Summary of The Pancatantra

The Pancatantra is an ancient Indian collection of interrelated animal fables in verse and prose, arranged within a frame story. Its original Sanskrit name means "The Book of Five Principles" and was written by Vishnu Sharma more than 2,000 years ago. It is one of the most widely read and influential books in human history and is popularly known as the "Book of Indian Fables" or the "Book of Fables". The stories are told mainly in verse, but sometimes in prose, and all contain animal characters such as lions, tigers, elephants, crows, mice, and other animals, aimed at imparting life skills and wisdom to readers of all ages. The main theme of the stories revolves around the idea that good will triumph over evil and there are moral lessons to be learned from the characters' adventures. By the end of each story, a moral or lesson is clear, and it is ultimately up to the reader to learn and apply it to their own life.