Once there lived a king called Amarasakthi living in Mahilaro-
pya in the southern part of India.
He was a well learned man and ruling his country with justice by his tactics and skills. As the proverb Yadha Raja Tadha Praja the people also followed him and living peacefully.
He had three sons by name Bahushakti, Ugrashakti and Anan-thashakti. Without interest in education they were complete duds.
The teacher of the kings court took them to the king and said:
We cannot change these dudchildren. Even god can not
change these boys.
At the words of their teacher the boys replied and said to their father that they were interested in studies but we are unable to understand his teaching. "Education without understanding is waste of time. So if you can provide a teacher who can teach with necessary examples and who must not only a scholar but have a world knowi-edge. We can be happy to join and learn."
Then asked the king seeing around his ministers "Is there any-one; if so where he is"?
"Yes, there is one" said a parrot flying there in the court. "He is not only a scholar but intellectual in the affairs of earthy wis-dom. In our hermitage, birds like me and other birds and animals with different attitudes living cordially by his teachings.
By telling fables he is master in teaching with great reputation and with his pupil. To such a scholar "is it not easy to teach these boys?" After these words told in human voice, the parrot left the court.
The story of the 'Dud' sons who learnt through fables from Vishnu Sharma and the way he taught them to become great administrators is called Panchatantra.
Panchatantra means five systems.
They are
1. Mitralabham (winning of friends)
2. Mitrabhedam (conflict amongst friends)
3. Kakolukeeyam (crows & owis)
4.Labdha Pranasam (the forfeit of profits)
5. Aparikshakaritvam (Action without due consideration)
These fables and characters are birds and animals speaking in human voices and the characters are well knit for the readers.
Please read the stories and make your children to read to get earthy wisdom and how these systems are useful in daily life.