Panchatantra
Panchatantra was originally written
in Sanskrit language by the Hindu scholar Pandit Vishnu Sharma about 2500 years ago. It is a collection of fables and folktales. It
gives an insight into the human behaviour through animal characters. Vishnu
Sharma thought that humans could understand their shortcomings, if presented in
an entertaining and humorous manner. So he chose animals in his fables as main
characters which was his medium to convey the message.
There are tales of greed, deceit,
treachery, stupidity, anger and wit. His stories are subtle in implying the
morals behind them without directly mentioning them. The stories are presented
in a simple manner.
Vishnu Sharma was a 3rd century
Sanskrit scholar who lived in Varanasi. He was the Guru of the Prince of Kashi.
He wrote Panchatantra to teach political science to his royal disciples.
King Sudarshan of Mahilaropya of Southern India had three dull sons.He decided to appoint Vishnu Sharma as an instructor for his sons. The King promised to give hundred villages and abundant gold to Vishnu Sharma if he could make good administrators out of his sons. Vishnu Sharma was very old at that time and he politely refused the gifts. He promised the King that he would turn the princes into able administrators within six months.
Vishnu Sharma realized that it was a
difficult task to teach the princes through conventional means. So he started
composing many short captivating animal stories with a message in each story.
He grouped them in five parts called Tantras, hence the name Panchatantra.
After hearing the stories the princes became really knowledgeable and good
administrators.
Panchatantra became very popular all over the world. It reached Europe in the 11th century. By the 16th century, it was translated in Greek, German, Italian, Spanish, Latin and other Slavic languages. It’s been translated and circulated all over the world for its precious teachings.
