Panchatantra: Famous moral stories ‘Panchatantra’
Panchatantra: The Panchatantra stories are a collection of famous ethical stories in Indian literature, which are said to have been written in Sanskrit by a scholar named Vishnu Sharma. These stories were divided into five parts in the 3rd century BC.

Hence the name ‘Panchatantra’ (five strategies). They are divided into parts: Mitralabham (gain of friendship), Mitrabhedam (breakdown of friendship), Kakolukiyam (war between crows and owls), Labdhapranasam (gain. loss), Aparikshitakasar (untested actions), etc.

These stories portray animals as characters and provide lessons on ethics, statesmanship, life science, and human nature. Each story has a moral hidden in it. These are equally useful for kings and commoners. For example, in the story ‘Singham and Eluka’, it is seen that even the help of children is valuable.

Panchatantra: Background of the Panchatantra stories
One of the greatest contributions of India to world literature is the Panchatantra stories, written in Sanskrit by a guru named Vishnu Sharma, which has been translated into many languages of the world. These stories have gained great popularity. Vishnu Sharma taught the Panchatantra stories in Sanskrit with short stories, interesting stories, and good ethics. There is a small history behind the Panchatantra stories in circulation.

In South India, a city in the form of a woman was ruled by a king named Amarashakti. He ruled the people like children and was praised by everyone. Amarashakti Maharaja was a very powerful and kind person. He was a great man known for his political acumen. He had three sons. Their names were Bahushakti, Ugrashakti, and Ananthashakti. They were mischievous and did not like education and became stupid. The king’s teacher decided that it was not up to him to educate the king’s sons. Amarashakti Maharaja, who was very worried about his children, came to know about Vishnu Sharma, who had established an ashram in a jungle on the outskirts of the kingdom.

One day he took his three sonsTo Vishnu Sharma AshramAmarashakti went. Upon seeing Vishnu Sharma shining with brilliance, all three sons of the Maharaja bowed down at his feet.

“Guruvarma! My sons have become fools because they lacked education. They have no knowledge of politics, statecraft, or even common sense. “I humbly request you to teach and educate my children,” Anantashakti pleaded. “Maharaja! When Vishnu Sharma promised that he would “grow your children well” in the coming months, the Maharaja left the children there and went to his kingdom.

“My dear friends! Today you spend your time playing and singing. From tomorrow I will teach you,” said Vishnu Sharma. All three of them were tired and sleepy after begging till evening. When they woke up in the morning, they took a bath and sat waiting for the teacher to come. Meanwhile, the teacher Vishnu Sharma came there and said to them, “My dear friends! I will tell you some stories. All the characters in these stories are animals. They all talk like humans. In some places, there are also human characters.

Moral stories that teach the value of friends
Panchatantra: If you listen to these stories, you will know the truths of life. These are called ‘Panchatantra stories’. Pancha means five, Tantra means trick. That is, five tricks. The first part of these is Mitralabham, which is called profit from friends. It contains stories on how to make good friends. Helping them in times of trouble, making good people friends, etc. Good friends help each other in times of trouble. The second part is Mitrabhedam. Separating friends. Not only should we make differences between friends, good friends, but we should also observe the enemies around us and suppress their strength. It contains stories on how we can protect ourselves from danger from them.

Panchatantra
The king should act in a timely manner and, if necessary, protect them, protect them from enemies, and protect the throne by creating alliances among his enemies to benefit himself. The third section is Kakolukiyam. Another name for this is idolatry, which is when two people who are not acquainted are created to be enemies. These stories include plans to defeat a strong enemy, war and peace, etc.

When there is danger from evil people, one should follow the Tantras and protect the people as well as the kingdom. The fourth section is called Labdha Pranasham, Labdha Rasshi. Another name for this is Sandhi. Making friends with the powerful and gaining profit is called Sandhi. Stories of losing wealth, falling into accidents without any loss, and those who used others wisely and gained benefits but were unable to use it due to foolishness come under this category.

Whether it is humans or animals, it is best to make peace when faced with someone stronger than oneself. Then one can protect oneself as well as one’s own. One should fight only with those who are equal to us, and one should love and accept those who are inferior to us. Such politics can be included in the fourth section.

If one learns this politics, one will always live happily. Fifth section: Unchecked karitva, also known as asamis karitva, unintentional actions. Unintended losses, unwillingness to do evil, etc. are included in this section. While

animals are the main characters in the first four sections, humans are the main characters in the fifth section. If you know the stories in these five sections, you will understand the human system of morality, the mentality of humans, etc. well. Only the one who follows the principles of ethics in this will be known as a good ruler,” Vishnu Sharma explained in detail.

In these five sections, Vishnu Sharma has written wonderful moral stories in Sanskrit. Although all of these are fictional stories, they are wonderful. Animal characters are mostly seen in these stories. Each part of this has a main story. There are also small bird stories where one character tells a story to another character. Although these stories are about teaching morality to three foolish princes, they will greatly help change the lifestyle of today’s generation of children.

Panchatantra
Panchatantra
Many people have translated the Panchatantra stories written by Vishnu Sharma in Sanskrit into Telugu. In particular, Paravastu Chinnayasuri, who published only the first two parts, Mitralabham and Mitrabhedam, under the title Neeti Chandrika. After that, the famous social reformer Kandukuri Veeresalingam Pantulugaru published the stories of Kakolukiyam (Idol), Labdi Pranasam, Labdhanasanam (Conflict), Aparakshit Karitvamu, Asamish Karitvamu (Unplanned Actions). After that, Baicharaju Venkatanath, Doobagunta Narayana Kavi, Vemulapalli Umamaheswara Rao, etc., all translated the Panchatantra stories into Telugu. These books have won the praise of the people. Today, some fictional stories are also found here and there in the Panchatantra stories. They are gaining popularity because they preach only good things.

Panchatantra: Panchatantra stories as a series
Chandamama magazine has the honor of publishing it in Telugu. This series was published in Chandamama monthly magazine for a few years in simple Telugu words that are understandable to children. Today, the Panchatantra stories written by Vishnu Sharma in Sanskrit a few hundred years ago have been translated and published in many languages of the world and made available to everyone through social media like TVs and YouTube.

These stories have gained popularity all over the world. The cunning fox, the strong lion, the hypocritical cat, the foolish stork, the clever bull, etc., with many animal and bird characters, written a few hundred years ago, feel like such characters are still roaming before our eyes today.

Panchatantra
Along with animals and birds, human characters are also seen in some parts. Behaving wisely in life can be learned through Panchatantra stories. If these stories are read to children and made understandable to them, there is no doubt that moral values will be enhanced in them and they will become the best of future Indians. In Panchatantra, one character tells a story to another character.

One story is intertwined with another. In order to make Panchatantra stories easy to understand even for today’s children, some authors have provided the story for each story in their books in an easy style. This is a repository of entertaining science stories. Many people have made many efforts with the intention of educating children as well as adults. Many authors have made Panchatantra stories available in a new way in book form and through visual media.