The Great Panchatantra Tales

prologue

A king, worried that his three sons are without the wisdom to live in a world of wile and guile, asks a learned
man called Vishnu Sharman to teach them the ways of the world.
Since his wards are dimwits, Vishnu Sharman decides to pass on wisdom to them in the form of stories. In
these stories, he makes animals speak like human beings. Panchatantra is a collection of attractively told
stories about the five ways that help the human being succeed in life. Pancha means five and tantra means
ways or strategies or principles. Addressed to the king's children, the stories are primarily about statecraft and
are popular throughout the world. The five strategies are:
1. Discord among friends
2. Gaining friends
3. Of crows and owls
4. Loss of gains
5. Imprudence
The stories have been translated into nearly every language in the world that has a script. The story form
appeals to children while the wisdom in them attracts adults. The Panchatantra collection represents the
earliest folk tale form in the world of literature. There are several versions of Panchatantra tales in circulation
in the world but the one that is popular in India is the Sanskrit original of Vishnu Sharman.
Very soon, Hamarashehar.Com will bring to netizens the oldest collection of tales in the world as told by an
80-year-old teacher to his royal wards. The translation seeks to be as close to the Sanskrit original as possible
in spirit.
The stories will appear in five sections, each representing a strategy for getting over problems in life. They
are of interest not just for the ruling class but also for every person. They are all about survival in a
complicated world and the several ways to get over problems. The stories based as they are on human nature
have an eternal relevance.
The series begins with a parent story that unfolds story after story; each strung to the other by a narrator.

Now, it is your turn to enjoy these stories as immortal and fragrant as the soil of India.

The Loss of Friends
Once upon a time, Amarasakti ruled the city-state of Mahilaropyam in the south of India. He had three
witless sons who became a matter of endless worry for him. Realizing that his sons had no interest in
learning, the king summoned his ministers and said:
"You know I am not happy with my sons. According to men of learning an unborn son and a stillborn son are
better than a son who is a dimwit. What good is a barren cow? A son who is stupid will bring dishonour to
his father. How can I make them fit to be my successors? I turn to you for advice."
One of the ministers suggested the name of Vishnu Sharman, a great scholar enjoying the respect of hundreds
of his disciples. "He is the most competent person to tutor your children. Entrust them to his care and very
soon you will see the change."
The king summoned Vishnu Sharman and pleaded with him "Oh, venerable scholar, take pity on me and
please train my sons into great scholars and I will make you the lord of hundred villages."
Vishnu Sharman said "Oh, king, listen to my pledge. Hundred villages do not tempt me to vend learning.
Count six months from today. If I do not make your children great scholars, you can ask me to change my
name."
The king immediately called his sons and handed them to the care of the learned man. Sharman took them to
his monastery where he started teaching them the five strategies (Panchatantra). Keeping his word, he
finished the task the king entrusted him in six months. Since then, Panchatantra became popular all over the
world as children's guide in solving problems of life.
Now begins the Loss of Friends (first of the five strategies) series. These are stories that figure in a dialogue
between two jackals named Karataka and Damanaka.
Long, long ago, a merchant named Vardhaman lived in a town in the south of India. As he was resting on his
bed one day it struck him that money was the axis of the world and that the more he had of it the more he
would be powerful. Even enemies seek the friendship of a rich man, he told himself. The old become young
if they have riches and the young become old if they do not have wealth. Business is one of the six ways that
help man amass wealth. This was his logic.
Mobilizing all his wares, Vardhaman set out on an auspicious day for Madhura in search of markets for his
goods. He began his travel in a gaily-decorated cart drawn by two bullocks. On the way, tired of the long
haul, one of the bullocks named Sanjeevaka collapsed in the middle of a jungle near river Jamuna. But the
merchant continued his journey asking some of his servants to take care of the animal. But the servants

abandoned the bullock soon after their master had left. Joining him later, they told him that the bullock was
dead.
In fact, Sanjeevaka was not dead. Feeding on the abundant fresh and tender grass in the forest, he regained
strength and began to merrily explore the jungle, dancing and singing in joy. In the same forest lived
Pingalaka, the lion. Sanjeevaka, content with his new life in the jungle would waltz and sing uproariously
with joy. One day, Pingalaka and other animals were drinking water in the Jamuna when the lion heard the
frightening bellow of the bullock. In panic, the lion withdrew into the forest and sat deeply lost in thought
and surrounded by other animals.
Sensing the predicament of their king, two jackals, Karataka and Damanaka, sons of two dismissed ministers,
were clueless as to what had happened to their king.
"What could have happened to the lord of the forest," asked Damanaka.
"Why should we poke our nose into affairs that are not our concern? Haven't you heard the story of the
monkey which pulled out the wedge from the log," asked Damanaka.
"Sounds interesting. Why don't you tell me what happened to the monkey," pleaded Damanaka.
"Now, listen," said Damanaka and began narrating the story of the monkey.