Stories for Kids

Panchatantra stories are the oldest surviving fables from Ancient India. These colourful stories from the Panchatantra have spread all over the world for centuries, especially as bedtime stories for kids. We present here, a list of our versions of 60 such popular short stories from the Panchatantra, in English. Although dividing the Panchatantra into individual stories takes off the essence of its nested interludes, the following short stories include pictures and moral messages, especially for kids.
 
 
List of Panchatantra Stories:
 

Book 1: The Separation of Friends

• The Monkey and the Wedge
• The Jackal and the Drum
• The Fall and Rise of a Merchant
• The Foolish Sage
• Fighting Goats and the Jackal
• The Cobra and the Crows
• The Crane and the Crab
• The Cunning Hare and the Lion
• The Bug and the Poor Flea
• The Story of the Blue Jackal
• The Lion, Camel, Jackal and Crow
• The Bird Pair and the Sea
• The Turtle that fell off the Stick
• Tale of the Three Fishes
• The Elephant and the Sparrow
• The Lion and the Jackal
• The Bird and the Monkey
• How a Sparrow came to Grief
• Right-Mind and Wrong-Mind
• The Crane and the Mongoose
• The Rat that ate Iron
• The King and the Foolish Monkey
• The Thief and the Brahmins

Book 2: The Gaining of Friends

• The Hermit and the Mouse
• Elephants and King of Mice
• Shandili and Sesame Seeds
• Story of the Merchant's Son
• The Unlucky Weaver

Book 3: Of Crows and Owls

• Of Crows and Owls
• Elephants and Hares
• The Cunning Mediator
• The Brahmin and the Crooks
• The Dove and the Hunter
• The Brahmin and the Cobra
• The Old Man, Young Wife and Thief
• The Brahmin, Thief, and Demon
• The Tale of Two Snakes
• The Wedding of the Mouse
• Tale of the Golden Droppings
• The Cave that Talked
• Frogs that rode a Snake
• The War of Crows and Owls

Book 4: Loss of Gains

• The Monkey and the Crocodile
• The Greedy Cobra and Frog King
• The Lion and the Foolish Donkey
• The Story of the Potter
• Lioness and the Young Jackal
• The Donkey and the Washerman
• The Price of Indiscretion
• The Jackal's Strategy
• The Dog who went Abroad

Book 5: Ill-Considered Actions

• The Brahmani and the Mongoose
• The Four Treasure-Seekers
• The Lion that Sprang to Life
• The Four Learned Fools
• The Tale of Two Fishes and a Frog
• The Musical Donkey
• The Brahmin's Dream
• The Bird with Two Heads
• The Unforgiving Monkey

 
Note that the above Panchatantra stories cover most of the original stories contained in the Panchatantra, and include those found in some of the popular recensions and adaptations. However, there are some Indian fables found in many story books and on the internet which are promoted as tales from the Panchatantra, but there are no evidence of the stories being contained in the original Panchatantra, or its recensions. We have deliberately dropped such stories from this section.