Im Elysium

Machwerk R.W. Aristoquakes

Teil 31 - 97

- Im Elysium -

Hera war als nächste dran.

"Im Internet" so sprach sie "kann man

Ohne sich dabei zu schinden,

Viele Froschgeschichten finden!"

"Unter Panchatantra", fuhr sie fort

Fand ich diese Fabel dort,

Von Gangadatta dem nicht bange

War einst vor der Cobraschlange.

The  Greedy Cobra and the King of Frogs

- Panchatantra -

In a certain well, there lived a king of frogs, by the name of Gangadatta.

He was tormented by the nagging of his relatives, so he climbed up the water-wheel and slipped out, thinking to himself, 'How can I have revenge on them?'.

While he was thinking this, the frog king saw a snake going into his hole.

He thought to himself, 'I know what I will do. I will take this snake down into the well and get all my relatives eaten up'.

Thinking this over, the frog king went and stood outside the entrance of the snake's hole and called, 'Ho, you! My friend!! Come out!'

When the snake heard this, he thought to himself, 'I am sure that is not one of my own kith and kin calling me, for he speaks differently from us.

And anyway, I have no friends whatsoever. So, I'll stay right inside my hole until I find out who he is Maybe he might try to catch me through Mantra ( magic verses), flute music or herbs.'

So cautiously he called out, 'Who is it ? '

The frog king replied, 'I am the king of frogs, and I have come to make friends with you'.

' Well! Said the snake. 'That is very hard to believe! Can grass and fire ever be friends? 'So why are you talking such nonsense!

'You are indeed my natural enemy. But I am being tormented to death and I have come to you for your help. I want you to eat my enemies'.

"Tell me", said the snake, "who is tormenting you?"

"It's my relatives", said the frog king..

"Well", said the snake, 'where do you live? In a well, a pond, or a lake?'

'In a well, build by layers of stone', replied the frog king.

'But I have no legs', said the snake, 'how can I get into the well? And even if I could, where could I sit and eat your relatives? Go away!'

'Please!' said the frog king, I'll show you how to get into the well comfortably and inside, at the edge of the water level, there is a very nice hole where you can sit and eat them. Come with me'.

When he heard this, the snake thought to himself, 'I have grown old and can't even catch a mouse without great difficulty.

Now this fellow, an enemy of his own species, is showing me a way to live in comfort. I shall go and live there'.

And so, the snake said aloud, ' Oh frog king !

If this is really true, then lead the way and I shall follow you.'

The frog king replied, 'I shall take you by an easy route and show you the hiding place, but you must spare my friends. Eat only the ones, I point out to you'.

"We are friends now", said the snake, "so don't be afraid. I shall do exactly as you've told me".

With these words, the snake came out, embraced the frog king and started along with him.

When they reached the well, the frog king led the snake down by way of the water-wheel and took him to the hole.

He made the snake comfortable and then pointed out to him those relatives who were not on good terms with him.

And, one by one, the snake ate them up.

When these frogs had been exhausted, the snake said to the frog king, 'Please give me some food.

Afterall, it was you who brought me here, so you are responsible to feed me'.

'Snake" said the frog king, 'you have done me a friendly service.

Now go home the way you came down the water-wheel'

'Oh frog king !' Said the snake. 'That's not fair! The hole where I used to live, must have been occupied by someone else by now.

No, I will stay here. Go on giving me your relatives one by one. If you don't I will eat up every one of you'.

When the frog heard this, he was overwhelmed with grief and he thought to himself, ' What a stupid thing I have done in bringing the snake here. If I oppose him, he will eat us all. So everyday, I will allow him to eat a friend'.

So, the frog king came to a decision and he began to offer the snake one frog everyday.

The snake ate what was offered to him and also began to eat the other frogs as well, without the knowledge of the frog king.

One day, the snake also ate up, the son of the frog king, along with some others.

When the frog king came to know this, he began to wail in a loud voice, 'Oh, the wretched fellow that I am!' And he was inconsolable.

