Panchatantra: Passion and the Owl

From The Panchatantra of Vishnu Sharma, translated by Arthur W. Ryder (1925).

Passion and the Owl

[This story is inserted into The Loss of Friends.]

Within a certain forest was a broad expanse of lake. There lived a king-swan named Passion, who spent his days in a great variety of pastimes.

(swan)

One day death, fatal death, visited him in the person of an owl.

And the swan said: "This is a lonely wood. Where do you come from?"

The owl replied: "I came because I heard of your virtues. Furthermore,

"In search of virtue roaming
The wide world through,
No virtues being greater,
I come to you.

"That I must cling in friendship
To you, is sure:
The impure turns, attaining
The Ganges, pure.

And again:

"The conch was bone that Vishnu's hand
Has purified:
For contact with the righteous lends
A noble pride."

After this address, the swan gave his assent, in the words: "My excellent friend, dwell with me as you like by this broad lake in this pleasant wood." So their time was spent in friendly diversions.

But one day the owl said: "I am going to my own home, which is called Lotus Grove. If you set any value on me and feel any affection, you must not fail to pay a visit as my guest." With these words he went home.

Now as time passed, the swan reflected: "I have grown old, living in this spot, and I do not know a single other region. So now I will go to visit my dear friend, the owl. There I shall find a brand-new recreation ground and new kinds of food, both hard and soft."

After these reflections, he went to visit the owl. At first he could not find him in Lotus Grove, and when, after a minute search, he discovered him, there was the poor creature crouching in an ugly hole, for he was blind in the daytime.

But Passion called: "My dear fellow, come out! I am your dear friend the swan, come to pay you a visit."

And the owl replied: "I do not stir by day. You and I will meet when the sun has set."

So the swan waited a long time, met the owl at night, and after giving the conventional information about his health, being wearied by his journey, he went to sleep on the spot.

Now it happened that a large commercial caravan had encamped at that very lake. At dawn the leader rose and had the signal of departure given by conch. This the owl answered with a loud, harsh hoot, then dived into a hole in the river-bank. But the swan did not stir.

Now the evil omen so disturbed the leader's spirit that he gave orders to a certain archer who could aim by sound. This archer strung his powerful bow, drew an arrow as far as his ear, and killed the swan, who was resting near the owl's nest.

And that is why I say:

Harsh talk, untimely action,
False friends are worse than vain:
The swan in lilies sleeping,
Was by the arrow slain.