The Panchatantra is a work of great art and artistry. Panchatantra is perhaps the oldest collection of Indian Fables still surviving. It is written around 200BC by the great Hindu Scholar Pandit Vishnu Sharma. Panchatantra means "the five books". It is a "Nitishashtra" which means a book of wise conduct in life. The book is written in the form of simple stories and each story has a moral and philosophical theme which has stood more. The Panchatantra is one of the earliest books of fables and its influence can be seen in The Arabian Nights, The Decameron, The Canterbury Tales and most notably in Fables of La Fontaine.
The Panchatantra has not only been enormously popular as an entertaining (and instructive) work of fiction, it has also had a great influence on world literature as no other work of Indian literature has had.
The aim of the Panchatantra is to inculcate the importance of harmonious development of all the powers of man, the balance, the needs and demands of the individual in society so that the ethical, social, material and emotional aspects of personality may be integrated and lead to a life that is lived wisely and well in the truest sense of these terms. The Panchatantra set forth a very civilized view of life: a noble way of living which man can aspire to!
50 Best Ancient Wise Quotes About Life
1. Give a woman fine foods
and clothes, ornaments as well; and be nice;
most of all, approach her at proper times,
but never ask her for advice.
~ Panchatantra
~ Panchatantra
2. Greed alone befuddles the minds
of even the learned and the rich;
it drives them to do horrendous deeds
and roam in strange, impassable regions.
of even the learned and the rich;
it drives them to do horrendous deeds
and roam in strange, impassable regions.
~ Panchatantra
3. Possessing mere book-learning
men remain fools;
the man who acts using his knowledge, he is wise;
however, carefully selected
nor drug can care the sick by mere
mention of its name.
~ Panchatantra
men remain fools;
the man who acts using his knowledge, he is wise;
however, carefully selected
nor drug can care the sick by mere
mention of its name.
~ Panchatantra
4. Far better than a man have no sons born or,
that born they die; though there be grief, if passes
soon; But, to have living sons, who turn out fools,
that born they die; though there be grief, if passes
soon; But, to have living sons, who turn out fools,
and obstinate fools at that, that indeed
is a lifelong misery hard to bear?
~ Panchatantra
~ Panchatantra
5. Let the wealth you earn circulate and you keep it still.
Water in a full tank, lacking an outlet
Water in a full tank, lacking an outlet
spills over and goes to waste.
~ Panchatantra
~ Panchatantra
6. Wealth lures wealth as tame elephants the wild;
wealth cannot be earned by wishful thinking;
there can be no trade without wealth.
~ Panchatantra
~ Panchatantra
7. The man who lets the wealth that Fortune showers on him,
sit idle, finds no happiness in this world, nor in the next.
What is he then?
A confounded fool performing
a watchman's role.'
~ Panchatantra
A confounded fool performing
a watchman's role.'
~ Panchatantra
8. If a man does not hold dear the well-being of parents,
kin, dependents, and himself,
what good is his living in the world of men?
A crow to lives long eating
Ritual offerings.
~ Panchatantra
kin, dependents, and himself,
what good is his living in the world of men?
A crow to lives long eating
Ritual offerings.
~ Panchatantra
9. If a father or brother, a son or friend,
is intent on practising on your life, he doubtless deserves to be slain,
is intent on practising on your life, he doubtless deserves to be slain,
if you wish to survive and prosper.
~ Panchatantra
~ Panchatantra
10. A man who acts with condor towards a foe,
a false friend, or toward women,
especially those for sale,
will not long survive.
~ Panchatantra
a false friend, or toward women,
especially those for sale,
will not long survive.
~ Panchatantra
11. A lone tree firmly rooted, and mighty,
is no match even for a moderate wind;
whereas trees densely packed in groves,
firmly rooted. Stand still.
~ Panchatantra
is no match even for a moderate wind;
whereas trees densely packed in groves,
firmly rooted. Stand still.
~ Panchatantra
12. Warriors and scholars,
and beautiful young women
make a home for themselves
wherever they go.
~ Panchatantra
and beautiful young women
make a home for themselves
wherever they go.
~ Panchatantra
13. Kill a foe when he is down
before he grows in strength;
once he gains his fullest vigour
he will become invincible.
~ Panchatantra
before he grows in strength;
once he gains his fullest vigour
he will become invincible.
~ Panchatantra
14. Do only that which it is right to do;
even as the breath struggles in the throat,
what is not right do not attempt to do,
even as the breath struggles in the throat.
