Panchatantra 0009 - The Fall of the Camel, The Lapwings vs. The Sea, The Foolish Turtle, The Caution of the Three Fishes, and The Sparrow's Fight Against the Elephant

In a jungle lived a lion king. His followers included a jackal and a crow. One day, they came across a camel. That camel had separated from its caravan and had lost its way.

The lion had never seen a camel before in his life. After all, camels did not roam around in the jungle. He asked the jackal and the crow, “What kind of an animal is this? Go find out and let me know.“

The crow said, “It’s a camel. Kill him and eat him.”

The lion said, “He has taken refuge in the forest and is a guest. Tell him to come to me without any fear. I will not harm him.“

The jackal and the crow went and spoke to the camel, then brought him to the lion.

The camel went and met the lion. He told the lion how he had lost his way and had ended up in the jungle.

The lion asked the camel to live there without fear for as long as he wanted.

One day, an elephant came to the forest and started creating havoc. The lion, seeing this, went and fought with the elephant. While he managed to defeat the elephant, he was badly hurt. The elephant had injured the lion using its tusks. He managed to drag himself home but he could not move. As he could not move, he could not hunt. The crow and the jackal relied on the lion’s kill for food. They began to starve.

The lion felt sorry for them. He asked them, “Go, find an animal whom I can kill in this condition. That way, I get food and you also don’t go hungry.“

The crow and the jackal set forth, but they could not find any animal like that. They thought, “Why not kill the camel? We will get good food then.“

The jackal said he would talk to the lion and influence him to kill the camel.

The jackal went to the lion and said, “It was better to kill the camel as there was no other animal there worth killing.“ Hearing these words, the lion was angry. He warned the jackal that if he said this again, he would meet his death.

The jackal said, “While it was a sin to hunt and kill the camel, what if it came and offered itself?”

The lion said he would think about that.

The jackal and the crow spoke amongst themselves. The crow went to the lion and said, “There is no animal that we can eat here. So kill me and eat me.“

To that, the lion said, “You are too small.“

The jackal then said, “Kill and eat me.“

The lion said, “Jackals are not edible,“ and shook his head.

The camel saw this. He thought, “All I have to do is offer myself and speak nice words. The lion will shake his head and say no.“

So he went to the lion and said, “Eat me.“

As soon as he said that, the lion attacked and killed him instantly.

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Completing his tale, the bullock said, “Wicked people are mean-minded and will cause harm, just like the jackal and the crow. The lion is surrounded by mean people. Someone is arousing him against me. You are my friend. Tell me, what should I do?“

“Leave this jungle. Go away from here,“ said the jackal.

“What you are saying is true, but if I leave this place, the lion will find me. It is better that I fight with him,“ said the bullock.

This scared the jackal. The bullock was strong, and if he did attack the lion, there was a good chance that the lion would die.

He needed to think of a way to have the bullock leave the place.

He said, “What you are saying is correct, but one should know the strength of the opponent. Even the sea thought so, but was defeated by the birds.“

“How was that?“ asked the bullock.

The jackal began telling the story.

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On a seashore lived a pair of lapwing birds. They found a nice place near the seacoast to lay their eggs. The female bird was scared, “Tide could wash off their eggs.“ The male lapwing assured the female, “Nothing like that would happen.“

When the male bird heard this, he laughed and said, “What a thing to say! The sea wouldn’t dare harm my children! Lay your eggs here and stop worrying!“

When the female laid eggs, just as she had said, the sea tide washed off her eggs.

She said to the male bird, “You refused to listen to good advice. Now we have lost our eggs. You acted like the foolish turtle who fell off the stick.“

“What was that?“ asked the male bird.

The female bird began telling the tale.

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In a lake lived a turtle who was friends with two swans. They would spend the day in each other’s company.

One year there was a drought. No rain.

The lake began to dry up.

They decided to do something. The turtle said to the swans, “You can fly. Fly and find a lake which is full of water. Also find a strong piece of stick. I will hold on to the stick with my mouth. You hold the two ends and fly with that till you find a lake which is full.“

The swans agreed, but told the turtle, “When we fly with you, ensure that you will not open your mouth.“

The swans began their journey. They flew in the sky.

Below on earth, people were wondering what was going on in the sky. Hearing them, the turtle wanted to ask what the people were talking about. As soon as the turtle opened its mouth, it fell on the ground and died.

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Ending this tale, the female bird said, “The ones who do not listen to good advice end up facing problems.“

“Those who foresee problems and act accordingly manage to live. But the one who relies on luck, loses. Just like the fish.“

“What was this?“ asked the male bird.

The female began telling.

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In a pond lived three fishes.

Once some fishermen were passing the pond. They had never seen it before. It seemed to be a perfect spot for fishing.

They decided to come prepared and explore the pond the next day.

One of the fishes heard this. He said it was best that they leave the pond before they were caught. The second fish said it was a good idea, but the third fish refused to leave the place, saying it was its home.

Hearing this, the first fish, along with his family, managed to leave the pond and go elsewhere.

The next day, early morning, the second fish heard the fishermen approach the pond. He too left the pond with his family.

Later in the day, the fishermen caught all the fish in the lake, including the third fish, and they all died.

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The male bird said, “I am not stupid. I have the power to dry up the lake.“

The female bird said, “You are weak. How can you do that? How can you attack the sea without knowing its strength?“

The male bird said, “I have the power to suck up the sea.“

The female bird said, “Talk sensibly. How can you suck up the sea which is fed by Ganga and other rivers? If you feel you can do it, then do it in a group. Alone you cannot, but in a group, you can. The way a sparrow, a woodpecker, a fly, and a frog got together and killed an elephant.“

“How was that?“ asked the male bird.

The female began telling the story.

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In a jungle, a pair of sparrows had made their nest in a tree. One day, an elephant came and started shaking the tree. The branch on which the nest was broke, the nest fell on the ground, and all the eggs were smashed. The female sparrow began crying when she saw this.

A woodpecker went to her and said, “Do not cry over something that is lost.“

The sparrow said, “That is true. But because of this elephant, I lost my eggs. If you are my friend, help me find a way to defeat the elephant.“

The woodpecker said, “A true friend is one who stands by the other friend during trouble. In good times, all will be your friend, but the one who is with you during bad times is a true friend. I have a friend who is a fly. I will ask the fly to help us.“

Along with the female sparrow, the woodpecker went to meet the fly. The fly agreed to help and said it would take the help of its friend, a frog.

The frog agreed to help and came up with a plan.

It asked the fly to buzz around the elephant’s eyes. When the elephant would shut its eyes, the woodpecker would peck at the eyes.

Blinded by pain, the elephant will look for water. The frog would sit on the edge of a precipice and croak there. Thinking there is water, the elephant will jump off the place and die.

