About Panchtantra

What is Panchatantra?
The Panchatantra is an ancient Indian classic. The book was originally written in Sanskrit. It is a legendary collection of short stories which are believed to be composed in 200 B.C.Some scholars attribute Panchatantra to an Indian sage, Bidpai who flourished about 300 A.D. Panchatantra rewritten in Hindi by known scholar Vishnu Sharma.

The tales in Panchatantra were organised into five sections with each narrating a strategy to succeed in life (hence the name Panchatantra). The five principle (strategies) illustrated in Panchtantra are :

1. ‘Mitra Bhedha’ (Loss of Friends)

2. ‘Mitra Laabha’ (Gaining Friends)

3. ‘Suhrudbheda’ (Causing discord between Friends)

4. ‘Vigraha’ (Separation)

5. ‘Sandhi’ (Union)

The Origin of Panchatantra
There is the popular story relating to origin of Panchatantra. Read on ...

There was King who had three dull dimwit sons. The King got worried about the future of sons and went to a wise sage named Vishnu Sharma (Sharman). He request the sage to impart knowledge and moral standings to his sons. As the king' sons were dull, the sage decided to impart the principles through short moral stories.

Why should we read Panchatantra stories ?

Panchatantra is a source to instill moral values in children. It serves as a value guide with its simple stories with moral ending. Over the years, these stories have been told and retold, and the wisdom in them has served as a guide for both children and adults.

The Panchatantra stories include various human and animal characters. The animal characters have been portrayed to be talking, thinking and acting alike humans. This is called personification.

The stories in original structure around some moral and each story trails towards a moral ending. The Panchatantra provides a frame to:

(1) Understand the nature of people.

(2) Choose people to work and live with

(3) How to face problems tactfully, with presence of mind.

(4) Acquire knowledge and learning from each mistake we make or when we see others committing such mistakes.

For all Indian students the knowledge of Panchatantra is must. It is matter of pride that Panchtantra (considered to be the most translated works) originated in India. 

Click here to read Panchatantra Stories