Then the wife said to him, 'What is the good of crying now? You are the cause of the destruction of our own kith and kin. Who will rescue us? You had better work out a plan to escape or else to kill the snake'.

Now, in due course, all the frogs were finished off. Only the frog king was left.

Then the snake said to the frog king, 'I am hungry! There are no frogs left. Please get me something to eat, for after all, you brought me here'.

'My friend', replied the frog king' As long as I am here, you have no need to worry on any account. Now if you allow me to leave this well and go to another one, I shall win the confidence of other frogs and bring them here'.

'You have been like a brother to me!' Said the snake. 'I shall never eat you. Now, if you carry out what you have promised, you will be to me like a father, so, please go'.

And so, the frog king offered prayers to innumerable Gods and left the well.

The snake waited anxiously for his return, but all in vain.

After a long time the snake said to a female lizard living nearby, 'Madam please give me a little help. You have known the frog king for a long time. Would you find him for me in one of the other wells and give him a message? Tell him, "If the frogs aren't coming, at least you return quickly.

I can't bear to be separated form you'. And tell him, 'If I ever harm you, may I lose all the merits I have earned in my life so far!'

The lizard found the frog king in one of the other wells and said, " Oh you frog king !! Your friend , the snake, is anxiously waiting for your return. He won't harm you.

He has staked all his good deeds as a guarantee for your safety. So come along, don't be afraid.'

'But ', the frog king replied, ' what sin will a starving man not commit? Weak people become cruel. Madam! Please tell the snake that the frog king will never again return to the well'.

And with those words, he sent her away.

 

The wise indeed says : 

Fight your own battles else you will surely be destroyed.

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wird fortgesetzt

 

Im Elysium

Machwerk R.W. Aristoquakes

Teil 31 - 36

- Im Elysium -

Nach Helena war Thetis dran.

Sie erzählte ganz spontan,

Um die andern zu beglücken,

Was sie im Panchatantra fand,

Wo es aufgeschrieben stand,

Von Froschritt auf dem Schlangenrücken.

The Frogs that Rode Snakeback

The Panchatantra, circa 200 BC

Bear even foes upon your back;

When fortune clogs

Your path, endure. The great black snake

Slew many frogs.

There was once an elderly black snake in a certain spot, and his name was Slow-Poison. He considered the situation from this point of view: "How in the world can I get along without overtaxing my energies?" Then he went to a pond containing many frogs, and behaved as if very dejected.

As he waited thus, a frog came to the edge of the water and asked: "Uncle, why don't you bustle about today for food as usual ?"

"My dear friend," said Slow-Poison, "I am afflicted. Why should I wish for food? For this evening, as I was bustling about for food, I saw a frog and made ready to catch him. But he saw me and, fearing death, he escaped among some Brahmans intent upon holy recitation, nor did I perceive which way he went. But in the water at the edge of the pond was the great toe of a Brahman boy, and stupidly deceived by its resemblance to a frog, I bit it, and the boy died immediately. Then the sorrowing father cursed me in these terms: 'Monster! Since you bit my harmless son, you shall for this sin become a vehicle for frogs, and shall subsist on whatever they choose to allow you.' Consequently, I have come here to serve as your vehicle."

Now the frog reported this to all the others. And every last one of them, in extreme delight, went and reported to the frog-king, whose name was Water- Foot. He in turn, accompanied by his counselors, rose hurriedly from the pond for he thought it an extraordinary occurrence and climbed upon Slow- Poison's hood. The others also, in order of age, climbed on his back. Yet others, finding no vacant spot, hopped along behind the snake. Now Slow- Poison, with an eye to making his living, showed them fancy turns in great variety. And Water-Foot, enjoying contact with his body, said to him:

I'd rather ride Slow-Poison than
The finest horse I've seen,
Or elephant, or chariot,
Or man-borne palanquin.

The next day, Slow-Poison was wily enough to move very slowly. So Water-Foot said: "My dear Slow-Poison, why don't you carry us nicely, as you did before?"