This took place as planned.

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Ending her tale, the female bird said, “If one works in a group, things will work out.“

The male bird said it would work in a group.

He called the other birds and told them what had happened. The birds said they would not be able to suck the ocean dry. If there was something, they could go to Garuda, their king. “He will tell us what needs to be done,“ they said.

As decided, the birds went to Garuda and told him what had happened. Garuda said he would dry up the sea.

When Garuda was thinking about this, a messenger from Vishnu came to him, asking him to leave immediately for some work.

Garuda said he was busy and told the messenger to tell Vishnu, “that he was sorry, he would not be able to come.“

The messenger was shocked, wondering how could Garuda talk to Vishnu like this.

Garuda said, “Vishnu rests on the sea. That sea has swallowed this bird’s eggs. How can I serve Vishnu if the sea is not forced to return the eggs?“

When Vishnu heard this, he decided to visit Garuda and talk to him. When Garuda saw Vishnu come to him, he felt embarrassed and told him the reason why he was not following Vishnu’s orders.

Vishnu decided to talk to the sea along with Garuda.

Vishnu scolded the sea for stealing the eggs and asked the sea to immediately return the eggs.

The sea did so, and the male bird thanked all, took the eggs, and gave them to the female bird.

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Ending the tale of the birds, the jackal said to the bullock, “Know the strength of the enemy before attacking them.“

The bullock said, “How do I know that the lion really wants to harm me?“

The jackal said, “If you see the lion—his eyes red and looking vicious—know for sure that he has evil thoughts in his head. If not, then the lion is relaxed. Also, ensure no one else gets to hear about our conversation. Better leave the jungle and go somewhere safe.“

Saying this, the jackal left the bullock and went to his brother. His brother asked him where he had been busy. The jackal said he had been busy sowing seeds of discord. He told his brother that he had told the lion and bullock contradictory lies. “They will not talk to each other now,“ he said.

His brother said, “It is wrong to separate friends. It would be easier to destroy them.“

The jackal said, “Because of the bullock, the lion does not listen to us. I have secretly planned the death of the bullock. Even if he is not killed, he will certainly run away. Keep this a secret. With the bullock’s death, we get to avenge our father, we become ministers, and we get to feast on the bullock.“

“We need to ensure that we act like the cunning jackal that kept his plans a secret and looked after his own interests only.“

“How was that?“ asked the brother.

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Key take-aways

• Wicked people are mean-minded and will cause harm. The Jackal and the Crow are malicious, willing to sacrifice the camel for food.

• The other jackal deliberately sows discord between the Lion and the Bullock for his own gain.

• The company you keep is crucial.

• Foresight saves lives. It is best to foresee danger and act immediately, rather than waiting for it to arrive. Like the fishes.

• The female Lapwing’s warning about the tide was correct; the male bird’s arrogance and refusal to listen led to the loss of their eggs.

• Failure to follow clear instructions (staying silent) due to curiosity can lead to immediate catastrophe, like what happened to the turtle.

• Do not rely on luck. The fish who relied on luck was the only one caught by the fishermen.

• Working in a group achieves the impossible. An alliance of small, weak creatures can defeat a massive, powerful enemy through coordinated effort and strategy, the way the elephant was defeated.

• The Lapwing bird, when uniting with others and appealing to Garuda, forced the Sea to return what it had taken.

• The Jackal advises the Bullock to “Know the strength of the opponent” before challenging the Lion.

• The cunning Jackal ensured his plan to separate the Lion and Bullock was kept a secret to ensure his success.

Panchatantra 0008 - The Flea, The Bedbug, and the Indigo Jackal

 There was once a great king. This king had a beautiful palace and, in that, a wonderfully decorated bedroom. In that bedroom was a magnificent cot. It had layers of mattresses, on which beautiful, soft bedsheets had been spread. In the gaps between the mattresses lived a flea. This flea would softly bite the king and suck his blood. The king never realised this, and the flea was also happy.

One day, a bedbug came there. It met the flea. The flea was shocked. “Where did this come from?“ The flea asked the bedbug to leave. The bedbug was very offended. “Is this a way to treat a guest? You need to welcome guests, not drive them away!“

The flea said, “I suck the king’s blood only when he is fast asleep. I bite him softly; he never realises. Your bite is sharp. If you promise to bite the king only when he is fast asleep, then only I will allow you to stay.“ The bedbug agreed.

While they were talking, the king climbed up on his bed. As soon as the king was on the bed, the bedbug, unable to control itself, bit the king. The king felt the sting. He shouted out. The bug immediately hid itself. The king’s servants started looking around. They found the flea between the sheets and mattresses and killed it.

Ending his story, the jackal said, “Do not mix around with anyone whose character is not known to you. You could meet the same fate as the jackal who fell in a vat of indigo.“

The king wanted to know about this.

The jackal began his tale.

In a jungle, there lived a jackal. He used to live on scraps that he would find and was always hungry. One day, he was near the city, looking for food when some dogs on the street spotted him. These dogs started barking and then began chasing the jackal. Not sure where to go, the jackal ran and incidentally entered the courtyard of a house. This house belonged to a person who used to dye clothes. The dogs arrived there also. Not seeing any place to hide, the jackal jumped into a drum. This was a drum of indigo dye. He stayed in the drum for some time, waiting for the dogs to leave. He waited. After some time, he felt safe to come out. The barking seemed to have stopped. He slowly crept out of the drum. Because of the dye, he was looking very different. The dogs who were lurking there saw the jackal. They could not recognise the indigo-coloured animal. The jackal, with the dye dripping from his body, looked strange. The dogs fled the site.

The jackal, having had enough of the city, returned to the jungle. The dye was etched on his fur and skin, and he looked very different. Seeing him, the animals in the jungle also got scared. “What was this indigo-coloured being?“ They decided to leave him alone. The jackal called them and said he had been sent from the heavens by Brahma himself to rule the jungle. The animals believed him, and the jackal became the king of the jungle.

All was going well. The animals would hunt; he would get his share of food. One day, this jackal heard a pack of jackals howling in the distance. Unable to control himself, he began howling too. The moment he did, the other animals realised this was just an ordinary jackal who had tricked them. That was the end of the jackal.

The jackal finished telling his tale to the lion and said, “That is why I say, do not trust strangers, especially those who are a totally different species.“

The lion asked the jackal, “I agree. But what proof do you have that the bullock wants to harm me?“ The jackal said, “He said so this morning. He has made up his mind to kill you. Tomorrow, see for yourself. His eyes will be red, his lips will be quivering. See him and then decide for yourself.“

Saying this, the jackal went to the bullock.

