India
Folk tales from the diverse traditions of India.
Panchatantra Stories
Ages 6-8
The Thief and the Brahmins
Brahmins trust a reformed thief with their treasure and pay the price when his nature resurfaces.
Panchatantra Stories
Ages 9-12
The Cunning Hare and the Witless Lion
The Cunning Hare and the Witless Lion: Deceive the wicked and destroy them without mercy.” There was once a powerful lion called Bhasuraka who ruled the jungle.
Panchatantra Stories
Ages 3-5
The Turtle that fell off the Stick
The Turtle that fell off the Stick: Never fail to listen to the advice of your friends.” There lived a turtle called Kambugriva in a lake, who had two swans as
Panchatantra Stories
Ages 6-8
The Elephant and the Sparrow
The Elephant and the Sparrow: Even the low and humble achieve results when they work together.” A couple of sparrows lived happily in their nest on top of a
Panchatantra Stories
Ages 6-8
Meeting a New Friend
Meeting a New Friend: Hiranyaka, the mouse, and Laghupatanaka, the crow, became great friends. One day, the crow came calling on the mouse with eyes full of
Panchatantra Stories
Ages 9-12
The Fall and Rise of a Merchant
The Fall and Rise of a Merchant: One should treat one and all, even the lowest, with respect.” In a city called Vardhamana, lived a very efficient and
Panchatantra Stories
Ages 6-8
Shandili and Sesame Seeds
Shandili's endless greed for sesame seeds transforms a magical gift into the agent of her doom.
Panchatantra Stories
Ages 3-5
The Fighting Goats and the Jackal
The Fighting Goats and the Jackal: One day while a sage was going through a jungle, he saw two golden rams (billy goats) fighting each other. Even though both
Panchatantra Stories
Ages 6-8
Shandili and the Sesame Seeds
A Panchatantra tale about a poor Brahmin's wife Shandili, a suspicious trader, and why something too good to be true usually isn't. A classic lesson in caution.
Panchatantra Stories
Ages 3-5
The Foolish Crane and The Mongoose
The Foolish Crane and The Mongoose: A big banyan tree was home to a number of cranes in a forest. In the hollow of that tree lived a cobra, which used to feed
Panchatantra Stories
Ages 6-8
Story of The Merchant’s Son
Story of The Merchant's Son: Sagargupta was a merchant living in one of the country’s big cities. He had a son, who, one day purchased a book whose only
Panchatantra Stories
Ages 6-8
The Foolish Sage
The Foolish Sage: Do not be taken in by the sweet words of a swindler.” Once upon a time, there was a sage called Deva Sharma who lived in a temple in the