The Hitopadesha: Timeless Wisdom Through Animal Tales & Fables from Ancient India

The Birds and the Monkeys

High in a tree lived a bunch of Birds in cozy nests. One rainy day, they saw a group of Monkeys shivering...

The Blue Jackal

Once upon a time, a Jackal was wandering near a town. He accidentally fell into a vat of blue dye! When he climbed...

The Brahmin and the Goat

Once upon a time, a kind Brahmin named Ravi needed a goat for a special ceremony. He went to the village market...

The Elephant and the Jackal

Deep in the forest, lived a group of Jackals. They all wanted to eat a giant Elephant named Karphooratilaka...

The Greedy Jackal

Once upon a time, a hunter named Bhirava went hunting and found a delicious deer. But before he could take it...

The Jackal and the Cat

Deep in the forest, lived a blind Jackal named Jarad-gava. He was kind and other animals helped him find food. One day...

The Lion and the Rabbit

High in the mountains lived a hungry Lion named Durganta. He ate so many animals that all the creatures were scared...

The Lion, the Mouse, and the Cat

High in the mountains lived a Lion named Maliavikrama. He had a tiny problem - a little Mouse kept nibbling on...

The Mouse Who Became a Tiger

Deep in the forest lived a kind Hermit named Maha-tapa. One day, he saw a tiny Mouse fall from a crow's mouth...

The Poor Woman and the Bell

In a town called Brahma-puree, everyone was scared of a giant named Ghautta-Karna! They thought he lived in the...

The Rabbits and the Elephants

There wasn't enough rain, and a group of thirsty Elephants were desperate for water. The only place with water was...

The Traveler and the Tiger

Once upon a time, a traveler was walking down a road when he saw an old tiger sitting by a river. The tiger held...