आपद्धर्मानुशासन पर्व — आलसी पुरुष की उत्तम कथा

Bhishma said 'The two, viz., one, who provides for the future, and one, who has presence of mind—always enjoy happiness. An idle man gains nothing.

About it, listen attentively to the following excellent story of an idle person, who is expert to take decision in good or bed deeds.

In shallow lake which abounded with fishes, there lived three Shakula fishes who were friends and constant companions.

Of those three, one had much fore-thought always liked to provide for the future. Another had great presence of mind. The third was idle.

One day certain fishermen came to that lake and began to draw out its waters to a lower ground through various channels,

Seeing the water of the lake gradually decreasing, the fish that had much foresight, said to his two companions about the coming danger.

A great danger is about to befall the aquatic animals living in this lake. Let us quickly go to some other place before our path becomes obstructed.

He, who resists future evil by the help of good policy, never meets with serious danger. You follow my advice. Lest us all quit this place.

That one, amongst the three, who was idle then answered,-It is well said. There is, however, no necessity of such haste. This is my opinion.

Then the other fish, who had presence of mind, said to his idle companion,-When the time for anything comes, I take the necessary precautions.

Hearing the replies of his two companions, the one, which had fore-thought and intelligence, immediately started by a current and reached another deep lake.

Seeing that all the water had been drawn out, the fishermen shut in the fishes which remained by various means.

Then they began to agitate the little remaining water, and as they began to catch the fish, the idle Shakula was caught with many others.

When the fishermen began to tie up the fishes they had caught, the Shakula who was known for presence of mind placed himself in the midst of those that had been so tied and remained quietly among them, biting the string, for he thought that by it they would take him to have been caught. The fisherman believed that all the fishes tied to the string had been caught.

They then removed them to a deep, water for washing them, Just then the Shakula known for presence of mind, left the string, and quickly escaped.

That fish, however, who had been idle. foolish, and senseless and without intelligence, and, therefore, unable to escape, met with his death.

Like the idle fish, who from want of intelligence could not forsee the danger, every one meets with destruction.

Again, a man, who knowing himself as clever, does not seek his own good improper time, is visited by great dangers like the Shakula who had presence of mind.

Therefore these two only, viz., he, who has much forethought and he, who has presence of mind, can secure happiness. An idle person, however, meets with destruction.

There are various divisions of time, such as Kashtha, Kala, Muhurta, day, night, Lava, inonth, fortnight, the six seasons, Kalpa, year.

The divisions of the Earth are called place. Time is not seen. Regarding the success of any object or purpose, it is gained or not gained according to the manner in which the mind is engaged to think of it.

Therefore, the person of forethought and the person of presence of mind, have been described by the Rishis, to be the foremost of men in all works on virtue, profit and emancipation.

One, however, who does everything after reflection and scrutiny, one, who takes the advantage of proper means for the achievement of his objects, always succeeds in achieving much. Those, again, who work with proper attention to time and place, succeed in acquiring fruits better than the mere man of foresight and the man of presence of mind.'