“How are you doing? I haven’t seen you for a long time,“ said the bullock when he spotted the jackal. “I am not well. I am the advisor of the lion, and I am also your friend. I hate what I am about to do. I know my master’s weaknesses. Just because I want to save your life, I will tell you this. The lion wants to kill you tomorrow. I have come to warn you. The lion feels a grass-eater and a meat-eater cannot be friends.“

The bullock was shocked. He said, “I was foolish to think that the lion was my friend. I feel someone is inciting the lion against me.“ The jackal said, “I am sure your sweet conversation will please him.“ The bullock said, “No, I don’t think that will be possible. The wicked are mean-minded and will cause your downfall, like what they did to the camel.“

“What was that?“ asked the jackal. The bullock began telling the story.

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Summary of Key Learnings

This section clearly summarises the main points and principles demonstrated by the stories:

The story warns against trusting too quickly or mixing with those whose behaviour one is not fully aware of. The flea allowed the bedbug to be there, though it knew that the bedbug had a sharp bite. The flea suffered because of the bedbug.

The story of the flea says that associating with those who lack self-control can lead to your downfall. The innocent suffer for the guilty: The bedbug hid successfully, while the flea was found and killed.

A false identity will eventually be exposed by natural instinct, like it happened to the indigo jackal. The moment the indigo jackal heard the other jackals, his natural instinct to howl in response was so strong that it immediately exposed him.

The jackal’s primary goal is to turn the lion and the bullock against each other by feeding them fabricated lies about the other’s intentions. He uses the tactic of false warning to appear helpful while serving his own agenda. The bullock’s shock and belief that the lion is against him show how easily a bond of trust can be broken by calculated lies.

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Panchatantra 0007 - The lion and the hare

 The story starts in a jungle. A jungle that was ruled by a merciless, powerful lion. All were scared of him. One day, the animals got together and asked him why he was randomly killing animals. They said that just one animal a day was enough for him. If he promised not to kill any more, the group would send one animal to him every day as his meal. The lion said he was fine with this, but if on any one day, an animal did not come to him, he would then kill all the animals. The animals promised him this would not happen. One animal would be sent to him, every day.

Animals started going to him, one a day. One day it was the turn of a hare. He was reluctant. Who would want to go and become a meal of a lion? Much against his will, he went to the lion, thinking how he could possibly trick the lion.

The hare had an idea. He roamed around and went to the lion when the sun was about to set. The lion, in his den, was getting furious. He thought: "The animals broke their promise. Tomorrow I will kill all the animals." At that moment, the hare arrived there.

The lion was furious. He growled: "First, you are small, and on top of that, you are late. I will kill you now and tomorrow I will kill the other animals." The hare said: "But it is not my fault, nor is it the fault of those animals. Listen, I will tell you the reason for the delay." The lion said: "I am hungry. Hurry up, tell me fast. I am losing my patience."

The hare said: "Sir, I am a small animal. The other animals knew that. So, they sent four other hares with me. We all had started to come here when another lion appeared. He seemed very strong. I told him we were coming to you. He said he was the king of the jungle. He also said he would hold the four hares hostage. He asked me to come to you and tell you that he is challenging you. Whoever wins can have all the hares. I have come here to tell you this. It is because of that lion that I got delayed, and also why I came alone."

The lion was enraged. He shouted: "I want to see this lion!" The hare said: "This lion lives in a strange fort. He waits there and attacks from his fort." The lion said: "I don't care about his fort! Take me to him. I will kill him immediately!" The hare asked: "Should you not try and find out how strong that other lion is before attacking him?" The lion replied: "No, that's not your worry. Take me to him."

The hare then led the lion to a well. He then said: "That lion was here. He may have heard that you are on your way, so he has gone inside his fort. This is the fort." The lion looked inside and saw his own reflection. He growled, and the reflection also growled. The sound was louder, coming from inside the well. Hearing this, the lion jumped inside the well and drowned.

The hare then happily went back to the other animals and told them what had happened. All were very pleased to hear the end of the cruel lion, and they all praised the hare.

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Ending the story, the jackal told his brother: "That is why the clever person is the powerful one. I can easily create a misunderstanding between the lion and the bullock." "See if you can do it," said his brother.

One day, the jackal saw the lion and bullock. Instead of sitting together, they were sitting apart. This was the opportunity the jackal was looking for. He went to the lion. The lion was happy to see him and asked: "Why have you not come and met me? Where have you been?" The jackal said: "I did not come as you were busy. I now had to come and meet you. I can see you are bringing about your destruction yourself, and I cannot bring myself to see this." The lion said: "What is this? Do tell me."

The jackal said: "The bullock hates you. You consider him your friend. He told me one day that he knew all your strengths and weaknesses. He would now kill you, and then he would become the king of the jungle. Then he would make me his minister." The lion was shocked to hear this. "I don't believe he would deceive me," said the lion. "I trust him more than myself. I am not sure I should believe you." The jackal said: "You are making a mistake. What qualities does the bullock have? He cannot help kill your enemies. Find some offense and kill him."

The lion said: "I have given him my word that I will protect him. So how can I then kill him? He is my friend, and I am not angry with him. I probably should not have made a grass-eater my friend, but now that I have made him my friend, I cannot hurt him, even if he betrays me."

The jackal said: "You have taken pity on him and have stopped killing animals. Where will the meat-eaters get meat from? Do not make friends with one whose character you are not fully aware of. The bedbug was at fault, but the flea got killed." "How did this happen?" asked the lion. The jackal began telling the story.

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Key Take-Aways (Corrected)

1. Cleverness and wit can defeat physical power. The hare used his mind to defeat the lion.

2. The hare understood the lion's traits: arrogance and temper. By exploiting them, the hare made the lion's reflection the weapon against him.

3. The lion's fury and impatience led directly to his downfall.

Panchatantra 0006 - The Golden Chain and the Cunning Crab: How to Conquer a Stronger Enemy

 “Somewhere in India, in a large tree lived a pair of crows. Now, whenever the female crow laid eggs, a black cobra would come and gobble up the eggs. Nearby was a jackal.

The crows knew the jackal well. The jackal was also seeing this, every time it happened. As soon as the female crow had laid eggs, the cobra would climb up the tree and eat up the eggs. The crows were afraid that the next time the cobra would eat them up.

One day the crows went to him, and complained to him.

The jackal asked them not to worry. The jackal said - When the enemy becomes strong, it needs to be tricked into submission. Ordinary ones can escape the enemy by their presence of mind. Act the way the crab did and see how he overpowered a heron.

The crows wanted to know about that.

The jackal began telling them that story.

Let me tell you about this lake. It was a place far away, and the lake was huge. It was home to all kinds of aquatic creatures, and many water birds lived around it, among them was a heron. This heron we are talking about today, had lived there for years, living on fish. Now he was old and frail. He was unable to catch fish like he used to do earlier and was hungry. He was always thinking of a way for food to come to him.

