7.10. Summary of the Pancatantra

The Pancatantra (Pañcatantram) is a collection of fables. It is one of the most famous works of Indian Literature with an uncertain date and authorship. Viṣṇu Śarmā is ascribed to be the author of the work. In the work, the animals and the beasts are depicted as the symbolic representation of a section of the society. Frailties of the society are exposed by these characters. The work is divided into five books. In the work, social relations are reflected satirically. In the story Caṇḍaravaśṛgālakathā, the author narrates a story of a Jackal named Caṇḍarava, who one day goes to a village for hunting and there he falls into a large vat filled with indigo dye. His body becomes completely blue and when he comes back to the forest all the animals run away looking at him. He then declares himself to be a leader of the forest, but soon his identity is revealed in front of all other animals while listening to his howling. In the story, the blue Jackal represents a section of cunning people of the society. The author satirizes them who pose to be valuable person in the society, but originally they are hypocrite, whose real nature is soon revealed in front of the people.

The story Anāgatavidhātrādimatsyatrayakathā describes the story of three fishes named Anāgatavidhātā, Pratyutpannamati and Yadbhaviṣya who lived in a lake. One day, Anāgatavidhātā hears that some people will come for fishing in the lake. Hearing the news Anāgatavidhātā and Pratyutpannamati leaves the lake but Yadbhaviṣya denies to leave it because, for him, he is living in the lake from the time of his forefathers. In the story, the author satirizes a section of people who never get ready to leave their ancestral property even if dangers arrive in front of them. Such people are never conscious about what will happen in near future. They always depend on their fate and never do anything to get rid of danger. They think that whatever is destined would surely happen. So, one should not fear or flee away.

Their feeling is well mentioned by the author in the following śloka—

arakṣitaṃ tiṣṭati daivarakṣitaṃ surakṣitaṃ daivahataṃ vinaśyati/
jīvatyanātho’pi vane visarjitaḥ kṛtaprayatno’pi gṛhe vinaśyati//^[1]

In the Mandavisarpiṇī-Matkuṇa Kathā, the author narrates the story of a bug named Mandavisarpiṇī and a mosquito named Agnimukha. Once upon a time there lived a king who possessed a comfortable and wonderful bed. In the bed, under the mattress there lived the bug with her family. One day, the mosquito comes to the bed room of the king and requests the bug to allow him to live there. However, the bug allows him to stay there and warns him not to bite the king at the wrong moment or the wrong place. She only allows him to bite in the king’s feet only. But, at night the mosquito bites at back of the king. The king jumps from the bed with a howl and orders his servants to search the insect that bite him. The mosquito flies away but the bug and her family is destroyed. In the story the Mosquito and the Bug, the author satirizes those people who have no sense of propriety. Such people always harm others along with ownselves.

In the Śaśaka-Kapiñjala Kathā, the author narrates the story of a partridge named Kapiñjala and the hare named Śaśaka. Both of them go on a dispute and to settle their dispute they set off to find out a holy man. A wild cat comes to hear of their search and pretends to be an ascetic. Finally, the cat becomes successful in devouring them. In the story, the cat represents the hypocrite rogues who in the guise of holy man make the common people a fool.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Pañcatantra , Mitrabheda. 352