Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 16,133

Date uploaded in London – 27 August 2026

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Panchatantra Story, Bhagavad Gita and Bhaja Govindam! Tirukkural Encyclopaedia- Chapter 28 (Kural 271-280)

Points to be noted:

1

Valluvar is superb in using apt and unknown similes in this chapter. But he used Panchatantra story in Kural 273 with a small change. Ass in tiger’s skin fable is in Panchatantra; Aesop who stole many fables from Hindu books changed it to Wolf in Sheep’s skin; (Aesop, a Greek slave, used many Indian animals not found in Greece; see my research articles). But Valluvar’s Arrow Vs Yaaz (veena) simile and Abrus seed (Kunri Mani) simile are unique; I have not seen in any other Sanskrit book that I have read.

2

His couplet about matted hair and shaven head is in Bhahja Govindam of Adi Sankara; Great men think alike!

जटिलो मुण्डी लुञ्चितकेशः काषायाम्बरबहुकृतवेषः ।

पश्यन्नपि च न पश्यति मूढो ह्युदरनिमित्तं बहुकृतवेषः ॥ १४॥

jaṭilo muṇḍī luñcitakeśaḥ kāṣāyāmbarabahukṛtaveṣaḥ |

paśyannapi ca na paśyati mūḍho hyudaranimittaṁ bahukṛtaveṣaḥ || 14 ||

“One ascetic wears matted locks, another has a shaven head, another has his hair plucked out, and another parades around in ochre robes. They all assume various disguises. The fool, though seeing, does not truly see the truth; indeed, all these external displays are maintained merely for the sake of the belly (livelihood).”

Buddha also dealt with hair style in his Dhammapada:

A man becomes not a Brahmin by matted hair or family of birth. The man in whom there is truth and holiness, he is in joy and he is a Brahmin. (Dhammapada 393)
Of what is the use of matted hair, foolish man, of what use your antelope garment, if within you have tangled cravings and without ascetic ornaments? (Dhammapada 394)”.

Few other Sanskrit poets also dealt with this matter.

Mahabharata, Bhagavad Gita and Kautilya also deal with Fake Sanyasi’s.

The story of Rudraksha cat is well known and sculpted in Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu.

कर्मेन्द्रियाणि संयम्य य आस्ते मनसा स्मरन् ।
इन्द्रियार्थान्विमूढात्मा मिथ्याचार: स उच्यते ॥3-6॥

karmendriyāṇi sanyamya ya āste manasā smaran
indriyārthān vimūḍhātmā mithyāchāraḥ sa uchyate

BG 3.6: Those who restrain the external organs of action, while continuing to dwell on sense objects in the mind, certainly delude themselves and are to be called hypocrites. (Bhagavad Gita)

3

Sanskrit words

In the previous chapter Valluvar used Sanskrit words in 8 Kurals; here in this chapter 28, we find Sanskrit words in at least in five couplets ( Ulakam, Vancham, Manas, Bhutam, Tapas)

4

Comment on Kural 271 :Panchabhuta concept is unique to Hindus; Valluvar being a pukka Hindu used it like other Sanskrit scriptures; Greeks had only four elements; Chinse five elements is completely different from Hindu scriptures.

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Following Translations are used:

1.A Aranganatha Mudaliyar – ANM+2 ( B.L. Aranganatha iyer and R. Srinivasa Desikan), Year 1933

2.S M Diaz, I G of Police- SMD, Year 2000

3.Rev.Dr.GU Pope – GUP, Year 1886

4.Suddhananda Bharathiyar- SB

5.EVS Publishers, Singapore- EVS, Year 1986

6.H A Popley – HAP (not full book; only selected couplets) Year 1931

7.Tamil Original

****

Project Madurai website has all the Tamil books.

Part 46

 Chapter 28. Hypocrisy- Inconsistency- 28. கூடாவொழுக்கம் – Imposture– Inconsistent Conduct-

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271.All the five hidden forces that watch the silent workings of a man’s soul, scornfully smile within at his own deception- A Aranganatha Mudaliyar – ANM+2 ( B.L. Aranganatha iyer and R. Srinivasa Desikan), Year 1933

***

271.At the hypocritical conduct of a false -hearted man,

Even the five elements inside will laugh derisively- S M Diaz, I G of Police – SMD, Year 2000

***

271
Who with deceitful mind in false way walks of covert sin,
The five-fold elements his frame compose, decide within.
The five elements (of his body) will laugh within him at the feigned conduct of the deceitful minded man – Rev.Dr.GU Pope – GUP, Year 1886

***

 271.Elements five of feigned life
Of a sly hypocrite within laugh.  Suddhananda Bharathiyar – SB   

***
271.The five elements which constitute the body will jeer at the secret conduct of the deceitful minded man– EVS Publishers, Singapore – EVS, Year 1986

***

271.The elements five within will surely laugh to scorn

The evil covert walk of crafty-minded men- H A Popley – HAP (not full book; only selected couplets) Year 1931

***

271. வஞ்ச மனத்தான் படிற்றொழுக்கம் பூதங்கள்
ஐந்தும் அகத்தே நகும்.

