श्रीविष्णुशर्मप्रणीतं पञ्चतन्त्रं

Sri Vishnusharma Praneetam Panchatantram


प्रथमं तन्त्रं

The first tantra

मित्रभेदः

Creating a rift among friends


ब्रह्मा रुद्रः कुमारो हरिवरुणयमा वह्निरिन्द्रः कुबेर-श्चन्द्रादित्यौ सरस्वत्युदधियुगनगा वायुरुर्वी भुजङ्गाःसिद्धा नद्योश्विनौ श्रीर्दितिरदितिसुता मातरश्चण्डिकाद्याःवेदास्तीर्थानि यज्ञा गणवसुमुनयः पान्तु नित्यं ग्रहाश्च [1]

मनवे वाचस्पतये शुक्राय पराशराय ससुतायचाणक्याय च विदुषे नमोsस्तु नयशास्त्रकर्त्रभ्यः [2]

सकलार्थशास्त्रसारं जगति समालोक्य विष्णुशर्मेदंतन्त्रैः पञ्चभिरेतच्चकार सुमनोहरं शास्त्रं [3]

Let Brahma, Rudra, Kumāra, Hari, Varuna, Yama, Agni, Indra, Kubera,Chandra, Aaditya, Sarasvati, oceans, Yugas, mountains, Vāyu, Earth, serpents, Siddhas, rivers, Ashvinis, Shree, Diti, Aditi’s sons, Mother Goddesses,Vedas, pilgrimage centres, sacrifices, Shiva-Ganas, Vasus, sadhus, and planets protect us always. [1]

Salutations to Manu, Vāchaspati, Shukra, Parāshara and his son Vyāsa,Chānakya, the creators of the treatises on morality. [2]

Vishnu Sharma has studied the entire collection of texts on strategies in this world and has created this treatise containing five sections, all of which are pleasant to read and easy to understand. [3]


Introducing…Karataka and Damanaka!

वर्धमानो महान् स्नेहः सिंह-गो-वृषयोर् वने ।पिशुनेनातिलुब्धेन जम्बुकेन विनाशितः ॥ १ ॥ vardhamāno mahān snehaḥ siṃha-go-vṛṣayor vane |piśunenātilubdhena jambukena vināśitaḥ || 1 || The increasing true friendship between…
Read More

The debate…

Read the previous part here… “Sounds interesting. Why don’t you tell me what happened to the monkey,” pleaded Damanaka. “Now, listen,” said Karataka and began…
Read More

The debate continues…

Read the previous part here… Karataka said- “Then, what do you want to do now?” Damanaka said- “At present, our king Pingalaka is very scared,…
Read More

Damanaka presents his case…

Read the previous part here… Karataka seemed convinced. “If that is your intention, then let auspiciousness accompany you. You can go ahead. But remember –…
Read More

Of good servants…

Read the previous part here… Just as the sun, despite being lustrous, cannot shine without its rays, similarly, a king, even though he may be…
Read More

The fox and the drum…

Read the previous part here… I thought so in the beginning that this was filled with flesh, but after entering it I understood it to…
Read More

Of dilemmas and confidence…

Read the previous part here… Damanaka saluted him and started towards the place where Sanjeevaka, the bull was making the sounds that had startled Pingalaka. …
Read More

Step one…complete!

Read the previous part here… Damanaka took a deep breath, and said – “Yes, I saw it by the grace of your highness.” Pingalaka wasn’t’t…
Read More

of negotiations…

Read the previous part here… “And so, you remain here for now; let me go back and wait for the right moment to take you…
Read More

Dantila and Gorambha

Read the previous part here… Due to his arrogance, he who disrespects persons who occupy the highest, the lowest and mid-level positions in the employment of…
Read More

Dantila and Gorambha – Part 2

Read the previous part here… Gorambha, who was sweeping the floor next to the bed of the king, muttered casually. “How insolent is Dantila, he…
Read More

A budding friendship…

Read the previous part here… Due to his arrogance, he who disrespects persons who occupy the highest, the lowest and mid-level positions in the employment of…
Read More

Who is to blame?

Read the previous part here… In time, since Pingalaka had stopped hunting, the other animals, Karataka and Damanaka included, started to starve, and fall sick…
Read More

Āshādabhooti and Devaśharman

Read the previous part here… The difficulties encountered by the fox which went in between the fighting rams, and by Āshādabhooti, and by the messenger…
Read More

The lament of Devaśharman

Read the previous part here… Hearing this, Āshādabhooti held Devaśharman’s feet tightly and begged him” Oh great saint! Please accept me as your humble disciple!”…
Read More

Of illicit affairs…

Read the previous part here… The wife started walking towards her house along with Devaśharman. She was very pleased, and as she walked, her thoughts…
Read More

Of broken noses…

Read the previous part here… The weaver’s wife gladly agreed, and her friend untied her. After tying the barber’s wife in her place, the weaver’s…
Read More

of judgements…

Read the previous part here… Some soldiers, who were close by, saw this, and rushed to her side. They beat the barber and tied him…
Read More

Gunākshara Nyāya

Read the previous part here… “And that is why I said”, concluded Damanaka, “that sometimes we have ourselves to blame for our misfortunes, much like…
Read More

The weaver and the princess..