~ Panchatantra
even as the breath struggles in the throat,
what is not right do not attempt to do,
even as the breath struggles in the throat.
~ Panchatantra
15. When you do not know someone's strength,
or his lineage and conduct, it is not wise to trust him,
or his lineage and conduct, it is not wise to trust him,
and that is in your best interest.
~ Panchatantra
~ Panchatantra
16. Words should be used wisely and well;
spoken where they would yield rich fruit.
Colours take the firmest hold and brightest,
on whitest cloth.
~ Panchatantra
~ Panchatantra
17. If a man should undertake something,
lacking knowledge of resources and energies,
lacking knowledge of resources and energies,
his best efforts will not shine forth,
even as moonlight on the snow mountain,
though brilliant does not.'
~ Panchatantra
though brilliant does not.'
~ Panchatantra
18. Servants and ornaments are to be placed
each in the position right for them: to say,
'I can do this, so I shall,' and fasten a crest-jewel
on the foot- that's not done.
~ Panchatantra
each in the position right for them: to say,
'I can do this, so I shall,' and fasten a crest-jewel
on the foot- that's not done.
~ Panchatantra
19. The weak, if wary and mistrustful,
can easily withstand the strongest;
the strong who are foolish and trustful,
maybe, overwhelmed by the weakest.
~ Panchatantra
20. Where no distinction is made between the right hand and the left,
there, no gentlemen will care to stay an instant,
if he has another way.
~ Panchatantra
21. In a place where no difference is perceived
between a priceless gem with an eye of fire and a fragment
between a priceless gem with an eye of fire and a fragment
of pale crystal, how can a gem-trade flourish there?
~ Panchatantra
22. A horse, a weapon, a text, a lute,
a voice, a man and women-they perform ill, or well,
a voice, a man and women-they perform ill, or well,
according to who masters them.
~ Panchatantra
~ Panchatantra
23. A man might confide some things to his wife,
some to his close friends, and some to his son;
these deserve his trust: but not reveal
all matters to everyone in sight.
~Panchatantra
some to his close friends, and some to his son;
these deserve his trust: but not reveal
all matters to everyone in sight.
~Panchatantra
24. A true and tested friend, a faithful wife, a loyal servant,
a powerful master, disclosing his troubles to those a man
discover great relief.'
~Panchatantra
25. The wise man puts one foot forward while
he stands firm on the other: he'll not forsake his former home
until he finds another.
~ Panchatantra
26. A fine gem fit to grace a gold jewel,
if mounted in a cheap tin setting, doesn't scream, nor refuses to gleam.
it's the jeweller who's put to shame.
~ Panchatantra
~ Panchatantra
27. A blade of grass bends low, powerless,
tosses about, light, lacking inner strength,
A man who lacks a sense of honour and pride,
is like a pitiful blade of grass.
~Panchatantra
tosses about, light, lacking inner strength,
A man who lacks a sense of honour and pride,
is like a pitiful blade of grass.
~Panchatantra
28. The weak, if wary and mistrustful,
can easily withstand the strongest; the strong who are foolish
and trustful may be overthrown
by the weakest.
~ Panchatantra
can easily withstand the strongest; the strong who are foolish
and trustful may be overthrown
by the weakest.
~ Panchatantra
29. A person's state of mind makes known,
what manner of man he is; entering it,
one with experience quickly gains control over that man.
~ Panchatantra
30. The learned, the brave, and he who well knows how to serve,
they are the three who plucks the flower of
Gold in the world.
~ Panchatantra
~ Panchatantra
31. A hurricane does not uproot the plant grass
that bends low before its fury; it snaps only proud, lordly trees;
A man of might lets his valour speak
only to others of equal might.'
~ Panchatantra
that bends low before its fury; it snaps only proud, lordly trees;
A man of might lets his valour speak
only to others of equal might.'
~ Panchatantra
32. With the greatest effort are stones carried uphill,
and with the greatest ease, do they tumble down;
so too with our own self, through virtue and vice.
~ Panchatantra
and with the greatest ease, do they tumble down;
so too with our own self, through virtue and vice.
~ Panchatantra
33. What a man watches or does or yearns
for during the day, he does the same
at night in his sleep.
He talks about it; he acts it out.
~ Panchatantra
for during the day, he does the same
at night in his sleep.
He talks about it; he acts it out.
