metal. And money, in turn, is better than nasty incentives like force, violence or blackmail.’ Bellikota shrugged and replied,That may be so. That may not be so. It depends on the person. O bear, you will notice what moved Rakamma did not move her very own sisters. Yet gold and silver cannot replace esteem where that is prized more. The worldly wise will apply the three types of incentives according to the situation, always in adherence to the laws of the land.’
Udaradevan paused and then said, What yu say reminds me of the counsel the Fearsome Four-Eyed Dog gave to Grandfather Tarkaran the second time they met.’ Bellikota asked,How did that happen?’
Then Udaradevan narrated this story.
NOTE: Says Nitin Pai, the translator of `The Nitopadesha’ “The book that you hold in your hand is the result of modern machine translation, further refined by me, of the Tocharian manuscript into English. The Tocharian version itself is a translation of the original Sanskrit text – which is either lost, waiting to be discovered, or has not survived – composed sometime in the first few centuries of the previous millennium. I suspect that it is part of the missing codex of the Brihatkatha, the uber-family of texts that includes the famous Panchatantra.”
For more nitty gritty refer to this enchanting collection of stories and take the advice of Nitin Pai when he says in his Translator’s Note, they can be read individually or in any order, “The most profitable way to use this book , however, is to gather your young friends and family around, and read it aloud to them.”
Good suggestion, indeed! Perhaps the growing number of book clubs in Goa could well pick up a copy of the book for reading and discussing and perhaps these collection of stories from our ancient cache of wisdom could feature in formal or informal activities of our schools in Goa and around the country and world – for they transcend all cultural literature even if the names may be tongue-twisters. A decent language translation could well change the Sanskrit names if this is a dilemma although we don’t see why!