One day, the old heron went near the water. Standing at the edge, he began crying out loudly. Hearing his cries, a crab came out, wondering what was happening. The crab saw the heron. He looked really sad and tears were falling from his eyes into the waters of the lake. The crab asked him - Uncle heron, why are you upset? Is it hunger that is making you cry, or is there some other reason?

The heron looked at the crab and said - My child, I have become old. I do not want to live in this world any longer. Thus, I have made up my mind to renounce this world. It is not hunger that is making me cry. I have made a vow to fast until death comes to me. So even if fishes came to me, I would not touch them.

The crab said - Why did you suddenly decide to renounce the world?

The heron said - I lived and spent my life here. I was born near this lake. I know this lake as my only home. I have heard that this lake will be drying up. That is making me sad. I have heard that this lake will be drying up. That is making me sad. I heard that in the next twelve years the lake will dry up. There is a prediction that for the next twelve years there will be no rain.

The crab was stunned. What, where did you hear this? he asked the heron.

“From an astrologer,” the heron said. The astrologer said it was written in a book. Even now, there isn’t a lot of water in the lake... The bigger creatures like crocodiles and tortoises will walk away... Saddened, I have taken up the vow to fast until death.

The crab went into the water. There he told the fishes what he had heard from the heron.

What do we do? - all said. They were worried about the future.

They all went together and asked the heron - What do we do? How do we save ourselves?

The heron said - I know of a lake close by. That lake is deep and full of water. Forget twelve, even if it does not rain for twenty-four years, nothing will happen to the lake. If you are fine, you can climb up on my back. I will take you there.

Hearing this, all wanted to go with the heron.

One by one they would climb onto the heron’s back. The heron would fly some distance. Then he would dash the fish against a rock, kill and eat it. He would then come back and ask for the next one to climb onto his back.

This cycle continued for some time.

Then the crab said - I had spoken to you first, yet you have ignored me so far. Do you have any intentions of saving me?

The heron thought - I have been having fish every day. Having a crab will be a welcome change.

The crab climbed up on the heron’s back and they set forth. When the heron reached a rocky spit, he began slowing.

The crab asked - How far is the lake?

Confident with himself, the heron said - Lake? There is no lake. This is for my feast.

The crab by then had seen the heaps of fish bones. He realized what had been happening. Using his claws, he strangled the heron to its death. After that, he walked back to the lake.

Seeing him, the fishes asked where the heron was. The crab told them what had happened.

Ending his story, the jackal said - this is how a mere crab was able to kill a heron.

The crows said - Then tell us. How do we kill the cobra?

The jackal said - Here is what you have to do. Go to the city. Visit the house of wealthiest person there. Look around to see when they drop something very precious on the ground. As soon as they do, swoop down, grab that and fly away with that. Drop that in the hollow where the snake lives. People will follow you surely and they will the snake.

The crows decided to follow the advice of the jackal. They did not have to fly far. Nearby royal women were having a bath in a lake; they had left their garments and ornaments on the banks. The female crow grabbed a golden chain and flew off with that. When the guards saw this, they chased after the crow. The crow dropped the chain which slipped into the hole where the snake lived. The guards started probing around to get the chain. The snake came out to see what was happening. Seeing the snake, the guards killed it immediately. They then found the chain and took it back with them.

Ending this tale, the jackal said - What cannot be achieved by strength has to be dealt with, using deceit. Like the way the hare in the jungle, killed a lion.

What happened? - asked his brother.

The jackal began telling the story.

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What do we learn from this?

what cannot be achieved by strength has to dealt with, using deceit

The two stories show different types of deception: The heron exploits the fear and trust of the fish for selfish gain. The crow/jackal use a golden chain to turn the guards against the cobra for protection and survival.

• Understand your opponent’s vulnerability.

• When you lack the strength to fight directly, find an intermediary way to deal with it.

• Do not accept claims at their face value, especially those that trigger panic or offer overly convenient solutions.

• The crab’s survival was due to his timely realization of the danger and his immediate, decisive action.

Panchatantra 0005 - How an Ascetic Lost Everything through Misplaced Trust

 

The story of the ascetic starts somewhere in India, in a place, far away.

In that city, there was an old monastery. In that monastery lived an ascetic. This ascetic was a learned person and used to give discourses and advise people. Over time, he had gained many devotees. They would come, visit him, listen to him and take his blessings. In return, they would give the ascetic expensive gifts. The ascetic would take the gifts and sell them off in the market. In return he would get money. By doing this, he ended up accumulating a lot of wealth. With wealth, came fear and distrust. He trusted no one and kept all his money in bags, and those bags he tied around himself.

His habits of moving around with money bags tied around him, were noticed by robbers. One robber made it his objective to rob the ascetic. He had a problem though. The walls of the monastery were very difficult to climb, and the gates were very high and next to impossible to climb and cross. He decided to please the ascetic with words and swindle him.

One day he went to the ascetic and asked him to become his guru. He used sweet words to please the ascetic. The ascetic, unaware of the swindler’s intentions, agreed.

The ascetic agreed on a condition that the disciple should not enter the monastery after sunset, but sleep outside. The robber agreed.

He served the ascetic while keeping a lookout for the money bags. He noticed that the ascetic always tied the money bags around himself and wondered how to gain the guru’s trust.

One day the ascetic was invited to preside over a thread ceremony at a disciple’s house. The ascetic left for that, and the swindler also left with him. On the way, passing a river, the ascetic decided to relieve himself. He took the money bags and his robes and handed them to the robber, asking him to guard them. Then, he left to answer the call of nature.

Seeing the opportunity, the robber fled as soon as the ascetic was out of sight.

While the ascetic was relieving himself, he saw two rams. They were fighting with each other, ramming their heads until their heads bled. The smell of blood brought a jackal there. It tried to get closer to the rams. Unfortunately, it got caught between the two fighting rams and met his end.

Seeing this happen in front of his eyes, shocked the ascetic. He quickly finished his business and came back to see his money bags missing. Only his robes were lying there. He tried to search for the swindler but no luck. Sad and unhappy, he returned back to the monastery.

Ending the story the jackal, who has started telling the story said – Like the ascetic was responsible for his actions, you too are to blame for creating this situation.

His brother said - Do not worry. I made the lion and bullock become friends. I will also break their friendship. Not by force, but by using my cunning. Like the crow killed a cobra using a golden chain.

How was it - asked his brother?

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The story is about mis-placed trust and the consequences of actions.

The robber’s methods show how flattery can be used to exploit weaknesses (the ascetic’s desire for praise).

