We live in a world where several mysteries lie before us resolved in bare state. Scientific revolution and advancements in communication technology have brought about a new way of our looking at the world. It is not always pleasant and when we look over the shoulder it is with an awe and pleasure as to how we knew it all anyway but our world was more composite. The past has always been enchanting and it still gladdens the heart and uplifts consciousness to have a look at the firmament we were so familiar and free with so far.

The editor of the present series welcome the reader into the pleasure of a participative stroll into some major works of Sanskrit literature that are a heritage of Indian lore. Books Panchatantra or Gems of Indian Thought, Hitopadesh or The Benevolent Saying, Vikramaditya-Veital Tales or The Tales of Riddles, Jatakmala or The Pearls of Indian Wisdom, The Life & Times of King Bhoj or Bhoj Prabandha and Fairy Dolls & Vikramaditya's Legendary Throne are entertaining, informing and illustrative of universal and eternal values. I am sure the reader would find these an enriching experience. Simple language and clear narration, I am sure, will be welcomed by readers of all ages. -Editor

	Introduction	I
	Prologue	II
	BOOK 1 : MITRABHED
	Introduction	17
Tale 1 :	Naughty Monkey's Painful Death	32
Tale 2 :	Hungry Jackal & Empty Drum	46
Tale 3 :	Gorambh Sweeper & Dantil Chief	53
Tale 4 :	A Sage Learns Ways of World	61
Tale 5 :	A Weaver's Dalliance with A Princess	73
Tale 6 :	Crows & Evil Snake	79
Tale 7 :	Heron meets Nemesis	80
Tale 8 :	Clever Rabbit, Proud Lion	83
Tale 9 :	Satiated Louse & Lusting Bug	90
Tale 10 :	A Blue Jackal & Jungle Beasts	92
Tale 11 :	Jungle Beasts and Pet Camel	97
Tale 12 :	Beating The Mighty Sea	104
Tale 13 :	Tortoise and His Swan Friends	106
Tale 14 :	Fish Who Knew	107
Tale 15 :	Chatak Bird & Rogue Elephant	111
Tale 16 :	Wild Beasts of the Woods	119
Tale 17 :	How Monkey's Tackle Cold	126
Tale 18 :	How Monkey's Tackle Cold	127
Tale 19 :	War of Wits	128
Tale 20 :	Snake, Mongoose & Heron	132
Tale 21 :	Weighty Loss!	133
Tale 22 :	King's Monkey & The Fly	136
Tale 23 :	A Wise Brahmin Thief	136
	BOOK 2 : MITRASAMPRAPTI
	Introduction	143
Tale 1 :	Divining Sage & Hiranyak	163
Tale 2 :	Brahmin's Wife & Til Seeds	165
Tale 3 :	Greedy Jackal's Untimely Death	166
Tale 4 :	Trader's Son & Book of Maxim	172
Tale 5 :	Poor Weaver's Rise & Fall	177
Tale 6 :	Wolves & Ox's Hump	180
	BOOK 3 : KAKOLUKIYAM
	Introduction	193
Tale 1 :	Owls Destroy Crow Abode	203
Tale 2 :	Birds Seek King	213
Tale 3 :	Clever Rabbit, Mad Elephants	214
Tale 4 :	The Evil Sage Cat	218
Tale 5 :	Clever Tricksters, Simple Brahmin	223
Tale 6 :	In Clutches of 'Spanish Armada!'	225
Tale 7 :	Kindly Snake, Greedy Child	228
Tale 8 :	Refugee Supreme	229
Tale 9 :	Pair of Doves & A Hunter	230
Tale 10 :	Old Man, His Wife & A Thief	234
Tale 11 :	A Poor Brahmin & Two Rascals	235
Tale 12 :	Dutiful Daughter & A Prince	237
Tale 13 :	Carpenter, His Wife & Her Lover	238
Tale 14 :	Female Mouse & Gods	242
Tale 15 :	Three Muni Brothers	243
Tale 16 :	Bird who Yielded Gold	248
Tale 17 :	Jackal's Fear & Lion's Roar	249
Tale 18 :	Accursed Snake & Frog's Joyrides	254
Tale 19 :	Clever Brahmin's Corrupt Wife	255
	BOOK 4 : LABDHPRANASHAM
	Introduction	263
Tale 1 :	Alligator Befriends Monkey	273
Tale 2 :	Now Gangdatt Wont Return	279
Tale 3 :	Donkey Returns to Lion's Lair	283
Tale 4 :	Potter's Tryst with High Life	286
Tale 5 :	A Jackal & Two Lion Cubs	287
Tale 6 :	Brahmin's Wife & Her Lame Lover	288
Tale 7 :	Conquerers Stoop to Women	290
Tale 8 :	Donkey Neighed Happily!	292
Tale 9 :	Rich Trader's Sons-in-Law	292
Tale 10 :	Carpenter, His Wife & Her Lover	294
Tale 11 :	Old Man, His Wife & A Thief	297
Tale 12 :	Swindled by Lover	299
Tale 13 :	Fondness Proves Costly	301
Tale 14 :	Learned Jackal & Dead Elephant	303
Tale 15 :	Alligator Finally Convinced	305
	BOOK 5 : APARIKSHITAKARAKAM
	Introduction	309
Tale 1 :	Lucky Trader, Foolish Barber	317
Tale 2 :	Kindly Mongoose, Impetuous Brahmin	323
Tale 3 :	The Wheel of Greed	325
Tale 4 :	Foolish Brahmins Revive Lion	331
Tale 5 :	Foolish Brahmins Return Home	333
Tale 6 :	Foolish Fish, Clever Frog	336
Tale 7 :	Singing Donkey's Punishment	339
Tale 8 :	Wife's Fatal Advice	342
Tale 9 :	Foolish Brahmin & His Dreams	346
Tale 10 :	How Monkey King Avenged Himself	347
Tale 11 :	Thief & The Entity	354
Tale 12 :	Blind Man & 3-Breasted Girl	356
Tale 13 :	Curious Brahmin Saves Himself	357
Tale 14 :	One Stomach But Two Mouths	362
Tale 15 :	Timid Brahmin's Crab Friend	363

