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Panchatantra
The oldest surviving collection of India fables,the Panchatantra,was probably written around 200 B.c. by the great Hindu scholar Pandit Vishnu Sharma.The Panchatantra is a book of niti,the wise conduct of life,written in the form a chain of simple stories.Each of these stories has a moral and philosophical theme aiming to guide the reader on how to attain success in life by understanding human nature.These tales have stood the test of time and are pertinent even in modern times.The Panchatantra is an abridged form written for children.Here is the complete translation of the book as written by Vishnu Sharma.
- GenresClassics
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 30, 1990
About the author
Vishnu Sharma
220 books36 followersVishnu Sharma (Sanskrit: विष्णुशर्मन् / विष्णुशर्मा) was an Indian scholar and author who is believed to have written the Panchatantra collection of fables. The exact period of the composition of the Panchatantra is uncertain, and estimates vary from 1200 BCE to 300 CE.Some scholars place him in the 3rd century BCE.
Panchatantra is one of the most widely translated non-religious books in history. The Panchatantra was translated into Middle Persian/Pahlavi in 570 CE by Borzūya and into Arabic in 750 CE by Persian scholar Abdullah Ibn al-Muqaffa as Kalīlah wa Dimnah (Arabic: كليلة و دمنة). In Baghdad, the translation commissioned by Al-Mansur, the second Abbasid Caliph, is claimed to have become "second only to the Qu'ran in popularity." "As early as the eleventh century this work reached Europe, and before 1600 it existed in Greek, Latin, Spanish, Italian, German, English, Old Slavonic, Czech, and perhaps other Slavonic languages. Its range has extended from Java to Iceland." In France, "at least eleven Panchatantra tales are included in the work of Jean de La Fontaine."
The prelude to the Panchatantra identifies Vishnu Sharma as the author of the work. Since there is no other independent external evidence about him, "it is impossible to say whether he was the historical author . . .or is himself a literary invention". Based on analysis of various Indian recensions and the geographical features and animals described in the stories, Kashmir is suggested to be his birthplace by various scholars.
The prelude narrates the story of how Vishnu Sharma supposedly created the Panchatantra. There was a king called Sudarshan[citation needed] who ruled a kingdom, whose capital was a city called Mahilaropya (महिलारोप्य), whose location on the current map of India is unknown. The king had three sons named Bahushakti, Ugrashakti and Anantashakti] Though the king himself was both a scholar and a powerful ruler, his sons were "all dullards." The king despaired of his three princes' inability to learn, and approached his ministers for counsel. They presented him with conflicting advice, but the words of one, called Sumati, rang true to the king. He said that the sciences, politics and diplomacy were limitless disciplines that took a lifetime to master formally. Instead of teaching the princes scriptures and texts, they should somehow be taught the wisdom inherent in them, and the aged scholar Vishnu Sharma was the man to do it.
Vishnu Sharma was invited to the court, where the king offered him a hundred land grants if he could teach the princes. Vishnu Sharma declined the promised award, saying he did not sell knowledge for money, but accepted the task of making the princes wise to the ways of politics and leadership within six months. Vishnu Sharma knew that he could never instruct these three students through conventional means. He had to employ a less orthodox way, and that was to tell a succession of animal fables – one weaving into another – that imparted to them the wisdom they required to succeed their father. Adapting stories that had been told for thousands of years in India, panchatantra was composed into an entertaining five part work to communicate the essence of diplomacy, relationships, politics and administration to the princes. These five discourses — titled "The Loss of Friends", "The winning of friends", "Of Crows and Owls", "Loss of Gains" and "Imprudence" — became the Panchatantra, meaning the five (pancha) treatises (tantra).
Panchatantra is one of the most widely translated non-religious books in history. The Panchatantra was translated into Middle Persian/Pahlavi in 570 CE by Borzūya and into Arabic in 750 CE by Persian scholar Abdullah Ibn al-Muqaffa as Kalīlah wa Dimnah (Arabic: كليلة و دمنة). In Baghdad, the translation commissioned by Al-Mansur, the second Abbasid Caliph, is claimed to have become "second only to the Qu'ran in popularity." "As early as the eleventh century this work reached Europe, and before 1600 it existed in Greek, Latin, Spanish, Italian, German, English, Old Slavonic, Czech, and perhaps other Slavonic languages. Its range has extended from Java to Iceland." In France, "at least eleven Panchatantra tales are included in the work of Jean de La Fontaine."