The ascetic was so consumed by his physical attachment that he failed to exercise due diligence in evaluating the character and intentions of his new “disciple.” He was too trusting in the wrong area.

Rational thought vanishes when one is scared. The ascetic’s fear of losing his wealth clouded his judgment, leading him to hand them over to the person he should have been wary of.

Panchatantra 0004 - The merchant and the king

 There was a beautiful city, somewhere in India. This city was literally governed by a rich merchant. No, he was not the ruler there. There was a king there, and the merchant ensured that everyone, the people, the king - all were pleased.

Once this merchant’s daughter was getting married. The merchant had invited most of the city’s people to attend the wedding. He treated them to lavish meals and gave them gifts. He then invited the king and his family and gave them special respect and gifts.

A sweeper of the palace heard about this and wanted to try his luck. He had unfortunately, not been invited. Even then, the sweeper went and sat there. The merchant saw this and had the sweeper thrown out. The sweeper felt extremely insulted. The merchant could have been polite and a small meal and gift would not have hurt the merchant. The sweeper went home and lay awake the whole night, thinking of ways to have the merchant fall in the eyes of the king. An idea struck him. He thought over it. This idea seemed good. The sweeper decided to put that idea to action.

A few days passed. The sweeper was sweeping the king’s chamber. It was early morning and the king was not fully awake. The sweeper started murmuring - the audacity of the merchant. He hugged the queen!

The king heard the words. What!! He was now fully awake. He called the sweeper and asked - Did the merchant hug the queen?

The sweeper quietly said - I am not sure what I said my lord. I was up all-night gambling. I am half asleep myself. Forgive me for my words.

This did not satisfy the king. This sweeper has complete access to the palace. He can go to any room. It is quite possible that he saw my queen hugging the merchant.

From that day, the king’s behaviour towards the merchant changed. The merchant would be ignored and when the merchant asked for the reason, the king asked him not to come to the palace.

The merchant was sad wondering why the king was being unfriendly towards him.

Some days passed.

One day the merchant decided to visit the palace When he went there, the palace guards caught him and asked him not to enter. The sweeper happened to be there and he said - beware of the merchant. He had me thrown out of his banquet. He could do the same to you.

As soon as the merchant heard this, he knew the reason for the king’s behaviour. He thought of a way to resolve the issue. He invited the sweeper, gave him gifts and asked him to forgive him.

Happy with the gifts, the sweeper decided to help the merchant.

The next day, early morning, when the king was half asleep, the sweeper started saying - What a king!! He eats cucumbers in the toilet.

The king was fully awake. What nonsense is this? You are a trusted servant and that is why I am not saying anything to you. If there was anyone else, I would have punished that person.

The sweeper said, - Sir, I was up the whole night gambling. I am half asleep. Forgive me for my words.

The king realized his mistake. He should not have trusted the words of a sweeper.

The merchant was invited to the court respectfully and given great gifts. Things became, as before.

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The jackal stopped and said - this is why I am saying; Give me respect that is due.

The bullock agreed and the jackal brought him and introduced him to the lion.

The lion and the bullock became friends. The lion then went to the river and drank all the water he needed.

Soon problems started appearing. The bullock started telling the lion that killing animals for food was not good. The lion tried to please the bullock.

The animals, including the jackal brothers, who lived on scraps were disheartened.

The two jackal brothers were discussing. The brother who had told the story of the monkey and the wedge, said to his brother - All these issues were created by you. If you had not introduced the lion and the bullock, these issues would not have happened.

The other jackal said - Yes, it is like a jackal that got caught between the fighting rams.

What is this - asked his brother.

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The merchant worked hard to please both the king and the people. He was someone was expert in balancing interests.

Any person who is of power should not believe rumours. Also, people who maybe on the lower rung can exert influence, if needed.
The merchant resolved the issue through diplomacy. He used appeasement and strategic kindness to manage conflict.

Anyone in power should manage all levels.

Remember, a strong reputation built over years can be demolished over-night.

Next time, another story. Till subscribe and leave a note for me.

And you want the previous story? Here it is. 

Panchatantra 0003 - The Jackal, the Drum, and the Scared Lion

 In a place, far far away, lived a jackal. Always hungry, the jackal was always in the lookout for a proper meal. His hunger took him all over the land. Wherever he found food, was home for him. Wandering like this he came across a battlefield. The battle was over for the day. It was evening and the armies had retired. There were many things scattered on the ground. The jackal, seeing an empty field, began sniffing around. Among many things lying there was a drum. The drum was lying near some bushes. Incidentally, that day, there was a strong wind blowing, and this wind was making the branches of the bushes hit against the drum. This was creating a strange noise. Imagine branches of bushes beating drums. And a deserted battlefield. Sounds eerie.

This was a sound that the jackal was unfamiliar with. He got scared and decided to immediately leave the place. He was about to turn back, when he suddenly thought it would be foolish not to see what was causing the sound. At least he could peep from a distance and see what was happening.

He gathered courage and slowly walked towards the source of the sound. When he approached it, he saw what it was. A mere drum. He laughed and went closer. There he found food. Enough to last him for days. This made this jackal very happy. He decided to settle and enjoy the food.

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The jackal finished telling the story to the lion and said - you should not be scared of a strange noise. You need to find out what is causing that.

The lion said - What are you saying? My brave warriors, the tigers, wolves, leopards - they have heard this noise. All are scared. No one wants to be here.

The jackal said - They are scared because you are scared. If you are brave, they will get courage, seeing you.

The lion looked at the jackal and said - So are you telling me that you are brave enough to find out what is causing this noise?

The jackal said - I am brave. I am confident.

The lion said - Good. Go. Find out what it is. Come back and tell me. God bless you.

The jackal took leave of the lion and set forth to find out the source of the noise.

After the jackal had left, the lion started cursing himself.

I am a fool. I have made a big mistake. How could I trust the jackal and tell him about my weakness. Now he will go to my enemy and tell them all this. I will now have to go and hide somewhere. I cannot live like this!

In the meanwhile, the jackal had reached the source of the sound. He himself was scared. He then saw it – a lone bullock standing there, bellowing. Our jackal was very relieved. Oh - it is just a bullock. This is my lucky day. I have the winning cards in my hand. I will talk to the lion, based on the situation, I will either make the bullock his friend or enemy. He went back to the lion.

The lion saw him return.

The lion asked - Did you find out what is causing the sound.

The jackal said - Yes, I did.

The lion said - Come on. You are joking. You are not telling the truth.

the jackal said - Will I lie, in front of you?

The lion said - So how come you were able to escape this strange thing?

The jackal said - Whatever it is, I have the power to make you friends with this. I will make this thing serve you. I can do that.

The lion said - What! You are serious? You can do that?