~ Panchatantra
34. One without ambition does not hold office;
one fallen out of love does not care to adorn himself;
one fallen out of love does not care to adorn himself;
one who lacks learning displays no eloquence;
one who is blunt in speech is never a cheat.'
~ Panchatantra
~ Panchatantra
35. A chalice of trust and affection, a sanctuary from sorrow,
anxiety and fear-who created this priceless gem-a friend.
~ Panchatantra
~ Panchatantra
36. Those who enjoy happy times, friends with dear friends,
lovers with their beloved, joyful with the joyous only they
'live life to the fullest' they are the salt of the earth.
~ Panchatantra
'live life to the fullest' they are the salt of the earth.
~ Panchatantra
37. The man whose days come and go undistinguished
by righteousness is like a blacksmith's bellows;
he breathes but doesn't live.
~ Panchatantra
~ Panchatantra
38. Falsehood and daring, folly and deceit,
uncleanness of body and spirit too, excessive greed,
and lack of compassion, these vices are inborn in women.
~ Panchatantra
uncleanness of body and spirit too, excessive greed,
and lack of compassion, these vices are inborn in women.
~ Panchatantra
39. Altered speech, changing complexion,
eyes darting from side to side in alarm, drooping, broken in spirit:
such a man has committed a crime is afraid of his own act.
~ Panchatantra
eyes darting from side to side in alarm, drooping, broken in spirit:
such a man has committed a crime is afraid of his own act.
~ Panchatantra
40. The man who appears in open court
calm and cheerful, with a smiling face, defiant eye,
and speaks in clear, firm tones with confident pride,
know him to be true and upright.
~Panchatantra
41. Never grant asylum to any person,
whose character is not known to you;
it was Drone's mistake, we know
that led to poor crawly's death.
~Panchatantra
42. The fruit of action good and bad,
done in the previous life still attend us,
put in place by fate,
without further effort on our part.
~Panchatantra
43. By no man's smile in any man raised high;
calm and cheerful, with a smiling face, defiant eye,
and speaks in clear, firm tones with confident pride,
know him to be true and upright.
~Panchatantra
41. Never grant asylum to any person,
whose character is not known to you;
it was Drone's mistake, we know
that led to poor crawly's death.
~Panchatantra
42. The fruit of action good and bad,
done in the previous life still attend us,
put in place by fate,
without further effort on our part.
~Panchatantra
43. By no man's smile in any man raised high;
by no man's frown is any man cast down;
up or down, a man rises or falls in life,
by the true worth of his actions and conduct.
~Panchatantra
44. Whoever clasps stranger close to his heart,
forsaking those in his close counsels,
will assuredly meet his death.
~Panchatantra
45. Better take a walk with a snake;
or share your home with rogues or foes;
never put your trust in evil friends,
false, fickle and foolish.
~Panchatantra
46. Fear danger while it's still to come;
once you're face to face with danger,
strike hard, with no hesitation.
~Panchatantra
47. The sinful acts the ignorant commit for the sake of a single life,
44. Whoever clasps stranger close to his heart,
forsaking those in his close counsels,
will assuredly meet his death.
~Panchatantra
45. Better take a walk with a snake;
or share your home with rogues or foes;
never put your trust in evil friends,
false, fickle and foolish.
~Panchatantra
46. Fear danger while it's still to come;
once you're face to face with danger,
strike hard, with no hesitation.
~Panchatantra
47. The sinful acts the ignorant commit for the sake of a single life,
bring them only sorrows
that extend over a thousand recurring lives.
~Panchatantra
48. A wise person takes a man's true measure
at one shrewd glance, as an expert jeweller gauges
the true weight of metal by simply
holding it on his palm.
~Panchatantra
49. Land, friends, or gold are the triple fruits of war;
~Panchatantra
48. A wise person takes a man's true measure
at one shrewd glance, as an expert jeweller gauges
the true weight of metal by simply
holding it on his palm.
~Panchatantra
49. Land, friends, or gold are the triple fruits of war;
in the absence of even one of these a war.
a man is foolhardy to star.
~Panchatantra
50. He has no sense of time and place,
and of what is right and proper;
who doesn't know a thing beyond himself;
who acts without due deliberation;
he is a fool who reaps no reward.
~Panchatantra
a man is foolhardy to star.
~Panchatantra
50. He has no sense of time and place,
and of what is right and proper;
who doesn't know a thing beyond himself;
who acts without due deliberation;
he is a fool who reaps no reward.
~Panchatantra
