Many questions have been asked about the inception and authorship of Panchatantra stories, and they are as follows:
Who wrote panchatantra ?
Who wrote panchatantra in sanskrit ?
Who is the writer/author of panchatantra ?
What is panchatantra ?
What is the purpose of writing Panchatantra?
What is the theme of Panchatantra?
What is the principle of Panchatantra?
What are the values of Panchatantra?
What lesson do we learn from Panchatantra?
What is the teaching of Panchatantra?
What are the five tantras of Panchatantra ?
I have made a genuine attempt to answer the above questions in order to satisfy my readers.
Thousands of years ago, there was a King in South India. He had three young sons who were good for nothing fellows. Stupid and idle, they had no liking for learning. The King tried his level best to have them educated but no effort was of any avail.
Advised by the courtiers, the King contacted a scholar of great repute. His name was VISHNU SHARMA. The great scholar undertook to educate the stupid princes assuring the king that he would make them past-master in the art of successful living and of running the affairs of the state just in six months.
All that he did was to tell charming fables to regale the princes. It created keen interested in their minds for learning and the lessons of the stories went home to them. It is these lesson-giving stories that make the PANCHATANTRA.
The name “Panchatantra” is derived from five “tantras” because it is divided into five tantras or treatises, which are as follows:
- Mitra-bheda – It laid stress on the theme of “The Loss of Friends”.
- Mitra-lābha – It emphasizes more on the theme of “The Gaining of Friends”.
- Kākolūkīyam (Of Crows and Owls) – It highlights the theme of understanding and resolving conflicts and enmity which encourages shrewd diplomacy and clear thinking through stories involving crows and owls.
- Labdhapraṇāśam – It focusses on the theme of “Loss of Gains” due to greed, poor judgement and lackadaisical attitude.
- Aparīkṣitakārakaṃ – It revolves around the theme of “Ill-considered Action” which is a by-product of ignorance, anger and ego.
Therefore, Reading the stories from Panchatantra, dispels ignorance, ego, greed, anger and all other negative emotions of human behaviour while inculcating the good qualities like honesty, trust, friendship, bravery, and simplicity.
So, sit comfortably and enjoy the best-selected stories of Panchatantra.