The jackal said - If one has brains, nothing is impossible.

The lion said - I like you. I will make you an advisor.

Thanking the lion, the jackal ran and went back to the place, where the bullock was and said - Why are you bellowing always? Our king is getting disturbed. He wants to meet you.

The bullock said - Who is this king of yours?

The jackal said, pointing at a direction - He is our king, the lion. He is sitting near the hill you see, along with his courtiers.

The bullock was scared. He said - I can’t face a lion. Look, you seem to be a clever being. Could you help me? Save me so that the lion does not kill me?

The jackal thought for a moment and said - Then wait. Let me talk to the king and then return back to you.

Saying this, the jackal ran back to the lion.

There, he said - Sir, this is an animal. Not an ordinary one. This is the bullock of great Shiva. The bullock told me he had taken a break from his duties and Shiva had granted him leave for some time to eat the grass and play around in the forest.

The lion said - No wonder. So, it is Shiva’s bullock. Makes sense. That is why this bullock can roam around fearlessly in the forest. So, what did you tell him, when he said all this to you?

The jackal said - I told him he was in the forest which had presented to her lion by great goddess Durga herself. I told him he was welcome to stay under the protection of the great lion. He was happy and said he would, only if his life was spared.

The lion said - I am sure I made a good decision by appointing you. Go to him and tell him I will spare his life, as long he spares mine. Go, bring him to me.

The jackal left happy with himself.

He then went to the bullock and said - I have spoken to the lion. He has called you and has agreed to spare your life. Don’t forget all this happened because of me. So, give me proper respect. Else misfortune will be yours like that which happened to the merchant.

What was that? - asked the bullock.

This story focuses on the need to conquer fear through knowledge and the demonstration that cunning is superior to might.

Fear is a product of ignorance. The lion and his courtiers are scared. They are unsure about the unfamiliar sound. Finding out the truth is necessary to survive and dominate.

The Jackal in the battlefield was also scared till he discovered the drum and eventually, food.

If one has brains, nothing is impossible - this needs to be noted.

Panchatantra 0002 - The monkey and the wedge

The monkey and the wedge

In a city there lived a rich merchant. One day the merchant decided it was time to build a temple. He chose the appropriate spot for building the temple. A nice shady place.

He gathered workers who would help in the construction work, and appointed them. He then told them what they were supposed to do, and the timeline by when he needed the work completed. Payment terms were discussed and agreed on, and the date when the workers would start, was decided.

On the set date, the workers arrived at the site, ready to start their work. They would go there every day early morning and start work. When afternoon came, the workers would take a break. They would call out to each other, and then would leave the site. They would return after sometime and resume their work.

This site was a shady place. There were many trees there. And in those trees, lived monkeys. Every day the monkeys would observe the workers busy with their work.

Let’s talk about this specific day. A carpenter was trying to split a log into two. He had managed to cut part of the log. It was just then, that his fellow workers came and called him, and told him it was time for a break. The carpenter really needed a break. But how to handle the log? If he left it, the cut part would snap back, closing the gash. To ensure it remained in that position, the carpenter pushed a wedge into the gap in the log, and then left with his colleagues, for his break.

The monkeys, up in the trees, saw the workers leave the site. They were used to the schedule of the workers. When the workers left, the monkeys would come down and roam around the site freely. When the monkeys were there, the curiosity bug caught one of the monkeys. This monkey saw the wedge, which had been pushed into the gash, in the log. It was something that the monkey had never seen before and it was curious. What is this? It thought. The monkey went closer and touched the wedge. It was sturdy, and refused to move. The monkey then grabbed the wedge and began to pull it. Unfortunately for the monkey, the wedge shot out of the log. Taken aback, the monkey moved and his legs got caught in the gash in log. With the wedge out, the log closed in, crushing the monkey, killing it.

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The jackal finished telling his brother the tale of the unfortunate curious monkey. Saying this he said -
Why should we be curious? Why the lion returned back without drinking water, should not be for us to worry about. We need to be content. When the lion kills and eats, he leaves scraps around. We need to be happy eating that. So, stop thinking about the lion.

The other jackal said,
I disagree. Are we here just to hunt for food? What are we? Crows, that we need to roam around, looking for food?

The first jackal said,
look, we are not in the service of the lion. When we did, things were different. Just forget the lion and his affairs.

The second jackal said
No. All one has to do, is serve the king. Doing so, even an ordinary person, can become a minister.
If a minister is not doing their job properly, they can be let go.
We need to find out what the king likes, dislikes; his wants, his desires. Doing so, we can get closer to the king.

The first jackal was listening.
Tell me. What is your plan? What are we supposed to do?

The second jackal said
I have a plan. I have seen the lion. He went to drink water but came back thirsty. I know the river is not dry. Also, have you noticed something? The lion has said something to the other animals, and they all look a bit scared. I will use diplomacy to find out what is happening.

And how do you know that the lion is scared - asked the first jackal.

The second jackal said -
Look closely. Can you not see the lion. He is looking back towards the river time and again. Also, his voice. And the way his eyes are twitching. All these are signs, that tell me, something is bothering the lion. I will go to the lion and become friendly with him. I will gain his trust and then, I will remove his fear. By doing so, I will help regain our father's position, as his advisor.

The first jackal said - You are talking about serving the lion. What do you plan to do? Fine, tell me. What will you say when you go to the lion?

The second jackal said - I have not planned anything. All I know is, I will be successful I need to understand the situation, and then based on the situation, I need to say what is correct. If the lion is angry, I'll flatter him. I will treat all his friends and allies as my own. And appreciate all that he says and gives.

The first jackal said - Good luck. I will remain here and watch and see what you do.

The second jackal then took leave of his brother and went and greeted the lion.

This lion was not like the ferocious lion we hear of. He was a nice person. When he saw the jackal approaching, he greeted him and asked -
How have you been? All well? I have not seen you for a long time?

The jackal said - You are the king, and I am just a subject. I offer my services to you. A king needs high ranking people to serve him, and he also sometimes needs nobodies like us.

The lion said - What high and lows? You are the son of my ex-advisor and I have respect for you. If there is anything to say, do not hesitate.

The jackal said - I have come here to say something to you. I am not sure, what I want to say is something that I need to say in front of all.

The lion looked at the other animals near him. He saw some tigers and wolves sitting there.

Could you please leave me and the jackal alone for some time - he said.

They understood. The tigers and wolves walked away from there.

When they were gone, the jackal said - I think, your majesty, you went to the river to drink water, but came back thirsty. Any reason why?

The lion was taken aback. He stammered and said - Oh nothing, let it be.

The jackal said - I understand you are not comfortable sharing things with me. Let it be. The jackal got up, ready to leave.