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272.Of what avail is the heavenly look of a hypocrite with a guilty conscience within?- – ANM+2

***

272.Of what avail is the high trappings of sainthood,

If in his conscience, one knows his shameful guilt– SMD

***

272
What gain, though virtue’s semblance high as heaven his fame exalt,
If heart dies down through sense of self-detected fault?
What avails an appearance (of sanctity) high as heaven, if his mind suffers (the indulgence) of conscious sin. – GUP

***
 272. Of what avail are sky-high shows
When guild the conscience gnaws and knows. – SB          

***
272.What use of an appearance of saintliness if one is guilty of conscious sin? – EVS

***

272. வானுயர் தோற்றம் எவன்செய்யும் தன்நெஞ்சம்
தான்அறி குற்றப் படின்

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273.A sanctimonious humbug who is a veritable thrall to his vile passions is like a cow that, in a tiger’s skin, grazes on other men’s meadows-– ANM+2

***

273.One who is incapable of mastering himself, trying to put on an air of strength,

Is like a cow grazing on forbidden pasture, under cover of a tiger’s skin– SMD

***

273
As if a steer should graze wrapped round with tiger’s skin,
Is show of virtuous might when weakness lurks within.
The assumed appearance of power, by a man who has no power (to restrain his senses and perform austerity), is like a cow feeding on grass covered with a tiger’s skin. – GUP

***
  273.Vaunting sainthood while weak within
Seems a grazer with tiger skin.     – SB     

***

273.The pretentious conduct of a man who has not the firmness of mind to direct him in the path of true asceticism is likened to cow grazing clothed in tiger’s skin– EVS

***

273.The show of power of one, who has no power within,

Is like a cow in tiger skin, which quietly grazes on– HAP

***

273. வலியில் நிலைமையான் வல்லுருவம் பெற்றம்
புலியின்தோல் போர்த்துமேய்ந் தற்று.

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274.A hypocrite who pretends piety is like a heartless hunter skulking near a bush to catch the birds that merrily sing among the neighbouring branches- – ANM+2

***

274.One who indulges in vice under cover of a saint’s trappings,

Is like a bird catcher lying in wait behind a bush– SMD

***

274
‘Tis as a fowler, silly birds to snare, in thicket lurks.
When, clad in stern ascetic garb, one secret evil works.
He who hides himself under the mask of an ascetic and commits sins, like a sportsman who conceals himself in the thicket to catch birds. – GUP

***

274.Sinning in saintly show is like
Fowlers in ambush birds to strike.   – SB       

***

274.He who sins under the guise of asceticism is like a hunter seeking to trap birds by hiding himself in a thicket-– EVS

***

274.He who, when doing ill, hideth in saintly garb,

Is like a fowler snaring birds, while lurking in the bush– HAP

***

274. தவமறைந்து அல்லவை செய்தல் புதல்மறைந்து
வேட்டுவன் புள்சிமிழ்த் தற்று.

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275.The pricking conscience of a villain, who has deceived the world in the garb of an ascetic makes in the end cry out, in the bitterness of the heart, “what folly have I wrought, what folly have I wrought”- – ANM+2

***

275.Hypocritical conduct by people, who say they have renounced the world,

Will ultimately entail painful self-denunciation– SMD

***

275
‘Our souls are free,’ who say, yet practise evil secretly,
‘What folly have we wrought!’ by many shames o’er-whelmed, shall cry.
The false conduct of those who say they have renounced all desire will one day bring them sorrows that will make them cry out, “Oh! what have we done, what have we done.” – GUP

***
275.Who false within but freedom feign
Shall moan “What have we done” with pain.  – SB        

***

275.The secret conduct of those who proclaim that they are devoid of desires will one day bring themself reproach for their covert actions-– EVS

***

275. பற்றற்றேம் என்பார் படிற்றொழுக்கம் எற்றெற்றென்று
ஏதம் பலவுந் தரும்.

