The Panchatantra is one of the oldest collections of moral stories in the world. Written more than 2,000 years ago in Sanskrit by the great scholar Vishnu Sharma, these stories are still loved by children and adults alike.
The word Panchatantra means “Five Principles” or “Five Treatises.” True to its name, the book is divided into five sections, each focusing on a different aspect of life:
-
Mitra-bheda – The Loss of Friends
-
Mitra-lābha – Gaining Friends
-
Kākolūkīyam – War between Crows and Owls
-
Labdhapraṇāśam – Loss of Gains
-
Aparīkṣitakārakam – Ill-considered Action
Each story in the Panchatantra is told through animals, birds, and humans, but the lessons they teach are for everyone. They explain friendship, wisdom, courage, betrayal, cleverness, and the consequences of greed or foolishness.
What makes the Panchatantra unique is its story-within-a-story style. A single tale often leads to another, keeping readers curious and engaged till the very end.
✨ These stories have been passed down for generations, translated into hundreds of languages, and are still used today to teach values to children in a fun and memorable way.