The lion thought for some time and then said - you seem trust worthy. Let me tell you. So I was at the river and heard a scary noise. Wait .... can you hear it now?

The jackal heard the bellow of the bullock.

He said - So what? This is a jungle. You will hear noises here.

The lion said - Look, I am not comfortable. Some scary animal has come here and has made its home. It makes these strange noises. It’s not visible.

The jackal said - You have just heard some noise and that is scaring you? It’s your jungle. You were born here, raised here. Noises should not scare you. Drums make strange noises. When a jackal overcame his fear of noises, he found food.

Which jackal is this, what happened? asked the lion.

The jackal began telling the lion the story of this jackal.

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Analysis Summary

A jackal says, avoid curiosity. One should be "content" with what authority provides. The second jackal says No; I do not accept this. I am ambitious. I refuse to settle for scraps.

• The story talks about the danger of interfering with things that one does not understand. The monkey, driven by "curiosity," interfered with the wedge in the log and died. It says curiosity without knowledge can be fatal.
• The second jackal's approach shows the importance of intelligence and planning before action. His goal is to regain his family's position by knowing the king's weaknesses and using "diplomacy".

Panchatantra 0001 - How A Bullock's Bellow Scared The Lion

 So, let me start with the first story from Panchatantra.

And as with most of the Panchatantra stories, this is a nested story - where one-story thread leads to another story. This is from the first book of Panchatantra called ‘Conflict among friends’.

This is a story of a bullock. About how the bullock became friendly with a lion. And how that friendship was destroyed by a jackal.

This is how the story proceeds:

Somewhere in India was a city. A beautiful one. In that city lived a merchant. He was ambitious. His father had been a prosperous merchant and he wanted to make a name for himself. His motto in life was - everything in money, and everything in life can be achieved by money. One should always think of ways of increasing wealth. If one was rich, he would have friends. He would get recognized by people in the society. He decided to make money for himself. Away from home. The city of Mathura seemed to be a good option. The city was on the banks of river Yamuna. His plan was - he would travel to Mathura, set up his trade there, sell his wares and make money and come back richer. He made his mind. He would travel to Mathura.

He spoke with the elders in the family and decided the date of travel. On the date that was decided, he took leave of all and set off for Mathura.

In those days, there were no mechanized modes of travel. People had to rely on carts. Either pulled by horses or by bullocks. This merchant had two strong bullocks. They were sturdy and were capable of carrying heavy burden. He harnessed them the bullocks to a cart and set out for Mathura, accompanied by a few servants.

A few days of travel, and they approached the river, Yamuna. That is when tragedy struck. The cart was parked. The bullocks had been let loose to graze. One of the bullocks suddenly fell. The merchant and the servants managed to save the animal and then they noticed, that the bullock had, unfortunately, broken one of its legs. The merchant felt sorry for the animal. He decided he would stay there with the bullock and nurse it.

The servants were not very happy with the idea. They spoke to the merchant and said

This place is an unknown place. There are forests nearby. Who knows what kinds of wild animals are there, lions, tigers etc. We do not advise you to stay here. For the sake of an animal, it is not fair to put everyone’s lives in danger.

This seemed reasonable to the merchant. He chose a few servants and asked them to stay with the injured animal. He then asked the cart driver to drive the cart using the lone bullock, and they resumed their journey for Mathura.

As soon as the merchant had left, the servants who had been left behind, started thinking. Why sacrifice their lives for an injured bullock? The next day they left the place and caught with retinue of the merchant.

Why are you here? I asked you to be with the bullock. This bullock was born in front of my eyes and he is like a dear one. I left you there and asked you to take care of the animal. Please go back and be with him.

The servants had planned what to say. They said - Sir, the bullock died in the night. We cremated his body and after that, we have come looking for you.

The merchant was very sad to hear this. He said prayers for the departed bullock, performed funeral rites and resumed the journey.

Incidentally, the bullock did die then. He limped around the place. He found tender plants growing in a forest, near the river and he ate those. Slowly, he gained strength and his leg too started healing. He began to call this place, his new home and began living there, eating grass that grew near the banks of the river. Even though misfortune had struck him, the bullock had been able to survive there.

In that forest lived a lion. The lion had a group of animals that would accompany him, wherever he went. It so happened that, one day this lion was feeling very thirst. He went to the river, all alone, to drink water. As soon he was about to step closer and drink, he heard a terrible noise. This noise was the bellow of the bullock. The lion was confused. Even though he felt scared, he did not want express his feelings. He turned around and without drinking any water, went and sat near a tree. The group of animals, that followed him, came and sat near him. This lion once had a jackal had an advisor. This jackal was forever scheming and plotting. When the lion had discovered this, he had dismissed the jackal, from the post of the advisor. He had two sons, who roamed around the lion, trying to earn the lion’s favour.

The jackals sensed something was wrong. The lion had gone to drink water. He had come back. It looked weak, was looking at the river again, but not wanting to go there.

One of the jackals said

Brother, we need to talk to the lion. He went to drink water, but looks like, he came back thirsty. He seems tired and is sitting under a tree, surrounded by other animals.

The other jackal said

My dear brother. Why should that concern us? The lion has other animals to take care of him. We should not start doing jobs, that are not meant for us. If we do, we will act like the monkey who decided to take the wedge out of a log of wood.

What happened? What is all about - asked the other jackal.

Listen as I tell you about the monkey - said the jackal.

And here ends the first story from Panchatantra.

Analysis and Key Takeaways

Now let’s look through the story. Beyond the characters.

“Everything in money, and everything in life can be achieved by money” - the thought of the merchant represents excessive focus on wealth and ways to increase that.

While gaining wealth may be an aim of life, it should not be the sole aim.

The bullock survives despite being abandoned and injured, shows resilience and adaptation.

The servants’ decision to abandon the injured bullock illustrates the principle of self-preservation. They leave aside duty and empathy and leave the injured animal alone.

This story introduces the characters here. The lion, the bullock and the jackals are characters, which will appear in many stories going forward. And as earlier, while Panchatantra has names for the characters, I have avoided the names. The names have meanings - like lion, being brown/ tawny in colour is called Pingalaka, meaning brown. The jackals are called Karataka Damanaka who act as fraudsters and manipulators.

The Merchant represents attachment. His focus on wealth leads him to abandon a trusted asset (the bullock).

The Bullock is an outsider, living alone in the wild. Its bellow is an unknown force entering the forest, which confuses the lion.

The Lion is the king in his forest. His fear of the unknown becomes exploited later by the jackal.

The Jackals represent mind focused on manipulating circumstances for personal gain. They want to regain their father’s position.

One thing that needs to be seen here is, do not trust easily. The merchant trusts his servants without verifying facts.

The next story, next week will be about a monkey and a log of wood.

