Panchatantra Stories

1A monkey lived in a jamun tree beside a wide river. The tree was full of sweet purple fruit.

2One day a crocodile swam up to the tree. The monkey threw him some jamuns. “Delicious!” said the crocodile. Soon they became good friends.

3Every day the crocodile came to visit, and every day he took some jamuns home for his wife.

4But his wife was greedy. “If the fruit is this sweet,” she said, “the monkey’s heart must be even sweeter. Bring me his heart!”

5The crocodile did not want to hurt his friend, but he agreed. “Come to my home for dinner,” he told the monkey. “Sit on my back and I will carry you across the river.”

6In the middle of the river, the crocodile said, “I am sorry, friend. My wife wants to eat your heart.”

7The monkey thought fast. “Oh dear! I keep my heart up in the jamun tree. Take me back and I will fetch it.”

8The foolish crocodile swam back. The monkey leapt up into the tree, safe at last. “A heart cannot live in a tree,” he laughed. “And a true friend never tricks a friend. Goodbye!”

1A fierce lion named Bhasuraka ruled the forest. Every day he hunted far more animals than he could eat.

2The frightened animals made a deal with him. “Stay in your cave,” they said, “and each day one of us will come to you.” The lion agreed.

3One day it was the turn of a small rabbit. He was scared, but he was also very clever. He walked slowly, and he came to the lion very late.

4“Why are you so late?” roared the hungry lion.

5“Sorry, Your Majesty,” said the rabbit. “On the way, another lion stopped me. He says he is the real king of this forest!”

6“Another king?” the lion growled. “Show him to me at once!”

7The rabbit led him to a deep well. “He lives down there,” he whispered. The lion looked in and saw his own angry face in the water. He roared, and the well roared back.

8The lion jumped in to fight the other lion — and he never came out. The rabbit ran home, and all the animals of the forest lived in peace.

1One night, a hungry jackal named Chandarava wandered into a town looking for food. The dogs chased him, and he jumped into a big tub of blue dye.

2When he climbed out, he was bright blue from nose to tail!

3Back in the forest, the animals had never seen a blue animal before. “Who are you?” they asked, trembling.

4The jackal had an idea. “The gods have sent me to be your king,” he said proudly. The lions, tigers and elephants bowed and brought him the best food.

5The blue jackal became very proud. He sent all the other jackals away, because he did not want them to recognise him.

6One evening, the jackals far away began to howl at the moon. The blue jackal felt so happy that he lifted his head and howled too: “Aooo-ooo!”

7Now everyone knew he was just a jackal. The animals were angry that they had been fooled, and the blue jackal had to run away from the forest forever.

1A tortoise named Kambugriva lived in a lake with his two best friends, a pair of geese.

2One summer there was no rain, and the lake began to dry up. “We must fly to a new lake,” said the geese. “But how will you come with us?”

3The tortoise had an idea. “Hold a stick in your beaks. I will hold the middle with my mouth, and you can carry me!”

4“Good plan,” said the geese, “but you must not open your mouth, not even once.” The tortoise promised.

5Up, up they flew, over fields and villages. The people below pointed and laughed. “Look! Two birds are carrying a tortoise on a stick!”

6The tortoise wanted to say, “Mind your own business!” He opened his mouth to speak —

7— and he let go of the stick. Down he fell, all the way to the ground. Luckily he landed in a soft haystack, but his friends had to fly on without him.

1Long ago, a group of mice lived among the ruins of an old village by a lake.

2One day, a herd of elephants walked through the village on their way to drink water. Their big feet crushed many of the mice’s homes.

3The king of the mice went bravely to the elephant king. “Please take another path,” he said. “And one day, we will help you too.” The elephant king smiled at the idea of tiny mice helping elephants — but he kindly agreed.

4Some time later, hunters came to the forest. They caught the elephants in strong rope nets. The elephants pulled and pushed, but they could not break free.

5Then the elephant king remembered the mice. He sent one elephant who had escaped to ask for help.

6Hundreds of mice came running. They nibbled and gnawed at the ropes all night long, until every net was in pieces.

7The elephants were free! “Thank you, little friends,” said the elephant king. “You are small, but your hearts are very big.”