King Amarashakti was the ruler of Mahilaropya Kingdom. He had 3 sons, namely Bahushakti (the one with abundant power), Ugrashakti (the one with passionate strength) and Anantashakti (the one with limitless strength) .The king had a deep worry. All the three princes were fools.

One day the king called all his ministers and courtiers for consultation. One minister suggested to appoint Acharya Vishnusharma as the official instructor for the princes. Vishnusharma was known to be a genius in all the shastras and the theory of politics and diplomacy.

 

Acting on the suggestion, the king requested Acharya Vishnusharma to accept the three princess as his students and teach them the ways of the world. Vishnusharma, however, realised that it was more difficult than he had thought to teach his new students through conventional means.

Therefore he decided to pass on wisdom to them in the form of stories. This collection, that has attained fame over centuries, is called Panchatantra.  Pancha means five and tantra means strategies or principles.

    
The five tantras in the book are

·          Mitrabhed (Discord among friends)

·         Mitrasamprapti (Gaining friends)

·          Kakolookeeyam (Of crows and owls)

·         Labdhapranasham (Loss of Gains)

·          Apareekshitkarakam ( Imprudence )

 

After listening and working on these stories, all the three princes became completely educated in politics and became able administrators.

 

               Panchatantra Stories                

 

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