Subscribe and follow me for these stories.

Panchatantra - the beginning

 

1. The Prosperous Kingdom and the King’s Distress

This story starts in India, in a wonderful kingdom. A kingdom whose citizens were known for their respect for learning, elders, and community. A strong culture of mutual support - the wealthy supported public works ensuring that no one in the kingdom lacked basic needs.

At the centre of this prosperity was a king. His appearance reflected his discipline and focus. He was very learned and extremely accomplished in various arts and skills. He had three sons whose conduct showed a fierce dislike for reading, writing and listening to teachers.

The king was sad. Without proper skills and knowledge his sons would be easily manipulated. They needed to learn. But how? They were getting older, but not wiser.

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2. The Ministers’ Counsel and the Search for a Teacher

One afternoon, the King spoke to his ministers and disclosed the problem. He spoke.

if a child is never born, or dies young, the parents suffer a terrible grief, but that suffering has a clear ending point. However, a son remains completely uneducated and is unable to take responsibility is a problem that never ends.

It is also like a cow that does not give milk and does not produce a calf. that cow becomes a liability.

One minister said learning was a lifelong process and asked the king not to worry.

Another minister intervened and spoke

Time is short. We need a direct approach to prepare the young princes. I know of an excellent scholar who can do this: his name is Vishnu Sharma. The princes would need to be placed in his care. In a short period, Vishnu Sharma would prepare them. Vishnu Sharma himself was highly educated and had deep understanding all texts. He had unconventional methods of teaching. He would be the best option.

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3. Meeting Vishnu Sharma and the Agreement

The King felt hopeful. He went and met Vishnu Sharma. Vishnu Sharma was an aged rishi who had dedicated his life to teaching and study. The king invited him to his kingdom. They travelled back to the palace.

In the palace the king laid out his problem. He explained his sorrow over his sons’ complete lack of understanding and knowledge. the King made his plea: “Please educate my sons in principles of statecraft and ethical living. I shall be so grateful to you.”

Sir - the King continued, - if you accept this task, I shall be so grateful to you that I shall present you with a hundred tax-free villages.

Vishnu Sharma was clear. - I would not like to sell my knowledge out of greed for money.

The King begged the scholar for forgiveness. Vishnu Sharma explained, his goal was the act of teaching and producing learned students, not monetary reward.

Vishnu Sharma said - I am ready to take up the task of teaching your sons. In six months, I will make them completely ready to assume their responsibilities for you. If I fail to accomplish this task, I will give up teaching.

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4. The Five Principles of the Panchatantra

The following morning, Vishnu Sharma prepared to depart with the princes. He instructed the boys to take leave of their parents one last time. After saying their goodbyes to the King and Queen, the scholar took the three young princes and led them away from the palace, toward his ashrama to begin their education.

Once the three young princes were settled, Vishnu Sharma said he would not teach the boys anything. Instead, he would tell them stories. Through the stories, they would get the skills and understanding that was needed.

These stories were divided into five principles and where called the Panchatantra.

• The first principle was about Conflict Amongst Friends. This focused on how disagreements were created, and the strategies enemies used to cause splits between friends.

• The second principle was about how to win friends. This taught about trust, alliance, cooperation, and how to build relationships.

• The third was about Crows and Owls. This dealt with political strategy, war, and peace and how to gauge the opponents’ strength, how to stay alert.

• The fourth was about Loss of gains. This showed how poor decision-making and the importance of holding onto what you have earned, using sound judgment.

• The fifth and final one was Ill considered actions. This warned against acting impulsively.

By weaving the principles of statecraft into these five groups, Vishnu Sharma began his six-month challenge to educate the princes.

It is said that anyone who is able to understand the teachings behind the stories would be ready to face any opponent or face any challenge in life.

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5. The Core Lessons for the Reader

Children do not grow through pressure; they grow through methods that match their temperament. Vishnu Sharma’s choice of storytelling shows that teaching works best when it connects with how a person actually learns, not how we expect them to learn.

The story here set the foundation for why the Panchatantra exists, as a training manual for real-world conduct. It explains why the lessons were structured as stories instead of dry instruction — to ensure the students absorb ideas quickly and remember them, when under pressure.

The three princes are not just any princes. They represent any young person with potential but no direction. By adding a number (three) it goes on to show that this is not something limited to a person but is an issue with more.

Right method always beats the rigid method. For the teacher to be successful in his/ her ways, they have to adapt as per the student. They should not expect the student to adapt to their ways. Stories are powerful tools. They leverage how the human brain processes, stores, and connects information. These stories simplify complex ideas and help people recall them when needed.

Parents and leaders carry responsibility.

To build sharper thinking, steady judgment, and stronger relationships, start the way Vishnu Sharma taught the princes — by breaking learning into small, useful ideas and applying them daily. Read, listen, question, and observe.

Begin today.

And next week - the animals stories, and with that a story about a bullock.

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Note on Names of characters: The original story has names which I have left out. The king has a name, the princes have names and one of the ministers, who tells the king about Vishnu Sharma has a name. If you want the names added, let me know in the comments. I will surely add them.

An introduction to Panchatantra

 

An Introduction

So when I said I will start with Panchatantra, I did not mean this. It will be stories. From next week.  From the first story upto the last one. This post  today, is to introduce Panchatantra - what is it, what it means etc.

Panchatantra (Sanskrit for “Five Principles or Five Systems“) is a collections of stories. Most of the stories deal with the animals and how they behave with each other. It is said to have been composed by Vishnu Sharma. This collection is known for its entertaining tales and how through these stories, lessons are taught. Lessons related to prudence, conduct and wisdom.

Panchatantra can even be considered a manual for statecraft, governance, and effective personal living. It aims to teach the principles necessary for a person to navigate the social and political world successfully.

The stories give human traits to animals and makes them characters in the stories. The animals provide a stage where the consequences of actions are immediately visible.

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What this means:

What does this mean to us?

For a modern reader, the Panchatantra shows the need for critical thinking and foresight. It teaches how to judge people’s motives, understand the dynamics of power and choose friends and allies wisely.

Panchatantra is a masterwork in the art of nested story telling. Stories are contained within other stories, which are themselves contained within a larger set of stories. This structure has the lessons being continuously repetitive. While they are repeated time and again, they are not boring. They are interesting and thereby making the didactic content highly engaging. The stories show ruin is caused when trust it broken, what happens when trust is broken, what is the value of friendship etc.

In essence, Panchatantra is a work of world literature that uses the stories to deliver a sophisticated, practical education in how to successfully and prudently operate within the social and political structure of the world.

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Why were these stories composed:

It is said that Vishnu Sharma composed these stories to teach three princes. Why did these princes need learning? Lets talk about that in the next post, next week.