PAÑCATANTRA (SYRIAN VERSION) (EN)
PAÑCATANTRA [18 of 324]
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Story or THE (INVESTIGATION) GATE of the Lion and the Bull [17 of 90]
Kalilag said: “Consider whether it will be possible for you to approach the lion, and how you can persuade him to join you and trust you when you come.”
Damnag said: “I know his habits and manners and adapt to them in every respect. And everything he wants me to do, I do in a way that benefits him and doesn't harm me. In this way, I clearly show him that something that needs to be done is good; and then he also recognizes me as good. It is also said that the clever person, through their intelligence, can even make non-being appear as being and being as non-being, like the painter who, through their art, makes a painting not detached from the wall appear detached and one not embedded in the wall appear embedded. [1]If he finds such advantages through me, then he will rely on me and draw me into his confidence.”
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[1] Perspective painting was therefore already known at the time this text was copied and is as old as the unknown source from ancient times mentioned in a reference from the Uttarādhyayana. Sūtra, which is dated to 300 BC and is considered to be Mahāvīra's last sermon (599-524 BC, with reference to this source), is already known.
