Best Tales from Panchatantra

Composed in the 2nd century BC, the Panchatantra is a collection of short stories that have originated in Ancient India. They were penned down to implant moral values and governing skills for the young son of the king. At present, they serve as wonderful moral stories, told as bedtime stories, to all children.

Let us know of a few of the best fables from the text

Mitra Labha (Gaining of friends)

The Hermit and the Mouse

A mouse lived in the house of a hermit and steal food from him. On trying to get rid of the mouse, he was suggested to find the mouse’s hole since the mouse probably had a large supply of food to give it energy. It was done. The mouse finally left. 

Elephants and the King of Mice

Elephants used to pass through an abandoned village (home to mice) to reach a lake, but mice got trampled each day for this. The king of mice requested them to change routes, promising to help in a time of need. The elephants laughed but agreed. Later, they needed the mice again when they were trapped by hunters and needed to be set free.

Mitra bheda (Losing friends)

The Thief and the Brahmins – Four Brahmins befriended a Brahmin-thief when they’d made a lot of money. They exchange it for jewels and hide it within their bodies. The thief had planned to kill them and take the jewels away but a wild tribe had demanded the jewels and threatened to kill. Knowing that he no jewels on him and would still be killed, the thief sacrificed himself and saved the others.

The Turtle that Fell Off the Stick

A turtle and two swans were good friends. When the lake was drying up they plan to take the turtle to another lake. The turtle was told to tightly hold onto a stick with his mouth and not talk, while they would hold the stick from the sides. The turtle did not listen and fell to become a feast for others. 

Apariksitakarakam (Acting without thinking)

The Brahmani and the Mongoose

The wife of a Brahmin took in a baby mongoose and raised him with her own baby, though always on guard that it was an animal. One day, when the baby mongoose and the baby were left alone, a snake was going to attack them but the mongoose killed it. When he was going towards the mother, she thought that he had harmed her son and wounded the mongoose, only to realize later that she was wrong. 

The Brahmin’s Dream

A poor Brahmin in possession of a pot of porridge was dreaming how he could sell it and become rich and imagined a better future. However, he broke the pot of porridge out of excitement in the dream, ending all hope. 

Labdhapranasam (Loss of gains)

The Jackal’s Strategy

A jackal comes across a dead elephant it can eat but it cannot tear open its skin. He humbly evades the lion, cunningly moves away from the leopard, and uses the help of the tiger to tear the skin open as he can finally feast after he fights off another Jackal.

The Monkey and the Crocodile 

A monkey and crocodile eat sweet jamuns together. The crocodile’s wife on learning this wished to devour the monkey’s heart. When the monkey comes to know he cleverly saves himself.

Kakolukiyam (Of crows and owls)

Of Crows and Owls

In absence of a king, the birds decide to make the owl their king. However, the crow advises against it. When the owl comes to know this, he breaks all friendship with the crows. 

The War of Crows

A war between crows and owls has managed properly the crows as they defeat the Owls. They do not need to the ill advice of their own kind and use a different way.