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Sutradhar

More than 2000 years ago, there was a kingdom in southern India named Mahilaropya. The Kingdom was ruled by king Amarshakti. Amarshakti had three sons, Bahushakti, Ugrashakti and Anantashakti.

King Amarshakti was a just and able king, well versed in the knowledge of society, economics and diplomacy, however his sons were complete idiots. They would never spend time studying and acquiring knowledge, instead they spent their entire time playing around and doing mischiefs. This worried the good king, for he wanted his children to be prepared to conduct the duties of running a kingdom without hassle. 

One day the king decided to discuss his worries among his ministers and asked for their advice. The king said, “My wise ministers, I am really worried about my children. They do not spend their time studying scriptures. I am worried that they are not prepared to run this kingdom after me. I urge you all to suggest a way out.”

One of the ministers said, “O King! The first twelve years are spent in learning grammar, after that Manu’s Dharmashastra, then Chanakya’s Arthashastra and in the end one learns Vatsyayana’s Kamashastra. It is after learning all four that one's knowledge is complete.” 

Hearing this the king replied, “Human life is very uncertain and learning all these scriptures and understanding them well will require a very long time. Isn’t there a faster way to gain all this knowledge? I want them to be prepared before I decide to handover this kingdom to them.”

At this point a minister named Sumati spoke, “There is a learned teacher by the name of Vishnusharma. He is wise and loved by his disciples. I suggest you hand over the responsibilities of your children to him. He is the only one capable of imparting knowledge to your kids in a short duration.”

Considering Sumati’s advice, the King invited Vishnusharma to his court and said, “O learned one! I need your help. I want you to educate my children and teach them about social, practical and political matters in a short time. If you do that I will reward you with 100 villages.” 

Vishnusharma heard the king patiently and replied, “O king! I am a teacher. I would not even know what to do with the reward of 100 villages. I do not have that kind of desire. However I will certainly take up the responsibility of educating your kids and if I fail to educate them appropriately in the next 6 months, I will happily accept any punishment you deem suitable.” 

Hearing these words from the learned teacher, the King became free of worries and he instructed his children to go with the teacher to his gurukul and study as per his instructions.

Vishnusharma brought those princes with him to his gurukul and started teaching them through interesting stories centered around animal characters. Vishnusharma divided his lessons into five parts. First part was about differences or conflicts among friends, the second part was choosing the right friend and forming relationships, the third part was about stories of crows and owls, the fourth part was about what to do in desperate situations and the fifth part was how to navigate in situations about which one does not have complete visibility. Thus Vishnusharma imparted social and practical knowledge to young princes through interesting stories.

These five chapters collectively became popular as Panchtantra and teach children basic knowledge about dealing with social situations and impart moral lessons. In this series we will be bringing out stories from Panchtantra with interesting visuals, which you can watch with your kids.

Stories of Panchtantra

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Once a rich businessman decided to build a temple outside his village. Many workers were involved in building the temple. During lunch time they would take a break for eating and then resume their work. 

One day during lunch time a group of monkeys came there. One of the monkeys found a half-cut log with a wedge inserted in between. The monkey without knowing what the wedge was for started jumping around trying to pull the wedge from the tree trunk. 

However as soon as the wedge got dislodged from the trunk the monkey’s tail got caught in-between. The monkey could not bear the immense pain and died. 

That is the reason it is said, “one should not get involved in situations, which do not concern him or her.”
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Idiot Monkey

Once a jackal named Gomayu, was wandering about hungry and thirsty. He noticed a field where two armies were about to fight a battle. He heard the sound of a drum and thought, “What is that sound? Should I run from this out of fear or before leaving this jungle of my ancestors, investigate it.”

Thinking like this he slowly moved towards the drum and thought, “Oh! Looks like I have finally found some great food today. This certainly looks like it's filled with juicy and tasty meat.”

The jackal cut open the drum and lost some of his teeth in the process and jumped inside the drum hoping to find food. However once inside, he found only leather and wood.

That is why it is said, “One cannot ascertain the true nature of someone just by hearing the sounds they make.” 
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Jackal and Drum

In a city named Vardhaman, a businessman named Dantil used to live like the leader of the entire city. He used to do good with people and found favour with the king. People like him who are loved by both the king and the common people are rare. 

When Dantil got married, he invited everyone for the reception. He greeted everyone by offering them appropriate seats and food, and presented them with appropriate gifts. The king also came along with his queen. When one of the King’s servants, Gorambha tried to sit in a place not suitable for him, Dantil pushed him out. Gorambha could not sleep that night and kept thinking about this insult all night. He thought he should do something to make Dantil fall from the king's grace. 

