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By Swati Singh
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Updated on 29 Aug 2025, 13:29 IST
The Panchatantra is one of the world’s most enduring collections of fables, woven with wit, wisdom, and practical life lessons. Composed in Sanskrit around 200 BCE by the scholar Vishnu Sharma, it was originally written to impart moral and political wisdom to young princes. Over centuries, it has crossed borders, been translated into more than 50 languages, and continues to influence literature, education, and everyday life across the globe.
What makes the Panchatantra truly special is its ability to teach complex truths through simple animal characters—lions, jackals, rabbits, birds, and turtles. Each story ends with a moral that children and adults can both relate to. To understand its richness better, it helps to group the stories into clusters of central themes. These clusters reveal the values and ideas that the Panchatantra consistently tries to instill.
Also Check: List of Stories
Book (Tantra) | Theme / Focus | Popular Stories |
Book I – Mitra-bheda (The Loss of Friends) | How friendships can be broken by jealousy, greed, or misunderstanding | - The Lion and the Bull Unlock the full solution & master the concept Get a detailed solution and exclusive access to our masterclass to ensure you never miss a concept - The Monkey and the Wedge - The Jackal and the Drum Ready to Test Your Skills? Check Your Performance Today with our Free Mock Tests used by Toppers! Take Free Test - The Merchant’s Son and the Iron Balance - The Dove and the Hunter ![]() create your own test YOUR TOPIC, YOUR DIFFICULTY, YOUR PACE start learning for free - The Heron and the Crab - The Crows and the Serpent Best Courses for You![]() JEE ![]() NEET ![]() Foundation JEE ![]() Foundation NEET ![]() CBSE - The Deer, the Crow, and the Jackal |
Book II – Mitra-lābha (The Gaining of Friends) | Importance of making friends and forming alliances | - The Four Friends (Deer, Crow, Mouse, and Tortoise) - The Tortoise and the Geese - The Hermit and the Mouse Ready to Test Your Skills? Check Your Performance Today with our Free Mock Tests used by Toppers! Take Free Test - The Cat and the Birds - The Elephant and the Mice ![]() create your own test YOUR TOPIC, YOUR DIFFICULTY, YOUR PACE start learning for free |
Book III – Kākolūkīyam (Of Crows and Owls) | War, politics, strategy, and diplomacy | - The Crows and the Owls - The Old Jackal and the Elephant - The Jackal and the Drum - The Camel, the Lion, and the Jackal - The Cat and the Partridge |
Book IV – Labdhapraṇāśam (Loss of Gains) | How greed and carelessness lead to loss of what has been gained | - The Monkey and the Crocodile - The Weaver and the Princess - The Brahmin and the Crooks - The Foolish Sage and the Jackal - The Dog and the Donkey |
Book V – Aparīkṣitakārakaṃ (Ill-Considered Action) | Thoughtless actions and hasty decisions that lead to disaster | - The Lion and the Hare - The Musical Donkey - The Talkative Tortoise - The Brahmin and the Cobra - The Lion, the Camel, the Jackal, and the Crow |
Bedtime stories are more than just a nightly routine—they are a bridge between imagination and sleep, helping children relax while also learning valuable lessons. Among the many classics, the Panchatantra stories stand out as timeless gems. These fables, written over 2,000 years ago by Vishnu Sharma, remain a favorite for parents and children alike. But why exactly are they perfect for bedtime? Let’s explore.
Example: The Lion and the Clever Rabbit tells how wit can defeat strength, in just a few minutes of storytelling.
At bedtime, these morals stay fresh in the child’s mind as they drift into sleep, nurturing positive values.
Conclusion: Panchatantra stories are perfect for bedtime because they are short, engaging, moral-driven, and calming. They fuel imagination, impart values, and create special bonding moments between parents and children. In today’s digital age, these timeless fables are a refreshing way to end the day—with wisdom, warmth, and wonder.
So tonight, open the magical world of Panchatantra, and let your child drift into dreams filled with talking animals, clever tricks, and timeless lessons.
The Panchatantra is not just a collection of bedtime stories. It is a life guide wrapped in simple storytelling. Each cluster teaches lessons about leadership, relationships, ethics, and wisdom that are as relevant today as they were two thousand years ago.
One of the most popular and widely loved Panchatantra stories is The Lion and the Clever Rabbit. It shows how intelligence can defeat brute strength. The rabbit tricks a powerful lion into jumping into a well, teaching us that wit and presence of mind are more powerful than force.
The Panchatantra teaches timeless values through simple fables. Some of the key life lessons include:
The Panchatantra is traditionally attributed to the Indian scholar Vishnu Sharma, who is believed to have composed these stories around 200 BCE. He created the collection to teach political wisdom, ethics, and practical life skills to young princes.
The Panchatantra is an ancient Sanskrit collection of interrelated fables featuring animals and humans. Its importance lies in:
No. The Panchatantra stories are part of ancient Indian literature and belong to the public domain. This means they are free to retell, adapt, and publish. However, modern adaptations, illustrations, or unique retellings by authors and publishers may hold copyright protection.
The Panchatantra is divided into five main books (Tantras), each focusing on a theme:
The Panchatantra remains highly relevant today because its morals are universal and timeless. In a world full of competition and challenges, these stories teach us: