Panchatantra · Sanskrit Story

The Iron Scales

लोहतुलाया कथा

पञ्चतन्त्र — मित्रभेद (Book 1) · Viṣṇuśarman (c. 300 BCE) · Beginner Sanskrit

Moral · नीतिः

यथा कर्म तथा फलम् — असत्येन नास्ति लाभः।

yathā karma tathā phalam — asatyena nāsti lābhaḥ.

As the action, so the fruit — there is no gain through falsehood

The Dishonest Merchant

एकः वणिक् यात्रां करिष्यति। सः मित्रस्य गृहे लोहतुलां निक्षिपति। मित्रम् — सुरक्षितम् — इति वदति। किन्तु मित्रं धूर्तः अस्ति।

A merchant was about to go on a journey. He left his iron scales at a friend's house for safekeeping. The friend said: "They will be safe." But the friend was dishonest.

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