Read the previous part here… The secret of a well-thought-of conspiracy is not even known to the Gods. It is due to his well-hatched plan…
Read More

The lion and the hare

Read the previous part here… Only he who has intelligence is strong; a foolish person can never be strong. Because, the arrogant lion, king of…
Read More

The conspiracy…

Read the previous part here… “If you give your permission, I will go and break their friendship.” said Damanaka as he rested his case. Karataka…
Read More

The louse and the bug…

Read the previous part here… One should not offer shelter to a person,whose character is not known. It was due to the Matkuna’s fault, that…
Read More

The blue jackal…

Read the previous part here… He who rejects his own people, and makes friends with outsiders, definitely perishes like the foolish Chandarava.” Pingalaka said “How…
Read More

The conspiracy continues!

Read the previous part here… “And as far as proof goes, know this- in the morning when he comes to see you, his face and…
Read More

The lament of Sanjeevaka

Read the previous part here… Damanaka lowered his voice. “Sanjeevaka…Pingalaka is conspiring against you. He spoke to me privately today, and said “I will kill…
Read More

The camel and the crow

Read the previous part here… When those who scheme, who are mean, and who cheat, all get together, they are capable of anything, however proper…
Read More

The bird and the ocean…

Read the previous part here… If the king is like a vulture, but is surrounded by swan-like courtiers, he should be served well. But, if…
Read More

The foolish turtle…

Read the previous part here… The Tittibha flies with it’s feet spread out, thinking that it will hold back the falling sky with its feet!…
Read More

The three fishes…

Read the previous part here… “Far-sighted” and “Quick-witted” both survived and lived happily, while “Whatever happens is inevitable” died. Her husband asked “How did that…
Read More

The sparrows and the elephant

Read the previous part here… The sparrow joined the woodpecker; the bee joined the frog; and they all got together and killed the elephant.” “And…
Read More

Damanaka rests his case

Read the previous part here… “And that is why”, concluded Damanaka, “If one starts a fight, without knowing the strength of his enemy, he will…
Read More

The lion and the jackal…

Read the previous part here… Prosperity always favours men who are brave, and who work diligently. “Whatever happens is due to fate”, so say the…
Read More

The lion and the jackal- part 2

Read the previous part here… Shanku-karna immediately replied “Please go ahead Chaturaka. Tell me what needs to be done so that I can get it…
Read More

The final fight!

Read the previous part here… A wise man who hides his intentions can get away without being noticed, even after harming his enemy, much like…
Read More

Karataka scolds Damanaka

Read the previous part here… Seeing them fight from a distance, Karataka looked at Damanaka angrily and said ” You fool! Look at what you…
Read More

Soocheemukha and the monkeys

Read the previous part here… A crooked and mean person only knows how to cause ruin; he cannot resolve anything. A rat is strong enough to…
Read More

Of advice, and stupidity…

Read the previous part here… Advice should not be offered to anybody and everybody. Learn from that incident where a person with such a nice…
Read More

Dharma-Buddhi and Paapa-Buddhi

Read the previous part here… I know both Dharma-Buddhi and Paapa-Buddhi. It is due to the stupidity of the son that the father nearly died…
Read More

The conclusion…

Read the previous part here… चौरब्राह्मणकथा The story of the Brahmin thief  In a city not so far away, lived a highly-learned Brahmin. Unfortunately, due…
Read More

The introduction…

कथामुखं The introduction In a city called Mahilaropya, very far away from here, lived a king named Amarashakti (the ever-powerful). He took very good care…
Read More

What is the point of the Panchatantra?

उदीरितोऽर्थःपशुनापिगृहतेहयाश्चनागाश्चवहन्तिचोदिताः।अनुक्तम्अप्य्ऊहतिपण्डितोजनःपरेङ्गित–ज्ञान–फ्जलाहिबुद्धयः॥४४॥ udīrito ‘rthaḥ paśunāpi gṛhate hayāś ca nāgāś ca vahanti coditāḥ |anuktam apy ūhati paṇḍito janaḥ pareṅgita-jñāna-phjalā hi buddhayaḥ || 44 || Even animals can sort of…
Read More