The prelude to the Panchatantra identifies Vishnu Sharma as the author of the work. Since there is no other independent external evidence about him, "it is impossible to say whether he was the historical author . . .or is himself a literary invention". Based on analysis of various Indian recensions and the geographical features and animals described in the stories, Kashmir is suggested to be his birthplace by various scholars.
The prelude narrates the story of how Vishnu Sharma supposedly created the Panchatantra. There was a king called Sudarshan[citation needed] who ruled a kingdom, whose capital was a city called Mahilaropya (महिलारोप्य), whose location on the current map of India is unknown. The king had three sons named Bahushakti, Ugrashakti and Anantashakti] Though the king himself was both a scholar and a powerful ruler, his sons were "all dullards." The king despaired of his three princes' inability to learn, and approached his ministers for counsel. They presented him with conflicting advice, but the words of one, called Sumati, rang true to the king. He said that the sciences, politics and diplomacy were limitless disciplines that took a lifetime to master formally. Instead of teaching the princes scriptures and texts, they should somehow be taught the wisdom inherent in them, and the aged scholar Vishnu Sharma was the man to do it.
Vishnu Sharma was invited to the court, where the king offered him a hundred land grants if he could teach the princes. Vishnu Sharma declined the promised award, saying he did not sell knowledge for money, but accepted the task of making the princes wise to the ways of politics and leadership within six months. Vishnu Sharma knew that he could never instruct these three students through conventional means. He had to employ a less orthodox way, and that was to tell a succession of animal fables – one weaving into another – that imparted to them the wisdom they required to succeed their father. Adapting stories that had been told for thousands of years in India, panchatantra was composed into an entertaining five part work to communicate the essence of diplomacy, relationships, politics and administration to the princes. These five discourses — titled "The Loss of Friends", "The winning of friends", "Of Crows and Owls", "Loss of Gains" and "Imprudence" — became the Panchatantra, meaning the five (pancha) treatises (tantra).
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 14, 2026
This review is for the first edition of the Hindi translation of Vishnu Sharma's Panchtantra. The translation was done by Jwala Prasad Mishra. The original book contains 71 stories arranged in 5 categories: 1. The loss of friends, 2. The winning of friends, 3. Crows & owls, 4. Loss of gains, 5. Ill-considered action. The whole book is written as a recursive narrative (stories within stories). There are also shlokas or sayings (proverbs), along with the stories. These, and the core of all the stories carry lessons of wit, wisdom, practical living etc. The chief characters are people, as well as talking birds, animals & reptiles.
Most Indians would've encountered a Panchtantra story some time in their life, mostly childhood. Those are as sterilized as the modern versions of Grimm's fairytales! Not that the original Panchtantra stories are Grimm. But because each story goes on in continuation of the bigger narrative which it's a part of, it is a little difficult to extract a sub-story in its original form. Though I never understood why the shlokas were never included in modern versions. They alone carry the wisdom of the whole story.
Personally, I marvel at the way this book is composed. Panchtantra was perhaps a pioneer in combining a recursive narrative, a systematic arrangement by themes, and a purposeful storytelling which aimed at teaching specific & complex topics (strategy, statesmanship, human behaviour etc.) while being entertaining. No wonder Panchatantra was heavily translated, travelled far beyond India, and influenced many famous works like The Arabian Nights, The Canterbury Tales, The Tales of Vikram & Betaal, and generations of moral storytelling for children.
The verses (shlokas), the soul (sometimes the only form) of ancient Indian works, chief lessons or the niti of the book. They're relevant even today. Surprisingly, despite numerous translations, reprints & adaptations over 2000+ years, these verses were replaced by simplified prose, and have mostly vanished. Do put it better, the original Panchtantra with verses was written for princes in training, while the modern oversimplified versions without the verses have been dumbed down for the masses. And thus disappeared the wisdom which the original version carried.
Lastly, the sexism! One cannot ignore the sexism which frequently recurs throughout the book. Female roles are inferior even to animals. They've the least number of words for dialogues. And the roles are confined to mostly being a wife with bad qualities. Considering the time, context and the target audience of this book, either it was to dissuade the princes from women & focus on their training; or because women generally were considered inferior in the entire society. Yet, this sexism puts Panchtantra in a bad light today.
So, I'd recommend that don't write off Panchtrantra because it's sexist. But don't read the modern adaptations either. They've been dumbed down, and they don't retain the structural brilliance of the book. If you want to experience the composition & writing style, read the original, and be ready to encounter sexism (that is, if you care about it). If you just want to read the wisdom, read only the verses.