One morning when the king was half asleep, Gorambha was sweeping the floor near his bed. Gorambha was saying, “Oh! What kind of person this Dantil is. He was hugging the queen the other day.”

Hearing this the king immediately woke up from his sleep and said, “Gorambha! Is it true what you are saying? Did Dantil really hug the queen?”

Gorambha said, “My Lord! please forgive me. I was awake all night and am feeling sleepy right now. I am saying stupid things because of my dreamy state.”

The king started thinking, “He comes and goes in and out of the palace without any restrictions and so does Dantil. It is possible he must have seen Dantil and the queen together.” 

This made the king angry with Dantil. He stopped all the royal privilege Dantil was receiving and stopped his entry into the palace. Dantil had no idea why King’s behavior had changed towards him. 

One day Dantil was standing near the palace gates and he heard Gorambha telling the gatekeepers, “Gatekeepers! Dantil sir is very dear to the king, if you stop him you will also be insulted and pushed around.” 

Hearing this Dantil realised that it was possible his falling out of favour with the king had something to do with Gorambha. He should have been careful about how he treated the king’s servant. 

That night Dantil invited Gorambha to his house and apologized for his behaviour towards him during the wedding reception. He also offered him gifts. 

After hearing Dantil's apology and receiving gifts from him Gorambha said, “I accept your apology and have forgiven you. Now you see how I restore your position with the king.”

Next day while sweeping the King’s bedroom Gorambha was saying, “Our king is so wise. He knows right from wrong and never does anything inappropriate. However, what kind of behavior it is to be eating in the toilet.”

The king heard Gorambha and said, “O Gorambha! What is this you are saying? When have you seen me eating in the toilet?”

Gorambha apologised and said, “Please forgive me my lord. I was awake all night yesterday and today because of my lack of sleep I am speaking gibberish.” 

The king thought, “There is no truth in what Gorambha was saying, it is possible what he said the other day about Dantil was also made up and I have punished the good man for no reason.”

Realising his mistake the King invited Dantil to the royal court the next day and restored all his privileges. 

That is why it is said that one should respect everyone irrespective of their stature.
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Dantil and King’s Servant

Once there was a giant banyan tree somewhere. In the tree lived a crow couple. When the female crow would lay eggs, a giant black snake living inside a whole under the tree would come up and eat them. The crows were very sad because of this and they went to their friend Jackal and said, “My friend! What should we do in this situation? How do we protect our eggs from that giant snake? Please suggest some way.”

The jackal heard the crow and said, “Friend! When the enemy is stronger and cannot be won with strength, one must use mind games. We need to find a trick that eliminates this snake from your lives.” The jackal suggested a way.

Hearing Jackal's advice the crows started looking for some rich man in the town. They noticed a king bathing in a nearby pond. He had kept his clothes and jewellery nearby under the watchful eyes of his guards. 

The crow picked up a gold necklace and flew away. King’s bodyguards chased the crow. The crow threw the necklace inside the snake's hole.

When King’s guards decided to retrieve the necklace, the snake came out and was promptly killed by them. Thus the crows managed to get rid of the snake and started living happily in their nest. 

That is why it is said, “when strength doesn’t work, one must use her mind to tackle the situation.”
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The Crow and the Gold Necklace

There was a pond filled with many creatures. There lived a heron, who because of his old age had become very weak and could not hunt for fish. One day he was sitting near the pond, crying due to hunger. A crab saw him like that and asked, “Uncle! Why are you not looking for fish today, instead sitting here crying?” 

Heron replied, “You are right. I am fasting until death. I don’t want to eat anymore.” 

The crab enquired, “What is the reason for your disillusionment like this?”

Heron said, “I was born in this pond and lived here all my life. I love this pond and all the creatures living in it. Today I have found out that it will not rain for the next 12 years. Now this pond will dry and all the creatures living in it will die. I am sad thinking about that.”

The crab went around in the pond and told everyone what he heard from the heron. All the creatures living in the pond came near the heron and spoke together, “Uncle! Is there any way we could be saved?” The heron answered, “I know about a bigger pond nearby. That pond is so big that it would not dry out even if it doesn’t rain for the next 24 years. If you all wish I can help all of you move that bigger pond.” 

The heron started picking up fish one by one from the pond. He would take them to a nearby rock and quietly eat them. He was very happy since he was getting a lot of free food. 

One day the crab came to the heron and said, “Uncle! I was the first one to talk to you about the upcoming drought, however you have not yet transferred me to the other pond. I don’t want to die here. You need to help me.”

