Secondary Tales of the Two Great Epics

SR No.: 001566
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Rajendra I Nanavati
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 1982
Total Pages: 210
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Literature, Mythology, & Story
File Size: 15 MB

Page 167

Secondary Tales of the two Great Epics
('don't act rash') and yet to pick up particles of flesh sticking between the teeth of an eating lion. This is, however, not a tale. The speech and action of the bird are presented as its mutually contradictory characteristics of both of which, put together, constitute the single motif of a hypocrite person. The single motif by itself, however, does not give us a tale. It is only when the motif is linked with another motif to create a structure that a tale results. This is seen in the tile of the old hypocrite swan. 330 Thus, the old swan by the sea-shore was dharmavac, so the other birds put faith in him and left their eggs and young ones in his care. But the action of the old swan was quite the opposite, so he ate up the things to be cared for. When this was noticed, it led to the inevitable result: the birds killed the old swan !
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The tale is interesting in a number of ways. As a tale, it offers an interesting comparison with the description of that other bird Bhulinga which is merely a motif, but not a tale, though both illustrate the quality of hypocrisy. It is said that in connection with the tale, the Purana-vid people relate a gatha also. In the constituted text, the gatha is reconstructed in a very unusual m-tre called 'Halamukhi'. It runs thus: "When your heart is put aside, O bird, you are crying falsely! Your unholy act of eating up the eggs belies your speech."331
The tale reminds us of that another famous tale from Hitopadeśa, the tale of "the vulture and the cat."332 There, an old and invalid vulture who is looking after the eggs and young ones of other vultures when they are out, gives shelter to a hypocrite cat who eats up the eggs etc. unknown to the old bird. When he knows that the birds have noticed the loss, he escapes and the old vulture becomes the scapegoat and is killed by the birds.
The comparison of the two versions of the tale is very interesting. An old invalided bird, taking care of the eggs and small ones of a group and, in return, being taken care of by th: young reflects the structure of our traditional joint family. Again that the sufference of the punishment lies in both the tales with the old bird points. to the fact that basically the tale is the same. But in the Hitopadesa version, the motif of hypocrisy is transferred to the cat, though its punishment remains with the bird. The bird, here again, is a vulture, instead of a swan. A vulture is known for its qualities of keen observation and sharp attack, A cat is known for its quality of cunningness, at least in Indian culture. All the qualities are desirable for political success. The purpose of Hitopadela is obviously to teach the political maxims. In the MBh version, an old hypocrite is exposed to punishment. In the Hitopadesa version an old and weakened politician falls prey to a crafty opportunist whose punishment. he bears. The MBh version is intended, apparently to teach a forthright behaviour,
330 SabP. 38.28-40.
331 SabP. 38.40
antarätmani vinihite rausi patraratha vitatham / anda-bhakṣaṇam aśuci te karma vācam atifayate /