Most Indians would've encountered a Panchtantra story some time in their life, mostly childhood. Those are as sterilized as the modern versions of Grimm's fairytales! Not that the original Panchtantra stories are Grimm. But because each story goes on in continuation of the bigger narrative which it's a part of, it is a little difficult to extract a sub-story in its original form. Though I never understood why the shlokas were never included in modern versions. They alone carry the wisdom of the whole story.
Personally, I marvel at the way this book is composed. Panchtantra was perhaps a pioneer in combining a recursive narrative, a systematic arrangement by themes, and a purposeful storytelling which aimed at teaching specific & complex topics (strategy, statesmanship, human behaviour etc.) while being entertaining. No wonder Panchatantra was heavily translated, travelled far beyond India, and influenced many famous works like The Arabian Nights, The Canterbury Tales, The Tales of Vikram & Betaal, and generations of moral storytelling for children.
The verses (shlokas), the soul (sometimes the only form) of ancient Indian works, chief lessons or the niti of the book. They're relevant even today. Surprisingly, despite numerous translations, reprints & adaptations over 2000+ years, these verses were replaced by simplified prose, and have mostly vanished. Do put it better, the original Panchtantra with verses was written for princes in training, while the modern oversimplified versions without the verses have been dumbed down for the masses. And thus disappeared the wisdom which the original version carried.
Lastly, the sexism! One cannot ignore the sexism which frequently recurs throughout the book. Female roles are inferior even to animals. They've the least number of words for dialogues. And the roles are confined to mostly being a wife with bad qualities. Considering the time, context and the target audience of this book, either it was to dissuade the princes from women & focus on their training; or because women generally were considered inferior in the entire society. Yet, this sexism puts Panchtantra in a bad light today.
So, I'd recommend that don't write off Panchtrantra because it's sexist. But don't read the modern adaptations either. They've been dumbed down, and they don't retain the structural brilliance of the book. If you want to experience the composition & writing style, read the original, and be ready to encounter sexism (that is, if you care about it). If you just want to read the wisdom, read only the verses.
July 22, 2020
rating: 2.5 stars
is it right to call this india's answer to grimm's fairy tales? maybe not. though these are just as classist, casteist and sexist.
there were good stories here and there but over all? just the overdose of sexism killed it dude. like so much sexism. so. fucking. much. i get that this was written in a different time but still. anyways. it was fun, but yeah the flaws are very very visible.
i have a theory that these were combined over different periods of time because the historical references are almost completely crowded near the end.. so.. yeah. there is that.
i enjoyed these much more as a child but now.. it was fun here and there, but mostly just a big yikes. will get my kids to read something other than this. don't want them reading about glorified sati. i don't think this is as insane of a demand. right?
is it right to call this india's answer to grimm's fairy tales? maybe not. though these are just as classist, casteist and sexist.
there were good stories here and there but over all? just the overdose of sexism killed it dude. like so much sexism. so. fucking. much. i get that this was written in a different time but still. anyways. it was fun, but yeah the flaws are very very visible.
i have a theory that these were combined over different periods of time because the historical references are almost completely crowded near the end.. so.. yeah. there is that.
i enjoyed these much more as a child but now.. it was fun here and there, but mostly just a big yikes. will get my kids to read something other than this. don't want them reading about glorified sati. i don't think this is as insane of a demand. right?
May 13, 2023
This collection of ancient Indian tales is like a rollercoaster of wit and wisdom, with a generous sprinkling of slapstick humor. Forget boring moral lessons, Panchtantra dives headfirst into hare-brained adventures involving cunning animals, clueless humans, and more plot twists than a Marvel movie.
The talking animals are the true stars here, with the sly fox outsmarting the dimwitted lion and the clever crow pulling pranks on gullible jackals. But it's not all fun and games; beneath the laughter lies a treasure trove of life lessons that'll leave you pondering while chuckling.
The talking animals are the true stars here, with the sly fox outsmarting the dimwitted lion and the clever crow pulling pranks on gullible jackals. But it's not all fun and games; beneath the laughter lies a treasure trove of life lessons that'll leave you pondering while chuckling.
July 18, 2024
Is it even a fairytale if it isn't disturbing and silly goofy at the same time?
February 8, 2025
Excellent read
Read
June 20, 2025Can't believe this isn't on my shelves. My reading journey may have started somewhere with this one, I think. I don't even remember a thing, except the sheer amount of animals and some Nat Geo I'd watched while reading this one lol.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews