Panchatantra
Stories tagged Panchatantra:
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The Brahmin and the Goat
Aug 18, 2025
In a small village nestled beside the sacred Ganges River, there lived a learned Brahmin named Deva Sharma. He was known throughout the region for his wisdom, his devotion to the scriptures, and his generous heart. Every morning, he would wake before dawn to perform his prayers and meditation, and every evening, he would teach the village children about dharma and righteousness.
One day, Deva Sharma decided to travel to the neighboring village to perform a special ceremony for a wealthy merchant family. As payment for his services, they gifted him a magnificent goat – a beautiful, healthy animal with gleaming white fur and bright, intelligent eyes. The goat was so fine that it could easily feed his family for many days during the upcoming festival season.
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The Four Friends and the Hunter
Aug 17, 2025
In a peaceful forest beside a crystal-clear lake, there lived four most unlikely friends. There was Chitra, a graceful spotted deer with the swiftest legs in the entire woodland; Laghupatanaka, a clever black crow whose sharp eyes could spot danger from miles away; Hiranyaka, a tiny but brave golden mouse who could gnaw through the strongest ropes; and Mantharaka, a wise old turtle whose ancient knowledge had guided many creatures through difficult times.
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The Foolish Sage and the Jackal
Aug 16, 2025
In the ancient kingdom of Magadha, there lived a sage named Vidyadhar who was renowned throughout the land for his vast learning. His hermitage was filled with countless scrolls and palm-leaf manuscripts containing the wisdom of ages – treatises on philosophy, astronomy, mathematics, medicine, and spiritual knowledge. Scholars would travel from distant kingdoms just to debate with him and learn from his extensive library.
However, despite all his book learning, Vidyadhar had developed a fatal flaw: he had become incredibly proud and arrogant. He believed that because he could recite thousands of Sanskrit verses and explain complex philosophical concepts, he was superior to all other beings in the world.
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The Blue Jackal
Aug 15, 2025
In a dense forest near the ancient city of Hastinapura, there lived a clever but hungry jackal named Chandarava. Like all jackals, he was a scavenger who survived by his wits, constantly searching for food scraps and easy opportunities. However, Chandarava was lazier than most of his kind and always looked for ways to get food without working too hard for it.
One particularly difficult season, when food was scarce throughout the forest, Chandarava grew desperately hungry. Day after day, he wandered through the woods finding nothing but dried leaves and empty burrows. The other animals had hidden their food stores well, and even the usual scraps from human settlements were nowhere to be found.
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The Tortoise and the Geese
Aug 14, 2025
In a beautiful pond surrounded by lotus flowers and shaded by ancient mango trees, there lived a wise old tortoise named Kambugriva. He had made his home in the clear waters of this pond for many years, enjoying the peaceful life and the company of various birds and animals who came to drink and bathe.
Kambugriva was known throughout the area for his thoughtful nature and his extensive knowledge of the world. Being very old, he had seen many seasons come and go, many droughts and floods, and had accumulated great wisdom about life and its changing circumstances. All the creatures of the pond respected him and often came to seek his advice on important matters.
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The Clever Rabbit and the Elephant King
Aug 13, 2025
Deep in the heart of an ancient forest, there stood a magnificent lake known as Chandra Sarovar, the Moon Lake. Its crystal-clear waters reflected the sky so perfectly that it seemed as if the moon itself lived within its depths. Around this lake grew the most beautiful lotus flowers, and its banks were covered with soft, green grass that provided the perfect home for countless small creatures.
For generations, a large community of rabbits had made their warren in the gentle hills surrounding the Moon Lake. They had dug an intricate network of burrows and tunnels that provided safety, comfort, and easy access to the sweet water and tender grass. The rabbit families lived in harmony, raising their young and enjoying the peaceful life that the lake provided.
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The Mouse Maiden
Aug 12, 2025
In the ancient kingdom of Kosala, there lived a renowned sage named Yajnavalkya who was famous throughout the land for his wisdom, his devotion to the gods, and his powerful magical abilities. His hermitage was situated in a peaceful grove beside a sacred river, where he spent his days in meditation, prayer, and the study of divine scriptures.
Yajnavalkya had never married, having devoted his entire life to spiritual pursuits. However, as he grew older, he began to feel lonely in his isolated hermitage and wished he had a daughter to care for and to carry on his teachings.
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The Loyal Mongoose
Aug 11, 2025
In a small village nestled among the rolling hills of ancient India, there lived a poor but happy Brahmin named Devasharma with his beloved wife Yajnadatta and their precious baby son. Although they had little in the way of material wealth, their home was filled with love, laughter, and the simple joys of family life.
Devasharma worked hard every day, teaching the village children and performing religious ceremonies for the local families. Yajnadatta tended their small garden and cared for their baby with endless devotion. Their modest house was humble but clean, and despite their poverty, they were content with their peaceful life.
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The Greedy Dog
Aug 10, 2025
In a bustling village beside the sacred Yamuna River, there lived a street dog named Bhukka. He was neither the strongest nor the cleverest dog in the village, but he had one quality that set him apart from all the others – an insatiable greed that was never satisfied, no matter how much he acquired.
Bhukka spent his days wandering through the narrow streets and crowded markets, always searching for food scraps and easy opportunities. Unlike other dogs who were content with whatever meals they could find, Bhukka was constantly dissatisfied, always convinced that somewhere else there must be something better, something more, something that would finally fill the empty feeling in his heart.