India
Explore stories associated with Indian traditions, including the Panchatantra, Jataka narratives and regional collections. A tale’s setting, the place where a version was recorded and the history of its publication are different kinds of evidence. Read the source note for the connection supported on each page.
219 stories are in this region right now.
The Cat, the Mouse, the Lizard and the Owl
A cat caught in a hunter's snare begs her old enemy the mouse to bite through the string, and the mouse agrees, but only on his own careful terms.
Indian Folk Tales
The King Who Would Be Stronger Than Fate
A hermit tells a proud king that his baby daughter will marry the son of a slave, and the king sets out to prove that he is stronger than fate.
The King Who Would See Paradise
A king who cannot believe in what he cannot see makes a holy man promise to show him Paradise, and the glimpse he gets costs him far more than he expects.
Indian Folk Tales
Wali Dad the Simple-Hearted
A poor old grass-cutter spends his life savings on a gold bracelet for a princess he has never met, and his gift sets off a chain of ever grander presents.
Indian Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
Keep It for the Beggar
Every night a farmer asks his wife to save some dhal soup for his breakfast, until one night an invisible someone laughs out loud at his words.
Indian Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
Sir Buzz
A soldier’s son pulls a thorn from a tigress’s paw and is given a box, and out jumps a tiny, bad-tempered man who can fly like a bee.
The Barber’s Clever Wife
A lazy barber begs the king for something and gets a field of waste land, but his sharp-witted wife turns it, and seven thieves, to good use.
Indian Folk Tales
Ages 6-8
The Bear’s Bad Bargain
A bear carries a huge load of wood for a promised share of khichri, but the couple eat it all. A sneeze later leaves them with his wood and a pot of pears.
Indian Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Beetle and the Silken Thread
A wise vizier is left to die at the top of a tall tower, and to save him, his wife must bring a beetle, a drop of honey and a thread as fine as a spider's web.
Indian Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Beggar and the Five Muffins
A poor beggar and his wife make five muffins and cannot agree who gets the extra one, so they agree that whoever speaks first will get only two.
The Goat Who Laughed and Wept
A goat being made ready for a feast laughs out loud and then weeps, and when the teacher asks why, the goat’s answer changes the way he thinks.
Indian Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Brahman Priest Who Became an Amildar
A king makes his household priest a district governor and gives him three pieces of advice, which the priest follows word for word, with ridiculous results.