DEAR SON, WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH YOU? 85
akin to the formulations in the Pancatantra about the capacity of the
owl to be a king, as we will discuss below. This formulation of the body
politic is also present in the Arthasastra and later compilations such
as the Hitopadesa.^11 The minister's advice, then, is that Dahar must
do whatever he must to get the kingdom and then to keep it-including
marrying his own sister.
But what about the perception of the public? Chachnama incorpo-
rates a fable here to showcase how a public charm or ruse (talsim) can
direct opinion. The minister takes a sheep and plants soil and seed in
its wool, watering it daily until grass begins to grow.,Then he releases
the sheep in public, and all the urban and rural dwellers (shahri o rustai)
gaze in amazement. However, in three days, the novelty wears off, and
no one pays attention to the wandering sheep. The minister turns to
Dahar and says, "Whether good or bad, no talk remains on people's lips
for more than three days. Neither a good deed nor a bad is remem-
bered."12 Dahar is convinced, and he sets out to convince his brother
of this idea.
Dahar's exchange of letters with his brother showcases that advice
is not simply asserted or accepted, it is the product of a contestation
and dialogue. The first letter Dahar sends to his brother is with great
humility and respect, informing him of the astrologer's prophecy and
Dahar's decision. It concludes that Dahar sees no salvation except fol-
lowing the advice of the minister. In reply, Daharsia declares that this
is an unpleasant prophecy and a foul act. "If you are undertaking this
act for maintaining kingship, there is no recourse. But if you have any
base desires then all treaties and agreements will be nullified, and you
will face dire consequences.^1113 Dahar assures him that he has no ill
intentions, although he mentions that she is only a half sister and at
that she belongs to a lower caste-a birth that condemns her with the
lack of morals.
After receiving the letter, Daharsia decides to raise a small contin-
gent of soldiers and visit his brother in the capital. He is still concerned
that there i\ something foul in Dahar's intentions, even if the "letters
are full of praise and conciliation." Dahar seals himself inside the fort,
and the minister advises him to try to isolate his brother and kill
him. Dahar refuses that advice, for he wants to reconcile with his
brother. Conveniently, the brother soon dies from an illness. The divine