The Panchatantra tales - Revisited

The Panchatantra ( in Sanskrit it means five principles or techniques)is an ancient Indian inter-related collection of animal fables in verse and prose, in story format. The original Sanskrit work, which some scholars believe was composed in the 3rd century, is attributed to Vishnu Sharma.It is frequently narrated and most widely used as moral suggesting stories in the world. These were used as illustrations and lessons to the ignorant princes then about the Hindu 'niti' - in five stories. These stories were the main five one and then each of it had several interlinked stories, There are five main Sanskrit names given to the five stories like Mitra-bheda ( The Separation of Friends) ,Mitra-lābha ( The Gainning of Friends) ,  Kākolūkīyam (of Crows and Owls :War and Peace) , Labdhapraṇāśam ( Loss of Gains) and Aparīkṣitakārakaṃ ( ill-considered action).

Panchatantra in Indian context can be called as the "nitishatra" that is the way to lead the life with principles. These stories here have its base in honor, respect,good learning, team work, thoughtfulness, friendship etc which teaches all the aspects to lead the human life respectfully through short stories. It has its versions in Persian and Arabic and has got translated in English too.  

Let us revisit some of the short stories that we had learned in our childhood and probably just remember them as a story with the moral left behind in time.