The heron thought, “This is great. I am also bored of eating fish everyday. Let me treat myself with a crab today.” 

The crab climbed on the heron's back and he started flying towards the big rock. The crab saw the pile of fish bones on the rock and got worried. He asked the heron, “Uncle! How far is this other pond. I have been riding on your back for so long. You must be tired.”

The heron thought the crab could not harm him in the sky and boasted, “There is no drought, neither there is another pond. I told you that story so that I can get all this free food. Today is your turn to become my meal.” 

The moment heron said this, the crab grabbed his neck really tight and it started bleeding. 

The heron fell from the sky. The crab slowly walked back to the pond and told everyone about the heron’s evil scheme. 

That is why it is said that one should not be boastful. The heron died because of his boastfulness. 
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The Cunning Heron

Once there was a big jungle where there lived a very greedy Lion called Bhasurak. Everyday he would hunt lots of animals in the Jungle - deer, rabbits and many more. He always hunted much more than he could eat. 

One day all the animals went to request him "Dear Lion King, if you keep hunting and eating this way, you will end up killing all the animals. Our whole Jungle will be destroyed. 

Can we offer to send you one animal each day to satisfy your hunger and in return you promise us to not hunt more than that?"

Bhasurak agreed and said " This sounds good, but do remember - if you miss sending an animal to me even for one day, I will hunt all of you down." 

The animals happily agreed to this and left the Lion alone. 
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The Lion and The Clever Rabbit

Once there lived a white louse in the clean white bed of a palace. When the king slept on that bed, the louse would bite him and fill his stomach. One day a bedbug came from somewhere. When the louse saw the bedbug he said, “Where did you come from? Please leave before anyone sees you here.” The bedbug replied, “Why are you speaking to me like this? I have bitten many humans in my life, but never a King. I want to bite the King and experience how it tastes.” 

The louse said, “I bite the king after he is fast asleep. However you are fickle. If you want to bite the king, then you must wait till he is asleep and I have already had my share of feed from him.” 

The bedbug said, “I will do as you say. I will wait till you are done and then only I will bite him.” 

While they were talking like this, the king came there and lay down on the bed. The bedbug could not control himself and bit him as soon as he laid down. 

The king jumped from his bed and asked the servants to look for what insect had bitten him. 

The servant started to carefully examine the bedsheet, while the bedbug quickly hid inside a joint on the bed. The servants found the louse trying to hide under the crease on the bed sheet and killed him. 

That is why it is said that one should not offer shelter to someone without knowing their true nature.
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The Bedbug and The Louse

In a jungle somewhere lived a Fox named Chandarav. Once he entered a nearby town looking for food. When the dogs in the town saw him they started chasing him. The Fox ran to save his life and hid inside the house of a washerman. The washerman had a pond full of Indigo and the Fox fell inside it. When he came out of the pond he had turned blue. Because of his blue colour, when he came out of the washerman’s house dogs could not recognize him and did not bark after him. The Fox slowly entered the jungle. 

In the jungle all the animals were astonished to see this new kind of animal and were scared of him. Even elephants and lions were scared of this blue Fox. Seeing all the animals scared, Chandarav said, “All the animals of the jungle! Why are you scared of me? Don’t be afraid. The Creator has made me today itself and has sent me here to become the king of the jungle. My name is Kakuddrum and as per the wish of the Creator I will be your king.” 

Hearing him, all the animals bowed in front of him.

 
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The Coloured Fox

There lived a lion named Madotkat in a forest. His servants were a rhinocero, a crow and a jackal. One day while roaming here and there in the forest, he saw a camel named Krathnak. The camel had separated from his companions. Seeing the camel, the lion said, "Ah! This is a very beautiful creature. Find out whether it is a domesticated or a wild one." Hearing this, the crow said, "Master! This pet animal named camel is your food. You kill it immediately." The lion said, "No! I will not kill the one who has come to my house. All of you, bring him to me by giving him protection, so that I can know why he is here."

Following the lion's advice, his companions convinced the camel and brought him to Madotkat. When asked by the lion, the camel told him everything about himself, how he carried the load for his master in the village and today somehow wandered away. The camel also said that he got separated from companions and reached here in the forest. 

After listening to the camel, the lion said, "Brother Krathank! There is no need for you to go back to the village and carry the burden. You can now stay here with us in the forest and enjoy the pleasure of green grass without any fear."

 

After that the camel started living in the forest fearlessly under the protection of Madotkat.
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Idiot Monkey

Idiot Monkey

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