The Pancatantra

Panchatantra is perhaps the oldest collection of Indian fables still surviving. It was written around 200 BC by the Hindu scholar Pandit Vishnu Sharma. Panchatantra means 'the five books'. It is a Nitishastra, which means a book of wise conduct in life. The book is written as a series of simple stories, and each story has a moral and philosophical theme that has stood the test of time in the modern age of atomic fear and madness. It guides readers to attain success in life by understanding human nature. Panchatantra is commonly available in an abridged form written for children. This is the complete translation of the book as written by Vishnu Sharma.