And Slow-Poison said: "O King, I have no carrying power today because of lack of food." "My dear fellow," said the king, "eat the plebeian frogs."

When Slow-Poison heard this, he quivered with joy in every member and made haste to say: "Why, that is a part of the curse laid on me by the Brahman. For that reason I am greatly pleased at your command." So he ate frogs uninterruptedly, and in a very few days he grew strong. And with delight and inner laughter he said:

The trick was good. All sorts of frogs
Within my power have passed.
The only question that remains,
Is: How long will they last?

Water-Foot, for his part, was befooled by Slow-Poison's plausibility's, and did not notice a thing.

At this moment another black snake, a tremendous fellow, arrived on the scene. And being amazed at the sight of Slow-Poison used as a vehicle by frogs, he said: "Partner, they are our natural food, yet they use you as a vehicle. This is repellent." And Slow-Poison said:

I know I should not carry frogs;
I have it well in mind;
But I am marking time, as did
The Brahman butter-blind.

"How was that?" asked the snake. And Slow-Poison told the story of

THE BUTTER-BLINDED BRAHMAN

Video

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wird fortgesetzt

Im Elysium

Machwerk R.W. Aristoquakes

Teil 31 - 35

- Im Elysium -

Von einem Seefrosch und zwei Fischen,

Die andern staunten all hellwach,

Berichtete Helena danach

Um eine Geschichte aufzufrischen

Die im Panchatantra aufgeschrieben,

Erhalten war so lang geblieben.

Der Frosch, nicht grade hochbegabt,

Ist entkommen der Gefahr.

Weil er 'nen siebten Sinn gehabt

Und nicht überheblich war,

Konnt' im Gegensatz er zu den Fischen

Dem sichern Tod entwischen.

The Frog and the Two Fish

The Panchatantra, circa 200 BC

Two large fishes, Sahasrabuddhi and Satabuddhi lived in a big pond, and were close friends with a frog called Ekabuddhi. They spent a lot of time together on the bank of the pond.

One evening, as they were assembled on the bank of the pond, they saw a few fishermen approaching. They had nets and big baskets with them, which were full of fishes that they had caught.

While passing by the pond, they noticed that the pond was full of fishes. One of them said to the others, "Let us come here tomorrow morning. This pond is not very deep, and is full of fishes. We have never caught fishes in this pond."
 

They agreed to return the very next morning, and continued their journey homewards.

The frog was depressed on hearing the fishermen and said, "O Friends, we should decide what to do, whether to run or hide. These fishermen will return tomorrow morning!"

The fishes however did not care much. The first fish said, "O Friend, It is just mere talks of few passing fishermen. Don't worry, for they will not come. And, even if they do, I know innumerable tricky water movements. I shall save myself and my family with ease."
 

The second fish joined, "I am as talented in tricky water movements as you! I will be able to save myself and my family too. I support your stand, for I will not abandon the home of our ancestors for the sake of some mere talk of few passing fishermen."

But the frog was not convinced, he said, "My friends, my only talent is that I can foresee danger. You may stay, but I will leave with my family to some other pond before morning."

The very next morning, the fishermen came and cast their nets all over the pond. They had a big haul, and caught many fishes, frogs, tortoises and crabs.
 

Sahasrabuddhi and Satabuddhi tried hard to escape, but none of their tricks worked. They were caught, and when the fishermen dragged their net on the bank of the pond they were already dead.

Being the largest of the fishes the fishermen caught, they proudly displayed Sahasrabuddhi and Satabuddhi, and carried them separately as they started homewards.
 

Meanwhile, the frog, Ekabuddhi, had already found a well for shelter. Being worried and anxious, he came to the surface. But as he saw the fishermen departing with his friends, he became sad.

He told his wife, "They were very talented, but lacked the only talent that was most important. As for me, I may have only one talent, but I swim happily with my family!"

The wise indeed say:
At the first hint of danger, act quickly to save yourself.

Der Frosch und die beiden Fische

 

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wird fortgesetzt