India
Folk tales from the diverse traditions of India.
Panchatantra Stories
Ages 9-12
The Story of the Merchant’s Son
The Story of the Merchant's Son: Do your best but leave it to destiny.” Sagardatta was a merchant who had a handsome young son. One day, he observed that his
Panchatantra Stories
Ages 6-8
The Cobra and the Crows
The Cobra and the Crows: Even a very powerful enemy can be destroyed through deceit.” There was a big banyan tree, where two crows husband and wife, had
Panchatantra Stories
Ages 6-8
The Rat that ate Iron
The Rat that ate Iron: Tit for tat’ is the best policy in life.” Jveernadhana was a merchant’s son who was not successful. He faced a loss in his business and
Panchatantra Stories
Ages 9-12
The Unlucky Weaver
An unlucky weaver discovers that his belief in bad fortune was his true enemy, and only determination can break the cycle.
Panchatantra Stories
Ages 6-8
The Crafty Crane And The Craftier Crab
The Crafty Crane And The Craftier Crab: Once upon a time an old crane lived on the rim of a large lake in the middle of a jungle. Because of age, it was not
Panchatantra Stories
Ages 9-12
The Story of the Blue Jackal
The Panchatantra's brilliant tale of Caṇḍarava — the "Fierce Howler" jackal — who tumbles into a vat of indigo dye and walks out a king of the jungle. The story is found in Book I of the Panchatantra (Mitrabheda, "The Separation of Friends"), and it is one of Vishnu Sharma's most quietly devastating lessons: disguise is not transformation, and the test of who you are is not how you look on a calm day, but what comes out of you on the night when you forget you are pretending.
Panchatantra Stories
Ages 9-12
The Crane and the Crab
The Crane and the Crab: When things go wrong, use your wit to overcome the situation.” A heron lived near a big lake, which was full of fishes and other water
Panchatantra Stories
Ages 6-8
The Tale of Three Fishes
Three fishes face danger differently: one dies unprepared, one escapes through wisdom, one through swift action.
Panchatantra Stories
Ages 3-5
The Crane and the Mongoose
The Crane and the Mongoose: The solution of the problem should not be worse than the problem itself. That is, while trying to solve the problem, you should not
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
How a Sparrow came to Grief
The Panchatantra's small, sharp tale of Sūcīmukhī — the Needle-Beaked sparrow — and the soaked, shivering monkey to whom she gave one piece of unwanted advice too many. The story is found in Book III of the Panchatantra (Kakolukiyam, "Of Crows and Owls"), and it is one of Vishnu Sharma's quietest, hardest lessons: being right is not the same as being wise. The wise person learns to read the listener — and learns, sometimes, to keep silent.
Panchatantra Stories
Ages 6-8
The Story of the Monkey and a Bird Called Suchimukha
The Story of the Monkey and a Bird Called Suchimukha: A troupe of monkeys was tiving somewhere in themountains. The rain, accompanied by astrong wind, drenched