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276.The vilest and the most heartless among men is a miscreant who assumes the mask of piety and passes for an honest soul among the men of the world-– ANM+2

***

276.There are no villains, worse than those who cheat the householder,

And pretend renunciation without observing it inwardly– SMD

***

276
In mind renouncing nought, in speech renouncing every tie,
Who guileful live,- no men are found than these of ‘harder eye’.
Amongst living men there are none so hard-hearted as those who without to saking (desire) in their heart, falsely take the appearance of those who have forsaken (it). – GUP

***

  276.Vilest is he who seems a saint
Cheating the world without restraint.    – SB    

*** 
276.There are none so hard hearted as those who pretend to be ascetics in heart without renouncing the world –- EVS

 ***

276.None cruller are than on those, who are in the heart no saints,

Yet live in covert guise, in show of saintliness– HAP

***

276. நெஞ்சில் துறவார் துறந்தார்போல் வஞ்சித்து
வாழ்வாரின் வன்கணார் இல்

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277.Beware of the villains that skulk among you; fair and graceful are they in their saffron robes like outer form of a  Kunri seed; but like the tip of the nose of that berry is their heart dark as hell-– ANM+2

***

277.Like the ‘Kunri’ seed, there are some people who shine red all over,

but inwardly black as the nose of the same seed– SMD

***

277
Outward, they shine as ‘kunri’ berry’s scarlet bright;
Inward, like tip of ‘kunri’ bead, as black as night.
(The world) contains persons whose outside appears (as fair) as the (red) berry of the Abrus, but whose inside is as black as the nose of that berry. – GUP
***
277.Berry-red is his outward view,
Black like its nose his inward hue.    – SB 

***     

277.The world has persons who act on the fair exterior as the red berry of the Abrus but are at heart as black as the face of that berry– EVS

***

277. புறங்குன்றி கண்டனைய ரேனும் அகங்குன்றி
மூக்கிற் கரியார் உடைத்து

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278.Many there re that bathe in sacred streams and pass for pious men in the eyes of the world; Oh! Beware of such men; for verily they are foul of heart and live the lives of hidden shame-– ANM+2

***

278.There are men of sinful heart, who feign saintly ablutions,

As cover of virtue for their foul activities– SMD

***

278
Many wash in hollowed waters, living lives of hidden shame;
Foul in heart, yet high upraised of men in virtuous fame.
There are many men of masked conduct, who perform their ablutions, and (make a show) of greatness, while their mind is defiled (with guilt). – GUP
***
  278.Filthy in mind some bathe in streams
Hiding sins in showy extremes.    – SB    

*** 278.There are many men of masked behaviour who wash their exterior and pretend to be saintly, while their hear remains impure– EVS

***

278. மனத்தது மாசாக மாண்டார்நீ ராடி
மறைந்தொழுகும் மாந்தர் பலர்.

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279.Buld not your faith in mere appearances; for appearances are deceitful; behold how straight and well shaped  does yonder arrow look; yet it is deadly keen and pierces men to death; but, Oh! Hear and listen how a mis shaped and crooked veena enraptures the souls of men-– ANM+2

***

279.The arrow that is smooth and straight is cruel

While the crooked ‘Yal’ gives sweet music;

Therefore, our judgements on things should not be

Based on appearances but on performance– SMD

***

279
Cruel is the arrow straight, the crooked lute is sweet,
Judge by their deeds the many forms of men you meet.
As, in its use, the arrow is crooked, and the curved lute is straight, so by their deeds, (and not by their appearance) let (the uprightness or crookedness of) men be estimated. – GUP

***

  279.Know men by acts and not by forms
Strait arrow kills, bent lute but charms. – SB   

*** 

279.The cruel arrow may be straight and shapely and the sweet lute curved and shapeless. Therefore, not by appearance but by deeds should the nature of men be judged-– EVS

***

279. கணைகொடிது யாழ்கோடு செவ்விதுஆங் கன்ன
வினைபடு பாலால் கொளல்.

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280.Is there any need for matted locks, and a shaven crown, if the heart is tender and pure and shuns what  all the world condemns as wrong? – ANM+2

***

280.There is no need for tonsures or long tresses, provided one eschews

Hypocritical conduct, which the world condemns– SMD

***

280
What’s the worth of shaven head or tresses long,
If you shun what all the world condemns as wrong?
There is no need of a shaven crown, nor of tangled hair, if a man abstain from those deeds which the wise have condemned. – GUP

***

280.No balding nor tangling the hair!
Abstain from condemned acts with care.    – SB      

***

280.In matters not whether a man shaves his hair or allows is to grow in flowing locks if he could refrain from what the world shuns – EVS

***

280.For shaven crown or matted hair there is no further need

If men will only shun what noble minds condemn–– HAP

***

280. மழித்தலும் நீட்டலும் வேண்டா உலகம்
பழித்தது ஒழித்து விடின்.

–subham—

Tags- Panchatantra Story, Bhagavad Gita and Bhaja Govindam! Tirukkural Encyclopaedia- Chapter 28 (Kural 271-280), Part 46