Panchatantra Book 1 - 023 - Why Did Suchimukha Keep Advising the Monkeys
Table of Contents
Recap
Shankukarna, a young camel adopted by the lion Vajradanshtra, grew up trusting the lion completely and became one of his followers. When the lion was badly wounded and could no longer hunt, the cunning jackal, Chaturaka, persuaded Shankukarna to offer himself as food, using the language of duty and sacrifice. Once the camel was killed, Chaturaka tricked the wolf, frightened the injured lion away, and enjoyed the meat for himself. Damanaka then used this story to argue that Sanjeevaka, like Shankukarna, had become useless and should be removed for the benefit of those around the king. Unaware of how deeply Damanaka had poisoned Pingalaka’s mind, Sanjeevaka went to meet the lion, only to be attacked, and the two soon found themselves locked in a battle. Karataka condemned Damanaka’s reckless statecraft, warning that a minister must plan carefully, assess people and circumstances, and seek peaceful solutions before resorting to force, just as Suchimukha learnt sadly.
Suchimukha and the monkeys
In a mountainous region there lived a group of monkeys. Once the winters in that region were very severe. There was snow everywhere and the icy condition was tough for the monkeys. On top of that, rain. It used to pour. Life for the monkeys was tough. That day there was no snow but the icy cold winds and rains made them look around for shelter. Unfortunately, that was difficult to come by. One of the monkeys found a gunja berry bush nearby. The bush was full of red berries. From a distance the berries looked like ember. Thinking these were embers, the monkey began blowing on the berries, thinking they would burn and heat would be produced.
A bird called Suchimukha saw this. He flew there and said, ‘What are you trying to do? These are not embers. These are berries on a bush. Blowing on them will not produce heat. Look for shelter instead. For now, the rain has stopped, but look up. The sky is overcast. There are dark clouds. It may rain soon. Protect yourselves first.’
Among the monkeys was an old monkey. He said, ‘Mind your own business and let us do what we are doing. If you know what is good for you, do not engage with those who are doing worthless things and those who are failing every time. A clever person knows when not to speak. Anyone who engages in a conversation with a fool brings about their ruin.’
Suchimukha ignored the words of the old monkey and said, ‘Why are you not willing to listen to me? You are doing something stupid.’
The bird just would not stop. Seeing this, one of the monkeys got angry. Not only were the berries not producing heat, the bird would not stop chattering. He jumped and caught the bird. Holding it tightly in his hand, he dashed the bird against a rock, killing it.
Ending the tale, Karataka said, ‘That is why I said some things are not capable of bending. One should not waste time telling people what to do if they are unwilling or unable to learn. One should not give advice to someone who is incapable of understanding it. Look at what happened to the female sparrow: because she advised a monkey, she was left homeless.’
Damanaka wanted to know this story and Karataka began telling that story.
This is where I am going to end this tale. And before I start telling the tale of the female sparrow and the monkey, a few points from this tale.
Analysis
Before I get on with the next post, let me share a few points from this tale.
Niti
- The main saying here is: Do not offer unsolicited advice to those unwilling or unable to receive it.
- Karataka says engaging a fool in conversation "brings about their ruin.”
- Suchimukha repeatedly corrects the monkeys about the berries and pays with his life for the persistence.
- It is not saying anything about the correctness of advice, but more about timing, audience and restraint.
Characters and Behaviour
| Character | Choices | Effect | Human tendency | In today’s world |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suchimukha (bird) | Genuine concern for the monkeys | Gets killed for persisting | The well-meaning tactless truth-teller | The colleague who keeps advising others even after being told to stop |
| The old monkey | Tells the bird that some things cannot be helped | Sets the tone that Suchimukha is unwelcome | The voice that is ignored by both sides | A senior member who gives good advice that nobody listens to |
| The monkey who kills the bird | Frustration and anger | Escalates irritation into violence | Impulsive reaction under stress | The person who "snaps" at persistent, unhelpful criticism during crisis |
Suchimukha was not wrong about the berries; he was wrong about his audience. Think of a time you pushed good advice on someone who simply wasn't ready to hear it — what would restraint have looked like instead?
Suchimukha can be thought to be a tailorbird or a weaverbird. Both these birds use their beaks to pierce leaves and they weave fibres to build their nests. The beaks are sharp and pointed and that gives them the name - Suchimukha or needle-beaked.
Think and in the next Panchatantra post, the story of a female sparrow and a monkey.
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