Worth of Wealth	27
Respect to Mother	33
Proximity Pays	34
Duty of Attendants	37
Snakes & Kings	39
A Discriminating King	41
Expert to Judge	42
Circle of Attendants	42
Worthy Attendant	43
King & Deities	50
Infidelity at the Core	53
Forced to Stay Chaste	55
Brook No Rival	56
No Friend to Kings	56
Mutual Consumption	59
Money No Succor	61
Be Wise Be Safe	62
Devil Incarnate	68
On Having a Daughter	75
Power Corrupts	87
One Nature Never Changes	91
High & Mighty also Stoop	105
Patience Pays	106
Help Friends	106
Anger Harmful	109
Lamp & Darkness	110
Enterprise & Fate	110
Assorted Defence	110
Taking Support	117
Efforts for Redemption	118
Tenets of Nitisastra	123
Situation of Darkness	124
Minister's Post	124
Counsel of Incompetent	125
Wealth is for Swindlers	129
Good Natured Souls	130
Mackling Natural Enemies	132
Lost Glory	134
Beware under Honor	134
Sheer Jealously	136
Sweet Talk	137
Betraying a Friend	138
Visitation of Evil	150
Strong Arms of Fate	151
Wits When Needed Most	151
Attend to the Impending	152
A Friend in Need	152
Castle's Security	153
Nemesis	153
Invisible Strings	154
Herd Habit & Group Psychology	154
Natural Enemy	156
Two Types of Enmity	156
Essence of Polity	157
Nature of Friendship	157
On Pacts & Trusting	158
Never Trust	158
Keep Distance, Be Safe	159
Three Wings of Polity	159
On Leaving Home	161
7 Types of Flight	161
Friends Balm for Sorrow	162
Stranger Risky	162
A poor Man's Donation	166
Retribution Inevitable	167
When Gods Abandon	169
Accused Poverty	170
Of The Wordly & The Wise	170
Protect Wealth with Life	172
Man Gets What He Deserves	172
Another's Woman	173
Steady Friend	175
Woman Gods	181
Quietening of Senses	183
Death's Clutches	186
Sea of Troubles	187
Woes of Embodied Beings	188
Force & Fraud in War	208
Regarding Emissary	216
Emissary Insured	216
No Place Like Home	218
A Bitter Word's Wound	222
Wifely Devotion	231
Honor Guest!	231
Five Fathers	244
On Marrying off Daughter	245
Living with the Enemy	251
Stay Alert!	253
Sweet Poisons	253
Goddess Laxmi of Wealth	258
Entertaining Guest	273
Two Types of Brothers	274
Leechhold on Men	275
No Expiation for Ingratitude	276
Weaver Greedy	276
Making Friends	276
Never Trust	278
Greet even a Robber Refuge	298
Forget Women!	298
Home is the Sailor	306
Fie to Poverty	318
Lust is Universal	322
Driven by Duality	326
Diligence and Exertion	327
Results Soul!	329
Wisdom Vs Knowledge	331
Never Consult Woman	343

Non-interference Best	32
Look before you Leap	47
Do not Ignore the Lowly	58
The World Amazes the Guileless	71
Love Knows No Boundaries	79
Don't Fool All the People All the Time	82
Take Heed Lest You Pay for Other's Faults	91
Classes do not Tolerate Intrusion	93
Beware the Wiles of the United Front	101
Wits Fail When Needed Most	107
Rally against the Guilty	113
Clever Manage the Show	120
Greed Invites Retribution	133
Never Entrust Simpletion with Sword	136
There is a Cause behind all Events	168
What will be, will be	173
Liberty is its Own Reward	182
Faith Dwells High in the Heart	214
Beware the Smooth-tongued Sage	221
Women, Trickesters Work Overtime	224
Beware the Cruelty of Weak & United	225
Never Let Down	229
Serving a Refugee brings Bliss	233
Serve even the enemy on merit	235
Warring Enemies are Friends	236
Mutual Hostility Kills	238
Blindness to tricks Destroys Grace	238
Satisfaction is where Satisfaction Lies	247
Precaution Best Defence	250
Where you do not belong, flee for life	288
Habits kill for Sure	292
Do not overstay Hospitality	293
Blindness to tricks destroys Grace	296
Serve even the useful enemy	299
Those down can hardly laugh at another	300
Keep away from rat race	306
Never be a Copycat	323
Haste Makes Waste	325
Brute Strength Prevails	333
Too much Learning Decapitates Will	335
Forewarned is forearmed	338
Beware making Merry	342
Simpletons Shatter Soon	345
No Stopping Train of Thoughts	347
Greed Deprives you of your Treasures	353
Set a thief to catch a thief	356
Curiosity Saves Also	358
Sometimes Enterprise saves many a Disorder	361
Jealousy is Suicidal	363
Never Embark on a Journey Alone	364

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